Save Money on Chevy Silverado 3500HD Insurance in Oakland

How long has it been since you shopped around for cheaper Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland? Are you tired of scraping the payment together to make your auto insurance payment? You are in the same boat as millions of other people.

Unbelievable but true, most drivers have been with the same company for over three years, and almost 40% of drivers have never quoted auto insurance rates at all. Oakland drivers could save almost 35% a year just by shopping around, but they feel it’s too difficult to compare rate quotes.

Many insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every provider and get the best coverage at the lowest rate possible on Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland.

You should take the time to get comparison quotes before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance prices fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest price on Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland a couple years back you can probably find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re about to find out the only way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will surely be able to buy cheaper insurance using the ideas covered in this article. Choosing the best rates in Oakland can be easy if you know a few tricks. But California drivers should learn the way insurance companies calculate your policy premium and apply this information to your search.

Best Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance rates in California

The following companies are ready to provide free rate quotes in Oakland, CA. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Oakland, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them to get the cheapest price.

Rate information and statistics

The premium information displayed below outlines a range of coverage costs for Chevy Silverado 3500HD models. Being able to understand how auto insurance policy rates are figured helps drivers make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.

Prices above based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in vehicle location which can increase or decrease insurance rates significantly.

Physical damage deductibles

The hardest decision when buying coverage is how low should you set your deductibles. The rates below illustrate the premium difference of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in specific Oakland garaging location which can decrease or increase prices noticeably.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs approximately $38 more each month or $456 every year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go at a minimum 11 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you elect the higher deductible.

Impact of speeding/accidents on car insurance rates

The diagram below illustrates how violations and at-fault fender-benders can impact Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. The data assumes a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD annual premiums for males versus females

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance costs for male and female drivers. The costs are based on no claims or violations, full coverage, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.

Oakland insurance discounts

Insurance is expensive, but companies offer discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Some of these discounts will be visible when you complete an application, but a few must be asked about before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you could be paying more than you need to.

• Homeowners Savings – Just being a homeowner can save you money because it demonstrates responsibility.
• Theft Deterrent – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and will qualify for a discount on a Oakland auto insurance quote.
• Seat Belt Discounts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle up may be able to save a few bucks off the PIP or medical payment premium.
• Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Chevy can earn discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Drivers who insure multiple cars or trucks on the same insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Data Collection Discounts – People who choose to allow companies to track their driving habits remotely such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could save a few bucks if they show good driving skills.

Remember that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free insurance policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

The chart below shows the difference between Chevy Silverado 3500HD car insurance rates with and without discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no claims or driving citations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.

To see a list of insurers with significant discounts in Oakland, click here to view.

Local Oakland car insurance agents

Certain consumers would prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and often times that is recommended The biggest benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that you can find cheaper prices but still work with a licensed agent.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), your information is submitted to insurance agents in Oakland that give free quotes for your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your computer because prices are sent to you directly. You’ll get the best rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and give them your coverage information.

Finding the right company shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
• Does the company use OEM repair parts?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
• Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?

When finding a reliable insurance agent, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents and how they are slightly different. Agents in Oakland are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents

These type of agents can usually just insure with one company like Farmers Insurance, Allstate, or State Farm. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. They are trained well on their company’s products which aids in selling service over price.

Below are Oakland exclusive agents that are able to give price quote information.

View more agents

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents can sell policies from many different companies so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If your premiums go up, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you can keep the same agent.

If you are comparing rate quotes, you absolutely need to get rate quotes from several independent agencies for the best price selection.

Shown below is a list of independent agents in Oakland who can help you get comparison quotes.

View more agents

After receiving good answers to all your questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that meets the criteria to adequately provide auto insurance. But remember, consumers can terminate coverage for any reason so don’t think you’re contractually obligated to any specific agency for any length of time.

Auto insurance coverages

Having a good grasp of your car insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.

Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things like sustaining damage from a pot hole, driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible on your Silverado 3500HD to save money on collision insurance.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like ambulance fees, EMT expenses, surgery and nursing services. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as rock chips in glass, fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hail damage. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Liability insurance – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have values of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability insurance covers things like funeral expenses, medical expenses, emergency aid and court costs. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should consider buying more coverage.

The chart below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Silverado 3500HD.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (California limits are 15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Car insurance savings summarized

In this article, we covered many tips how you can save on Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get premium rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding inexpensive Oakland auto insurance quotes. You may even find the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies can often provide lower premium rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

When searching for affordable Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD insurance quotes, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, but do not skimp to save money.

Affordable Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents in Oakland, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide rate quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers work with independent agencies.

How to buy affordable Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in Oakland

The preferred way to get cheaper car insurance rates is to start comparing prices regularly from companies who sell auto insurance in Oakland.

Step 1: Try to comprehend what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can control to lower rates. Many rating factors that increase rates like speeding tickets, accidents and your credit history can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.

Step 2: Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple sources. Find an Oakland insurance agent

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

Step 4: Provide notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage and submit payment and a signed application to the newly selected company. As soon as you have the new policy, put the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location.

A good tip to remember is to make sure you enter the same liability limits and deductibles on each quote request and to quote with as many companies as possible. Doing this provides a level playing field and and a good selection of different prices.

To read more, link through to the following helpful articles:

• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with Good Credit? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for 19 Year Olds in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota 4Runner in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Civic in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Institute)
• Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)