Best Insurance for a Buick Enclave in Santa Ana

No one likes buying auto insurance, especially when they know the cost is too high.

Everyone knows that insurance companies don't want customers comparing rates. Consumers who shop around for cheaper price quotes will most likely switch to a new company because there are good odds of finding lower rate quotes. A recent auto insurance study revealed that consumers who compared rates once a year saved on average $850 each year compared to policyholders who didn't regularly shop around.

If finding low prices for insurance in Santa Ana is your ultimate goal, knowing how to quote and compare car insurance can make shopping around easier.

Steps to buying lower priced Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana

The most effective way to save on Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers that sell auto insurance in California.

Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about policy coverages and the things you can control to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as your driving record and bad credit can be amended by being financially responsible and driving safely.

Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.

Step 3: Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you can save some money, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

Step 4: Notify your agent or company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to the new insurer. As soon as coverage is bound, place your new certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle's registration.

One key aspect when comparing rates is that you'll want to compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.

Many insurance companies compete for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a provider and get the best coverage at the lowest cost out there.

It's a great practice to quote other rates quite often due to the fact that insurance prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price on Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana a year ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn how to quote online to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut your premiums using these techniques. Locating the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Santa Ana is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. Although California consumers do need to know how the larger insurance companies determine premium rates and use it to your advantage.

Why Informed Consumers Pay Less for Buick Enclave Insurance

Many different elements are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like your driving record, although others are not quite as obvious such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility. It's important that you understand the rating factors that are used to determine your policy premiums. When you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

• Stay claim-free and save - Car insurance companies in California give the lowest premiums to people who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
• Incidental coverages you don't need - Insurance companies have many optional add-on coverages you can purchase but may not be useful. Insurance for replacement cost coverage, better glass coverage, and term life insurance are some examples. These coverages may sound good initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
• Always have insurance - Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and any future policy may cost more because you let your coverage have a gap. In addition to paying higher premiums, not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.

• Teen drivers cost more - Drivers with little experience have a tendency to be inattentive and easily distracted when driving so insurance rates are higher. Adding a teen driver onto your insurance can really hurt. Older people have been proven to be more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.

  The next chart is based on a single driver, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
• Married people drive safer - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your insurance bill. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more stable financially and statistics prove married couples file fewer claims.
• Big city or small town - Having an address in a rural area has it's advantages when shopping for auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have more aggressive driving styles and more severe claims. Lower population translates into fewer accidents.

• Premiums go up with performance - The performance of the car, truck or SUV you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in determining your rates. Smaller low performance passenger models usually have the lowest rates, but your final cost has many other factors.

  The following data uses these variables: married male driver age 30, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Buick Enclave policy rates compared to other models of vehicles that have different performance rating factors.
• Theft deterrents save - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Systems that thwart thieves like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms help track and prevent car theft.

• Buick Enclave insurance loss data - Insurers use statistical claims data to help determine costs. Vehicles that the statistics show to have a trend towards higher claim severity or frequency will have a higher cost to insure.

  The next table illustrates the collected loss data for Buick Enclave vehicles. For each type of coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, is considered to be 100. Values under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while numbers above 100 point to more losses or an increased chance of a larger loss.

  Buick Enclave Insurance Claim Statistics

  Vehicle Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Buick Enclave 4dr 2WD	85	101	83	67	63	81
  Buick Enclave 4dr 4WD	93	110	92	64	62	84

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

Affordable Santa Ana Buick Enclave insurance quotes online

Most of the larger companies allow you to get coverage price quotes directly from their websites. Comparing prices online for Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana is fairly simple because you just enter your coverage preferences on the page. Behind the scenes, their quoting system obtains your driving record and credit report and generates pricing information based on the data you entered. Being able to quote online for Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana makes it a lot easier to compare rates and it's also necessary to do this in order to find the cheapest price.

To save time and find out if lower rates are available, visit the companies below or click here to submit a quote request to multiple companies at once. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you type in coverages and limits as shown on your current policy. Doing this assures you will have an apples-to-apples comparison based on identical coverages.

The companies in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in California. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you click on several of them in order to find the most competitive rates.

Insurance data for a Buick Enclave

The coverage table below covers a range of rate quotes for Buick Enclave models. Understanding more about how rate quotes are figured can be valuable when making decisions on which coverage to buy.

