Did a good deal turn into an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many Los Angeles drivers thinking the same thing.
A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that most car insurance customers kept buying from the same company for at least the last four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never even shopped around for lower-cost coverage. Drivers in California could save an average of up to $469 each year just by comparing rates, but most just don’t grasp the benefits if they swap their current policy for a cheaper one. Consumers have many car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to compare company pricing for Suzuki XL-7 insurance in Los Angeles.
It’s important to take a look at other company’s rates before your next renewal because insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you found the lowest premium rates on Suzuki XL-7 insurance in Los Angeles a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better prices now. You’ll find a ton of advice on XL-7 insurance on the web, but you can learn some of the best techniques to lower your car insurance premiums.
Cheaper rates by receiving these eight discounts
Insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but there may be some discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Certain credits will be shown when you get a quote, but a few must be requested specifically before you get the savings.
- No Accidents – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims have much lower rates as opposed to frequent claim filers.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Professional Organizations – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations is a simple method to lower premiums on insurance.
- Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen with less frequency and will save you 10% or more on XL-7 insurance in Los Angeles.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not a discount per se, but companies like GEICO and Liberty Mutual will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Switch and Save Discount – Some larger companies provide a discount for buying a new policy before your current coverage expires. It could save around 10% when you buy Los Angeles auto insurance online.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than their less cautious counterparts.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
Remember that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Despite the appearance that you could get a free insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.
Some of the insurance companies that may include some of the above discounts may include but are not limited to:
Before buying, ask each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be available to policyholders in every state. To locate providers who offer discounts in Los Angeles, click here to view.
Finding cheap Los Angeles car insurance prices can be quick and easy. You just have to invest a little time getting comparison quotes online from several insurance companies.
It’s so fast and easy to compare rate quotes online that it replaces the need to drive to different Los Angeles agent offices. The ability to get quotes online eliminates this option unless your situation requires the advice and guidance that you can only get from talking to an agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to get the lowest quotes online but buy the policy through an agent.
The companies shown below provide price comparisons in California. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Exclusive or independent insurance agents
A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Good agents can help you build your policy and help you file claims. A nice benefit of comparing rates online is you can get cheap car insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to search for an agent since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. If you have a need to compare rates from a specific company, you would need to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Choosing the best insurance company requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do the agents have professional certifications like CPCU or CIC?
- By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
- What companies can they write with?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- How much experience to they have in personal lines coverages?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Los Angeles?
Choose the right auto insurance agent
If you want to buy car insurance from a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Car insurance policy providers can either be independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either type can provide car insurance policies, but it’s a good idea to understand why they differ because it can impact which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive agents are well trained on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Listed below are Los Angeles exclusive agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.
Patricia Aleman – State Farm Insurance Agent
3222 Glendale Blvd b – Los Angeles, CA 90039 – (323) 644-0900 – View Map
Stephan Buckley – State Farm Insurance Agent
4340 Leimert Blvd #201 – Los Angeles, CA 90008 – (323) 298-9022 – View Map
Diane Sinner – State Farm Insurance Agent
6535 Wilshire Blvd #117 – Los Angeles, CA 90048 – (323) 651-4775 – View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agencies
Independent agencies do not sell for just one brand and that enables them to quote your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to find a new agent.
If you are comparing car insurance prices, you should always get several quotes from multiple independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison.
Below is a short list of independent agencies in Los Angeles that can give you rate quotes.
Lewis and Lewis Insurance Agency, Inc.
11900 W Olympic Blvd #475 – Los Angeles, CA 90064 – (800) 966-6830 – View Map
Lloyd S. Berkett Insurance Agency, Inc.
11150 W Olympic Blvd # 1100 – Los Angeles, CA 90064 – (310) 857-5757 – View Map
Public Insurance Agency
10941 W Pico Blvd – Los Angeles, CA 90064 – (310) 234-8600 – View Map
Auto insurance coverages
Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.
UM/UIM Coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Suzuki XL-7.
Due to the fact that many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (California limits are 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Auto collision coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your XL-7 resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle, scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible on your XL-7 to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hail damage, a broken windshield and damage from flooding. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Liability
Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability insurance covers things like medical services, legal defense fees, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should consider buying more coverage.
The chart below shows why the minimum limit may not be adequate.
Medical costs insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for expenses like X-ray expenses, chiropractic care, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
One last note
The cheapest Suzuki XL-7 insurance in Los Angeles is attainable from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Los Angeles agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don’t offer rates over the internet and these regional carriers only sell through independent agencies.
We’ve covered some good ideas how you can compare Suzuki XL-7 insurance prices in Los Angeles. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding the cheapest Suzuki XL-7 rate quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and GEICO.
To learn more, take a look at the articles below:
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Los Angeles Auto Insurance Rates for a GMC Sierra? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda Pilot in Los Angeles? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 70 in Los Angeles? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for High Mileage Drivers in Los Angeles? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Los Angeles Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21? (FAQ)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)