Finding Cheap Auto Insurance In California

by Levi Quinn

The state of California is known for its high prices. The cost
of living in general is much higher than the cost of living in
many other locations. California also requires relatively high
levels of auto insurance coverage to be carried, resulting in
extremely high insurance premiums. While car insurance rates
will always be higher in California than in many other areas, a
bit of persistence can result in a significant savings.

If you are looking for car insurance in California, be sure to
look for and follow general money-saving suggestions on the
internet and in consumer magazines. Be sure to shop around
carefully as well, as insurance rates may vary immensely from
one provider to the next. California insurance companies are
permitted to charge based on how much they have paid out in
general. Therefore, you may find yourself penalized for someone
else's accidents.

Make sure that you are aware of the current California state
minimum requirements for insurance coverage levels. Many
companies have their own in-house minimums which may be much
higher. If you are insuring an old low-value car, you may not
need insurance beyond the state requirements, so insist that the
company give you this quote. Additional coverage may be
necessary depending on your financial resources and whether your
car is financed.

Discounts are available for groups ranging from retirees to full
time students. The best bonuses go to Safe Drivers. Maintaining
a clean driving record is the number one thing that you can do
to keep your rates as low as possible. Ask your insurance agent
whether you qualify for any additional bonuses. Buy your
insurance online. Companies such as esurance.com offer
comparison shopping between many different policies. Their rates
are often lower because there is no middleman insurance agent
drawing a commission. Be sure that you are comparing identical
plans in terms of deductible, coverage and added insurance
products.

If you have the financial resources, consider raising your
deductible. Good drivers who are unlikely to have an accident
can save significantly on their monthly payments simply by
raising their deductibles. Just keep in mind that you will need
to be able to afford the deductible if something does happen.
Remember that cars are classified into groups, and certain
groups are more expensive to insure. Your driving record will
also play a part. Young drivers will pay more to insure sports
cars than other types of cars and more to insure sports cars
than will older drivers with good records. Check into insurance
rates for a car you are considering.

While car insurance rates remain high in California and truly
cheap car insurance may not exist, it is possible to find
insurance that is not outlandishly expensive. Shop around, look
for discounts, raise your deductible and drop unneeded
coverages. In this way you can find insurance that will cover
your needs without breaking your monthly budget.

About the author:
Shop for the best rates on local car insurance, such as
Atlanta Auto Insurance, at
AutoInsuranceRatesDirect.com.