Above prices assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter premiums noticeably.

Where to set your deductibles

When shopping for insurance, a common question is how high should your deductibles be. The following tables help summarize the cost difference between high and low coverage deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise prices substantially.

Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible will cost you approximately $50 more each month or $600 every year averaged for all Enclave models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average more than 18 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you opt for a higher deductible.

The information below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can raise or lower Buick Enclave yearly insurance costs for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Does it make sense to buy full coverage?

The chart below shows the comparison of Buick Enclave insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The premiums are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to eliminate full coverage

There is no definitive guideline of when to eliminate full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let's pretend your Buick Enclave replacement cost is $5,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $4,000 after the deductible is paid. If premiums are more than $400 annually for your policy with full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not buy liability only.

Car insurance does more than just repair your car

Even though it's not necessarily cheap to insure a Buick in Santa Ana, car insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

First, the majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you drive a 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 Enclave has a lienholder, most banks will make it mandatory that you buy full coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Buick for a lot more money and force you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.

Third, car insurance preserves not only your Buick but also your financial assets. Insurance will pay for hospital and medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense in the event you are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of buying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. Today the average American driver is wasting up to $865 each year so compare rate quotes at every policy renewal to ensure rates are competitive.

Get cheaper Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana with discounts

Some companies don't necessarily list every discount available very clearly, so the list below contains a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious savings tricks you should be using when you buy Santa Ana car insurance online.

• Santa Ana Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Santa Ana can get you a discount because it requires a higher level of personal finance.
• Discounts for Good Drivers - Accident-free drivers may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
• Military Discounts - Being on active deployment in the military could mean lower rates.
• Driver Safety - Completing a driver safety course is a good idea and can lower rates and make you a better driver.
• Discount for Good Grades - Excelling in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.

One thing to note about discounts is that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn't stay in business.

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Buick Enclave premium costs with and without discounts. Data assumes a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, marriage, multi-car, and multi-policy discounts applied.

If you would like to view insurers that offer multiple discounts in California, click here.

Exclusive and independent auto insurance agents

Certain consumers still like to buy from a licensed agent and that is a smart decision One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find lower rates and still buy from a local agent.

After completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to agents in your area who can give free rate quotes to get your business. It's much easier because you don't need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to you. You'll get the best rates AND a local agent. If you wish to compare rates for a specific company, don't hesitate to visit that company's website and fill out their quote form.

Choosing a provider is decision based upon more than just a cheap quote. These questions are important to ask:

• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
• Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Santa Ana?

What type of Santa Ana auto insurance agent is right for you?

When looking for a local insurance agency, it's helpful to know the types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Santa Ana are classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

These type of agents have only one company to place business with like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot shop your coverage around so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive agents are trained well on their company's products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.

The following are Santa Ana exclusive insurance agencies who may provide you with rate quotes.

More Santa Ana agents

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not employed by one company and that allows them to write policies through many companies and get the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you stay with the same agent.

When comparing car insurance rates, you will want to check rates from several independent insurance agents in order to have the best price comparison.

Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Santa Ana that can give you price quotes.

More Santa Ana agents

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. You are unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation could use an agent's help.

• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
• Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
• What is the difference between personal and commercial auto insurance policies?
• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• What if a claim settlement is too low?
• Does low annual mileage earn a discount?

If you can't answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Persistence pays off

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to save on Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices come from a lesser-known regional company.

Insureds switch companies for many reasons like poor customer service, high prices, delays in responding to claim requests or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is actually quite simple.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

Steps to finding low-cost rates for Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana

The best way we recommend to find affordable Buick Enclave insurance in Santa Ana is to start comparing prices yearly from different companies who provide car insurance in California. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.

1. Try to understand coverages and the things you can control to lower rates. Many rating factors that cause high rates like accidents, traffic tickets, and a poor credit rating can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely.
2. Obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of companies. Get quotes now
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Give notification to your agent or company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a completed policy application and payment to your new insurance company. Immediately upon receiving it, safely store the proof of insurance paperwork in an easily accessible location.

A tip to remember is to make sure you're comparing identical limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. This helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a good representation of prices.

Other articles

• Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Drivers Over Age 50 in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Requiring a SR22? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Government Employees in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Where can I buy Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Determining Your Vehicle's Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
• Self-driving cars won't replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)