Save Money on Honda Fit Insurance in Santa Ana

Honda Fit insurance image courtesy of QuoteInspector.com

It takes a little time, but the best way to find lower priced car insurance rates in Santa Ana is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers in California. You can compare rates by following these steps.

First, read and learn about how companies set rates and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that drive up the price such as speeding and a less-than-favorable credit history can be amended by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Continue reading for additional ideas to prevent expensive rate increases and find additional discounts you may qualify for.

Second, quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.

Third, compare the new rates to your current policy premium and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

An important part of this process is that you use the same liability limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get rates from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.

It's an obvious statement that insurance companies don't want customers comparing rates. Consumers who perform rate comparisons will, in all likelihood, move their business because they stand a good chance of finding a lower rate. A recent survey found that consumers who make a habit of shopping around saved $72 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.

If finding the most affordable insurance is your objective, then having an understanding of the best ways to shop for insurance coverage can help you be more efficient.

You Can Change Your Insurance Premiums

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are a few of the things auto insurance companies consider when setting your prices.

• Females pay lower costs - Over time, data shows women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don't assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. They both get in accidents in similar numbers, but guys tend to have higher claims. Men also tend to receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.

  The illustration below shows the comparison of Honda Fit insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The data assumes no violations or claims, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

• Tickets will cost you - Your driving citation history can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Careful drivers get better prices than people who have multiple driving citations. Only having one ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get multiple citations like reckless driving or DUI may need to prove financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.

  The example below demonstrates how speeding tickets and accidents impact Honda Fit insurance prices for different age groups of insureds. The premiums assume a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
• Get hitched and get better costs - Getting married can get you a discount compared to being single. Marriage translates into being more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Keep insurance claims to a minimum - Insurance companies in California generally give discounts to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• If you don't need it don't buy it - Insurance companies have many extra add-on coverages that you can buy if you don't pay attention. Things like rental car coverage, towing, and extra life insurance coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem good when deciding what coverages you need, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so think about removing them and cutting costs.
• Bundle policies to earn discounts - The majority of insurance companies provide discounts for people who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to help ensure you have the lowest rates.
• Low comp and collision deductibles can be expensive - Comp and collision deductibles are how much you are required to pay in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are rear-ending another vehicle, collision with a deer, or theft of your vehicle. The more expense you have to pay, the less money you will pay for auto insurance.
• Rates can be impacted by your vocation - Occupational choices like fire fighters, executives, and dentists generally pay higher rates than average in part from intense work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. Other jobs like actors, engineers and the unemployed get better rates.

• Honda Fit insurance claim data - Insurers analyze past claim statistics to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Vehicles that the data determines to have higher loss trends will cost more for specific coverages. The next table shows the historical insurance loss data for Honda Fit vehicles.

  For each type of coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles as a whole is a value of 100. Numbers that are below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values that are above 100 point to more losses or an increased chance of larger losses than average.

  Honda Fit Insurance Claim Statistics

  Specific Honda Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Honda Fit	89	78	90	99	97	92

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

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

How much is Honda Fit insurance in Santa Ana, CA?

When price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.

The providers in the list below provide price quotes in Santa Ana, CA. If several companies are displayed, it's highly recommended you visit as many as you can in order to find the most affordable rates.

Honda Fit coverage analysis

The table shown next covers detailed analysis of policy rates for Honda Fit models. Being more informed about how prices are calculated can help you make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.

Cost estimates assume single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific zip code location which can change coverage rates noticeably.

The illustration below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect Honda Fit insurance costs for each age group. The price estimates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Honda Fit liability rates compared to full coverage

The information below illustrates the comparison of Honda Fit premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data is based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no clear-cut formula for dropping comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle's replacement cost less your deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let's assume your Honda Fit book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $5,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it's costing you more than $500 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you haven't paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you don't have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.

Why you need to buy auto insurance

Despite the high cost, paying for auto insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

• Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability insurance 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.
• If you took out a loan on your Fit, most banks will make it a condition of the loan that you buy insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you default on your policy, the lender may insure your Honda at an extremely high rate and require you to reimburse them for it.
• Auto insurance preserves not only your car but also your financial assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills incurred in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of buying auto insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially if you ever need it. But the average driver in California overpays as much as $800 each year so shop around at every policy renewal to save money.

Do you qualify for discounts on Honda Fit insurance in Santa Ana?

Some insurers don't necessarily list every available discount very clearly, so the list below gives a summary of both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available.

• Early Renewal Discounts - A few larger companies give discounts for renewing your policy before your current expiration date. It's a savings of about 10%.
• Own a Home - Just being a homeowner can get you a discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles could earn lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
• ABS Brakes - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Save with More Vehicles Insured - Having multiple cars or trucks with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Discounts for New Vehicles - Insuring a new Fit can save up to 30% since new model year vehicles have better safety ratings.
• Discount for Multiple Policies - If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy and insure them with the same company you could earn a discount of nearly 15% which can help you find affordable Honda Fit insurance rates in Santa Ana.
• Student in College - Youth drivers who live away from home at college without a vehicle on campus may be insured at a cheaper rate.
• Paper-free Discount - Certain companies will provide an incentive for buying your policy on your computer.

It's important to understand that some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you're out of luck.

The diagram below compares Honda Fit annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.

To view insurance companies who offer discounts in California, click this link.

What if I want to buy from local Santa Ana insurance agencies?

Some consumers just prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that drivers can get cheap car insurance rates and still have a local agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your information is transmitted to companies in Santa Ana who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won't have to find an agent on your own because prices are sent to you directly. You can get cheaper car insurance rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you would need to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.

Choosing the best insurance company should depend on more than just the quoted price. Any agent in Santa Ana should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
• Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
• What companies can they write with?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• How often do they review coverages?

After talking to the agent and getting good feedback to all your questions as well as an affordable premium quote, you've probably found a company that can be relied on to service your policy.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying proper insurance coverage, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Each situation is unique and your insurance should be unique as well. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

• Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
• What does PIP insurance cover?
• What is motorclub and do I need it?
• Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
• Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in California?
• Am I covered when driving someone else's vehicle?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Don't give up on cheaper rates

Lower-priced auto insurance in Santa Ana is possible on the web and from local insurance agents, so you need to shop Santa Ana auto insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not offer online rate quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent agents.

We just covered a lot of tips how to save on Honda Fit insurance in Santa Ana. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates are with the smaller companies. These companies may have significantly lower car insurance rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

When searching for the cheapest Honda Fit rate quotes, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal is to find the BEST coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.

Additional auto insurance information is available on the following sites:

• Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
• Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for Teenage Females? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Car Insurance Rates for Real Estate Agents? (FAQ)
• How Much are Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for Homeowners? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Honda Accord in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Seniors in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)
• Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)