The preferred way to get affordable car insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from companies who can sell car insurance in Santa Ana.
Step 1: Try to understand how your policy works and the factors you can control to keep rates in check. Many risk factors that result in higher rates like getting speeding tickets and a not-so-good credit rating can be controlled by making minor changes in your lifestyle. Read the full article for tips to prevent high prices and earn a bigger discount.
Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple sources.
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in Santa Ana. If you find better rates and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Step 4: Provide proper notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage. Submit the application along with any required down payment to the new company. Be sure to put the certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location.
A good piece of advice is to make sure you enter similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and and to get rates from as many different companies as possible. Doing this ensures a fair rate comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
A study showed that the vast majority of car insurance customers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for more than four years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average car insurance premium being $1,390, Santa Ana drivers can cut their rates by as much as $470 a year, but they just assume it's a time-consuming process to find lower-cost rates by getting comparison quotes.
If you have a current insurance policy or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. We hope to let you in on how car insurance works and also save some money in the process Drivers just have to know the proper methods to find the lowest price from many different companies.
Where can I get affordable Santa Ana Chevy HHR insurance?
The car insurance companies shown below provide quotes in Santa Ana, CA. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
Detailed insurance information
The coverage information shown next outlines a range of insurance costs for Chevy HHR models. Having a better understanding of how insurance policy premiums are determined can be useful when making decisions on which insurance to purchase.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHR LS | $300 | $524 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,604 | $134 |
| HHR LT | $300 | $524 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,604 | $134 |
| HHR SS | $336 | $712 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,828 | $152 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in specific location information which can alter prices noticeably.
How accidents and violations affect rates
The example below illustrates how traffic citations and accident claims can impact Chevy HHR insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The data assumes a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
The diagram below shows the comparison of Chevy HHR insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage. The premiums are based on no violations or accidents, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no set guideline of when to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let's assume your Chevy HHR settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $600 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some situations where only buying liability is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Three reasons to not skimp on auto insurance
Even though Santa Ana HHR insurance rates can get expensive, maintaining insurance serves a purpose in several ways.
- Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a minimum amount of liability coverage if you want to drive legally. 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.
- If you have a lien on your Chevy, it's most likely the lender will require you to buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Chevy for a much higher rate and require you to pay the higher premium.
- Auto insurance protects both your assets and your Chevy HHR. It will also pay for medical bills incurred in an accident. Liability coverage also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of having auto insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying more than $865 each year so it's recommended you shop around at every policy renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Insurance Price Influencing Factors
It's important that you understand some of the things that help determine your premiums. If you understand what influences your rates, this enables informed choices that can help you get lower premium levels.
The items below are some of the items companies use to determine rates.
- Never let your car insurance policy lapse - Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and companies may charge more for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance may result in a revoked license or a big fine. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department.
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Prices go up with performance - The type of car, truck or SUV you are insuring makes a huge difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger cars usually are quite affordable to insure, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The next chart assumes a married female driver age 30, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Chevrolet HHR insurance premiums compared to other makes and models that have a range of performance rating factors.
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Mature drivers pay less - Older drivers have been proven to be more responsible, file fewer claims, and are generally more financially stable. Young drivers are statistically shown to be less responsible when behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
The following chart uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
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Guys tend to take more risk - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. It does not mean females are better drivers. Males and females are in fender benders in similar percentages, but men cause more damage. They also get ticketed for serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
The chart below shows the difference between Chevy HHR annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The costs are based on no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.
The lowest rates come from being thorough
A few companies do not offer the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through independent insurance agents. Cheap Chevy HHR insurance in Santa Ana can be sourced on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.
As you prepare to switch companies, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many cases, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
We covered many ways to reduce Chevy HHR insurance premium rates online in Santa Ana. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you'll have of finding low cost Santa Ana auto insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from the least-expected company.
Even more information can be read at these sites:
- Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)
- Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
- Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)