How to Get Lower Auto Insurance Rates in Los Angeles

Do you want to learn to get the cheapest car insurance rates in Los Angeles, CA? Having to pay for overpriced car insurance in Los Angeles can empty your personal savings and make it tough to pay other bills.

It’s a known fact that car insurance companies don’t want policyholders to compare prices from other companies. People who shop around for cheaper rates will most likely switch to a new company because they stand a good chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. Remarkably, a study showed that consumers who make a habit of shopping around saved about $3,500 over four years compared to those who didn’t regularly shop around.

If finding low prices for insurance is your target objective, learning the best way to quote and compare cheaper coverage can help you succeed in saving money. Big companies like GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ads and it can be hard to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you are insured now or just want to save money, you can use these tips to buy cheaper insurance and still have adequate protection. Locating the best rates in Los Angeles is quite easy. Vehicle owners just need to know the least time-consuming way to find the lowest price from many different companies online.

The following companies are our best choices to provide quotes in Los Angeles, CA. If the list has multiple companies, it’s a good idea that you compare several of them to get the lowest price.

Data based on married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in zip code location which can change auto insurance rates significantly.

Get affordable insurance with discounts

Insurance is not inexpensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but once in a while a discount must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

• Theft Deterrent Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen with less frequency so companies will give you a small discount.
• Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
• ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles have fewer accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Multi-line Discount – Some insurance companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
• Full Payment Discount – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may have a lower total premium amount.
• Own a Home and Save – Owning a home in Los Angeles can save you money because it requires a higher level of personal finance.
• Telematics Discount – Drivers who elect to allow their company to monitor their driving habits remotely like Allstate’s Drivewise may see discounts if their driving habits are good.

While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

A partial list of companies who may offer these discounts include:

• Farm Bureau
• Liberty Mutual
• State Farm
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• GEICO
• SAFECO

When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts might not apply in Los Angeles. If you would like to see a list of insurers who offer discounts in California, follow this link.

Auto insurance is not optional in California

Despite the high cost of buying insurance in Los Angeles, auto insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.

First, almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability protection in order to license the vehicle. 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 your vehicle has a loan, almost every bank will require you to have physical damage coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your vehicle at a much higher rate and force you to pay the higher price.

Third, auto insurance protects both your car and your personal assets. It also can pay for most medical and hospital costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage also pays expenses related to your legal defense in the event you are sued. If you have damage to your vehicle as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.

The benefits of carrying enough insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially for larger claims. According to a recent study, the average American driver is wasting up to $865 each year so you should quote your policy with other companies at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.

Comparing prices from local Los Angeles insurance agents

A lot of people still like to buy from a local agent and that can be a smart move Most agents can help you choose the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is that drivers can save money and get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents that give free quotes to get your business. There is no reason to find an agent on your own as quotes are delivered instantly to you. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote from a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.

Finding a good provider requires you to look at more than just a low price. Any good agent in Los Angeles should know the answers to these questions.

• If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
• Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?

If you want a local Los Angeles insurance agent, you should know the types of agencies and how they work. Los Angeles agents can be described as either exclusive or independent. Both types can write policy coverage, but it is important to understand the differences since it may influence which agent you choose.

Exclusive Car Insurance Agents

Agents that elect to be exclusive work for only one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agents receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

Listed below are Los Angeles exclusive insurance agencies who may provide you with price quotes.

View more Los Angeles agents

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and find you the best rates. If prices rise, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing rate quotes, we recommend you check rates from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.

Shown below are Los Angeles independent agencies that are able to give comparison quotes.

View more Los Angeles agents

After getting positive responses to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that can be relied on to service your policy.

Claim statistics by make and model

Do you own a vehicle likely to have a claim? The data below list the highest and lowest cars and trucks for the probability of filing claims organized by coverage.