Cheapest Rate Quotes for GMC Terrain Insurance in Santa Ana

GMC Terrain insurance rates image courtesy of QuoteInspector.com

A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that over 70% of consumers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for more than four years, and almost 40% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average premium in California being $1,387, drivers could save nearly $470 a year just by comparing rates, but they don't invest the time required to compare other rate quotes.

Really, the only way to get discount car insurance rates is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from providers who sell auto insurance in Santa Ana. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.

First, learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the things you can change to drop your rates. Many things that result in higher prices like at-fault accidents and a poor credit rating can be controlled by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Read the full article for instructions to help reduce premium rates and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.

Second, obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide prices for a wide range of companies.

Third, compare the quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.

Fourth, tell your current agent or company to cancel your existing policy and submit a down payment along with a completed application for the new policy. Immediately upon receiving it, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance with your registration paperwork.

A good piece of advice is that you'll want to compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to compare as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.

The are a couple different ways to compare prices from many available car insurance companies in California. The fastest way to compare rates is to jump online and get quotes.

Comparing rate quotes online is fast and free, and it replaces the need to go to each insurance agency near you. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the trained guidance of an agent trained in personal lines coverage. It is possible to get the lowest quotes online but buy the policy through an agent. Just keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find lower pricing.

The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, it's highly recommended you get rate quotes from several of them to find the lowest auto insurance rates.

Insurance coverage details

The rate table below outlines a range of insurance coverage prices for GMC Terrain models. Being more informed about how insurance rates are formulated can assist in making informed purchases.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in specific location which can revise price quotes greatly.

Comparison of policy deductibles

One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is what deductibles to buy. The rates shown below outline the rate fluctuation when you buy lower versus higher comp and collision deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 physical damage coverage deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.

Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in specific zip code location which can increase or decrease price quotes noticeably.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible costs about $18 more each month or $216 annually than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at least 14 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible. The table below shows an example of how this determination is made.

The example below highlights how deductible selection and can influence GMC Terrain insurance costs for each different age category. The premiums assume a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Careless Santa Ana drivers pay higher rates

The information below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault claims increase GMC Terrain car insurance costs for different age categories. The prices are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The illustration below shows the difference between GMC Terrain insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The rates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Guidelines for eliminating full coverage

There is no definitive formula for phasing out comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let's assume your GMC Terrain replacement cost is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $5,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying 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 some circumstances where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.

Buying the right GMC Terrain insurance in California is an important decision

Despite the high insurance cost for a GMC Terrain in Santa Ana, insuring your vehicle may be required and benefits you in several ways.

First, just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability coverage 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.

Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, almost all lenders will make it mandatory that you have full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the lender may insure your GMC at a much higher rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.

Third, insurance safeguards not only your vehicle but also your assets. It also can pay for all forms of medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your GMC gets damaged, your policy will cover the repair costs.

The benefits of buying insurance definitely exceed the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. Unknowingly, the average driver is wasting up to $855 a year so compare rate quotes once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are inline.

Discounts can help lower premiums on GMC Terrain insurance in Santa Ana

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you might already qualify for some discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts will apply when you get a quote, but once in a while a discount must be requested specifically before you get the savings.

• Bundled Policy Discount - If you can combine your auto and home policy with the same insurance company you may save nearly 15% which can help you find low cost GMC Terrain insurance.
• Theft Prevention System - Cars and trucks that have factory anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
• Discount for Passive Restraints - Factory air bags may qualify for discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
• Good Student - This discount could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount up to age 25.
• Switch and Save Discount - A few car insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy prior to your current Terrain insurance policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
• Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
• Braking Control Discount - Vehicles with ABS and/or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you may have a lower total premium amount.
• Include Life Insurance and Save - Some insurance carriers give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
• Student Discount for Driver Training - Have your child enroll and complete driver's education in school or through a local driver safety program.

Please keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the appearance that all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. But any discount will definitely lower the amount you have to pay.

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of GMC Terrain annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The rates are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, marriage, multi-car, multi-policy, and safe-driver discounts applied.

Car insurance companies that may offer some of the discounts shown above are:

• Progressive
• Farmers Insurance
• Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• GEICO
• SAFECO
• Liberty Mutual

If you are trying to find low cost Santa Ana car insurance quotes, ask each company which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts might not be offered on policies in every state.

Shop online but buy locally

Many drivers would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find cheaper rates but still work with a licensed agent. And buying from small agencies is still important in Santa Ana.

For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is submitted to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. You won't need to leave your house since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. Get lower rates AND an agent nearby. In the event you want to compare prices from a specific insurance provider, you would need to navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.

If you need to find a local agent, you should know the types of insurance agents and how they can service your needs differently. Insurance policy providers can be classified as either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents do not write with just one company so as a result can place your coverage with many different companies and find the cheapest insurance rates. If your agent finds better pricing, your policy is moved internally and you can keep the same agent. When comparing insurance rates, you will definitely want to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the most accurate price comparison.

The following are Santa Ana independent insurance agents that may be able to provide pricing information.

More Santa Ana agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Exclusive agencies can only write with one company such as American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to give you multiple price quotes so if the price isn't competitive there isn't much they can do. Exclusive agents are trained well on what they offer which aids in selling service over price.

Shown below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Santa Ana that can give you rate quotes.

More Santa Ana agents

Choosing the best auto insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. You should also get answers to these questions.

• Are they able to provide referrals?
• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
• Is the agent properly licensed in California?
• Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
• Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
• Will the agent help in case of a claim?
• Where are claims handled?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?

Upon receiving positive feedback and affordable GMC Terrain insurance rates in Santa Ana quotes, you may have just found an insurance agency that can properly service your insurance policy.

There's no such thing as the perfect auto insurance policy

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent's help.

• Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
• Am I covered if I hit my neighbor's mailbox?
• Am I covered when driving someone else's vehicle?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
• How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Santa Ana?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Car insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. These are the usual coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like vandalism, rock chips in glass, hitting a bird and falling objects. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle's damage.

Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That's why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy's liability coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for bills such as chiropractic care, pain medications, hospital visits, nursing services and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision insurance

This will pay to fix damage to your Terrain resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims like damaging your car on a curb, driving through your garage door, colliding with another moving vehicle and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your Terrain to bring the cost down.

Auto liability

This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other's property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things such as medical expenses, repair bills for other people's vehicles and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

The next chart shows why the minimum limit may not provide adequate coverage.

Final considerations

Some car insurance companies may not have online rate quotes and usually these regional carriers prefer to sell through independent agents. Cheap GMC Terrain insurance in Santa Ana is definitely available online and with local Santa Ana insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.

Additional information is available on the following sites:

• Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for a Dodge Ram? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Handicapped Drivers in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Young Drivers in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Credit and Insurance Scores (Insurance Information Institute)
• Neck Injury FAQ (iihs.org)