A recent auto insurance study revealed that the vast majority of consumers have remained with the same auto insurance company for at least the last four years, and just under half have never quoted rates to find lower-cost coverage. Consumers in Santa Ana could save themselves $470 a year, but they don't want to spend time to compare rates.
It takes a little time, but the best way to get cheaper car insurance rates in Santa Ana is to do an annual price comparison from providers in California. Rate comparisons can be done by completing these steps.
Step 1: Read about the coverage provided by your policy and the measures you can control to prevent rate increases. Many things that result in higher rates like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a not-so-good credit score can be eliminated by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Step 2: Request rate estimates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate and make a switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your current company of your intention to cancel your current policy. Submit the application along with any required down payment to your new agent or company. Once received, keep the new proof of insurance paperwork in an accessible location in your vehicle.
One thing to remember is to try to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote and and to get rate quotes from all possible companies. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
Why Your Insurance Premiums might be higher
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the different types of things that go into determining your policy premiums. When consumers understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you big savings.
Listed below are most of the major factors used by insurance companies to determine your prices.
Liability coverage is critical - Liability insurance kicks in if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. Your liability coverage provides you with a defense in court to defend your case. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of insurance companies apply a rate partially by how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Incorrect rating for your Cruze can result in significantly higher rates. It's a smart idea to ensure your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Lower rates for married couples - Getting married can actually save you money on your auto insurance bill. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more mature and responsible and statistics prove drivers who are married are more cautious.
Qualify for multi-policy discounts - Most larger auto insurance companies provide discounts for people that have more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be 10 percent or more. Even if you already get this discount, you may still want to compare Chevy Cruze rates in Santa Ana to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.There is a chance you can find better rates even if you have your coverage with different companies
How your age affects costs - Beginning drivers in California have a tendency to be more careless when driving with friends so auto insurance rates are higher. Adding a inexperienced driver to your policy will cause a huge premium hike. Older drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
Be proud to be claim-free - Car insurance companies in California generally give lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file a lot of claims you can definitely plan on higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Always have auto insurance - Allowing your coverage to lapse will be a fast way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will rates go up, not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you fines or a revoked license.
Vehicle options impact auto insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all help stop car theft.
Insurance loss data for Chevy Cruze vehicles - Companies use past insurance losses to help set a rate to offset losses. Vehicles that tend to have a trend towards higher claim severity or frequency will be charged more to insure. The data below shows the actual insurance loss data for Chevy Cruze vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles as a whole is considered to be 100. Percentage numbers below 100 indicate better than average losses, while numbers above 100 indicate more frequent claims or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cruze | 96 | 132 | 87 | 136 | 153 | 152 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lower rate quotes by applying discounts
Some insurers don't list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Santa Ana car insurance online.
- Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of 25 to 30%.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles - Buying a policy with all your vehicles with the same car insurance company can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Renewal Discounts - A few car insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy prior to your current Cruze insurance policy expiring. This discount can save up to 10%.
- Save over 55 - Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive reduced rates.
- Santa Ana Homeowners Pay Less - Just owning your own home can save you money because owning a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
Don't be shocked that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.
To see a list of insurance companies that offer many of these discounts in Santa Ana, follow this link.
Which auto insurance company is best in Santa Ana?
Ending up with the best auto insurance provider is difficult considering how many companies sell coverage in California. The company ratings in the lists below could help you choose which car insurance providers to look at comparing rates from.
Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Compare. Compare. Compare.
Affordable Chevy Cruze insurance in Santa Ana can be bought on the web in addition to many Santa Ana insurance agents, so you need to shop Santa Ana car insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies do not provide online rate quotes and these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agents.
You just read a lot of techniques to reduce Chevy Cruze insurance prices online in Santa Ana. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you'll have of finding the cheapest Chevrolet Cruze rate quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices come from some of the smallest insurance companies.
When searching for low cost Santa Ana car insurance quotes, it's not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, someone sacrificed full coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, but don't skip important coverages to save money.
Additional information is located below:
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers with Accidents? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Ford F-150 in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda Pilot in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a GMC Sierra in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)