Are you sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money to insure your Ford every month? You have the same problem as many other California drivers.
It’s hard to fathom, but most consumers in California have bought insurance from the same company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of customers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average insurance premium being $1,847, American drivers could save approximately $859 every year by just comparing rate quotes, but most tend to underestimate the rate savings if they just switched companies. With so many options when it comes to insurance, it can be hard to find the right company.
Buying the cheapest insurance in Los Angeles can be easy if you know a few tricks. If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to reduce the price you pay without reducing coverage. Comparison shoppers just need to learn the best way to compare rate quotes using one simple form.
Informed Drivers Save on Insurance
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are obvious such as your driving history, but others are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.
The items below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.
Save money by having high credit – Having a bad credit rating is a large factor in calculating your premium rate. Insureds with excellent credit tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than those with poor credit. So if your credit can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your Ford Fusion Energi by improving your rating.
Add-on coverages may be wasting money – There are a ton of additional coverages you can purchase if you don’t pay attention. Add-on coverages like roadside assistance, better glass coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
Keep the miles off and save – The more you drive your Ford every year the more you will pay for insurance. A lot of insurance companies charge rates based upon how much you drive. Autos that have low annual miles receive better premium rates than those that get driven frequently. Ask your agent if your policy is rated on the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. An improperly rated Fusion Energi can cost quite a bit.
Younger drivers cost more – Drivers with little experience are proven to be inattentive behind the wheel so they pay higher insurance rates. Having to add a beginning driver to your insurance policy can be very expensive. More experienced drivers have been proven to be more responsible, file fewer claims, and are generally more financially stable.
More performance means more cost – The performance of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in your auto insurance rates. Low performance passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.
Low comp and collision deductibles can be expensive – Physical damage deductibles tell how much you are required to pay before your insurance pays a claim. Physical damage protection, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some coverage claims are rear-ending another vehicle, animal collisions, and having a roll-over accident. The more the insured is willing to pay, the less your insurance will be.
Alarms and GPS tracking lower premiums – Selecting a car model with an alarm system can save you some money. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping auto theft and help lower rates.
Cutting your insurance rates isn’t really that difficult. Just take a couple of minutes to compare rate quotes online with multiple companies.
It’s so simple to compare insurance rates online takes the place of having to drive to insurance agencies in your area. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you require the advice and guidance that only an agent can give. Although you can get prices online but purchase the actual policy in an agency.
The following companies have been selected to offer price comparisons in California. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you get price quotes from several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Auto insurance does more than just repair your car
Despite the high cost, auto insurance is required for several reasons.
First, almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability coverage in order to drive the car. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you took out a loan on your car, it’s most likely the lender will force you to have comprehensive coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may insure your Ford at a more expensive rate and require you to reimburse them the higher premium.
Third, auto insurance preserves your Ford Fusion Energi and your assets. Insurance will also pay for all forms of medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay attorney fees if you cause an accident and are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of buying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. Unknowingly, the average driver is wasting up to $825 a year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
These discounts can lower your car insurance quotes
Car insurance companies don’t list all their discounts very well, so the list below details both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using when you buy Los Angeles auto insurance online.
- ABS Brakes – Cars with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Paperwork-free – A few insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
- Organization Discounts – Joining qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on your next renewal.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can combine your home and auto policy with the same insurance company you could save 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Resident Student – Children who live away from home to go to college and do not have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Responsible Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
Insurance companies that may offer most of the discounts above may include but are not limited to:
When quoting, ask each company how you can save money. Some credits might not be available to policyholders everywhere. If you would like to see a list of insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Los Angeles, click here.
Can’t I compare rate quotes from local Los Angeles insurance agents?
A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is not a bad decision Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get cheaper premium rates but still work with a licensed agent.
Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to agents in your area who want to provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. If you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance provider, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Choosing the best provider requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Any agent in Los Angeles should have no problem answering these questions:
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Los Angeles?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, it’s important to understand the types of agencies and how they operate. Insurance agents in Los Angeles can be classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either can sell and service insurance coverage, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in how they write coverage because it can factor into which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only provide pricing for a single company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive insurance agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.
The following is a short list of exclusive agencies in Los Angeles who may provide you with price quote information.
Allyson Weber – State Farm Insurance Agent
1063 Colorado Blvd – Los Angeles, CA 90041 – (323) 258-5801 – View Map
State Farm: Ramon Pantoja
714 W Olympic Blvd #1007 – Los Angeles, CA 90015 – (213) 225-0655 – View Map
Young Pyo – State Farm Insurance Agent
3700 Wilshire Blvd #567 – Los Angeles, CA 90010 – (213) 365-1600 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be independent are not employed by any specific company and that gives them the ability to insure with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If they find a lower price, they simply switch companies in-house and you stay with the same agent.
When comparing rates, you will want to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.
Below are independent agencies in Los Angeles who can help you get price quote information.
InsurAide Insurance Agency, Inc. (IIA)
1081 Westwood Blvd Suite 218 – Los Angeles, CA 90024 – (310) 208-3548 – View Map
Starco Insurance
1905 S Western Ave #19 – Los Angeles, CA 90018 – (310) 215-9991 – View Map
Solid Health Insurance Agency
11639 Chenault St – Los Angeles, CA 90049 – (310) 909-6135 – View Map
Once you have acceptable answers to any questions you may have and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that meets the criteria to properly service your insurance policy. Keep in mind consumers can cancel a policy whenever you wish so never assume that you are permanently stuck with any specific agency with no way out.
Don’t give up on affordable premiums
When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.
Cheaper car insurance in Los Angeles is possible both online and with local Los Angeles insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies do not offer internet price quotes and many times these small, regional companies sell through local independent agents.
In this article, we covered some good ideas how to save on Ford Fusion Energi insurance in Los Angeles. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest prices come from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.
More tips and info about car insurance can be read in these articles:
- Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
- Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)