Everyone knows that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing rates. Insureds who shop for lower prices will most likely switch companies because there is a great chance of finding better rates. A recent survey revealed that people who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved on average $72 a month compared to people who never shopped around.
If saving money on insurance is your intention, understanding the best way to compare insurance coverage can help simplify the process.
The most effective way to get the cheapest car insurance rates in Oakland is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from different companies who can sell car insurance in California.
Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance works and the steps you can take to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that drive up the price such as traffic violations, accidents, and a substandard credit score can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle. This article provides more information to help prevent costly coverage and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
Step 2: Request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.
Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing coverage and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One thing to remember is to try to compare similar deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many carriers as you can. This provides an apples-to-apples comparison and a thorough price selection.
If you already have coverage, you will be able to cut your premiums using the techniques covered below. We hope to introduce you to how auto insurance companies operate and also save some money in the process Nevertheless, California vehicle owners need to have an understanding of how insurance companies determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.
Volvo S80 detailed coverage information
The rate information displayed below showcases estimates of policy rates for Volvo S80 models. Being able to understand how prices are formulated can help guide drivers when making informed decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S80 3.2 | $302 | $490 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,578 | $132 |
| S80 T6 AWD | $302 | $490 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,578 | $132 |
| S80 Executive AWD | $302 | $556 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,644 | $137 |
| S80 V8 AWD | $334 | $556 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,676 | $140 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can lower or raise premiums significantly.
Bad driving habits will cost you more
The information below shows how traffic citations and at-fault claims raise Volvo S80 car insurance costs for different insured age categories. The rates are based on a single female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Volvo S80 insurance costs by age and gender
The chart below illustrates the difference between Volvo S80 car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no violations or accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
Cheap Oakland auto insurance rates with discounts
Auto insurance is expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before being credited.
- Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents could pay up to 40% less as compared to drivers with claims.
- Early Renewal Discounts – Some larger companies give discounts for switching policies prior to the expiration date on your current S80 insurance policy. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen with less frequency and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Accident Forgiveness – This one is not really a discount per se, but some companies like State Farm and Progressive will turn a blind eye to one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a home in Oakland may earn you a small savings since home ownership shows financial diligence.
- Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to fasten their seat belts can save 10% or more off the medical payments premium.
Please keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it’s just not the way it works.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Volvo S80 insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premiums are based on a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, marriage, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
A partial list of companies that may offer quotes with these discounts are:
Double check with each company or agent which discounts they offer. Some credits might not apply in Oakland. To see auto insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in California, click here.
Coverages available on your car insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of car insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Auto liability – This will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a limit of $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 for the entire accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things like emergency aid, court costs and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Comprehensive auto coverage – This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hail damage, falling objects, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices, dental work and hospital visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your S80 resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things like crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible on your S80 to bring the cost down.
Don’t give up on cheaper rates
We just presented some good ideas how to lower your Volvo S80 insurance premium rates in Oakland. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding cheaper Oakland car insurance quotes. You may even find the most savings is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
Lower-priced Volvo S80 insurance in Oakland is definitely available from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so get free Oakland car insurance quotes from both of them so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional carriers prefer to sell through independent agencies.
Helpful information
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Immigrants in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for a Ford Escape in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Hyundai Elantra in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for a Nissan Versa in Oakland? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for Good Students in Oakland? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Civic in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)