It's a known fact that car insurance companies don't want you quoting rates from other companies. Drivers who shop around for cheaper prices will presumably buy a different policy because there is a high probability of finding lower prices. A study showed that drivers who regularly compared rates saved over $3,400 over four years compared to those who didn't regularly shop around.
If finding budget-friendly rates on auto insurance in Santa Ana is your objective, then knowing how to get rate quotes and compare cheaper coverage can help you succeed in saving money.
The preferred way to find more affordable BMW 535i insurance in Santa Ana is to compare quotes annually from companies who sell auto insurance in California.
- Spend some time learning about how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that result in higher rates such as speeding tickets, careless driving and an unfavorable credit rating can be eliminated by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Later in this article we will cover more information to prevent expensive rate increases and find overlooked discounts.
- Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from many different companies.
- Compare the price quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current policy and submit a completed policy application and payment to your new company or agent. As soon as coverage is bound, place your new certificate of insurance somewhere easily accessible.
One important bit of advice is that you'll want to compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and and to get price quotes from every company you can. This ensures a fair rate comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
The quickest method to compare rates for BMW 535i insurance in Santa Ana utilizes the fact most insurance companies provide online access to provide you with a free rate quote. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information including how much coverage you want, if it has an anti-theft system, if you require a SR-22, and your credit rating estimate. Your insurance information gets transmitted to insurance companies and you will receive price estimates instantly.
If you wish to get multiple quotes for your BMW 535i now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The auto insurance companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Santa Ana, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to find the most competitive auto insurance rates.
BMW 535i insurance rate analysis
The data table displayed below covers estimates of insurance premium costs for BMW 535i models. Learning how rates are determined can be valuable when making smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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535I 4-Dr Sedan | $464 | $1016 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,206 | $184 |
535I xDrive Station Wagon | $464 | $1016 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,206 | $184 |
535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $464 | $1016 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,206 | $184 |
535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $506 | $1016 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $2,248 | $187 |
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Above prices assume single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific Santa Ana garaging location which can influence prices greatly.
Car insurance deductibles
The hardest decision when buying coverage is what deductibles to buy. The data tables below can help you visualize the cost difference when you buy lower versus higher policy deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
535I 4-Dr Sedan | $474 | $882 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,981 | $165 |
535I xDrive Station Wagon | $474 | $882 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,981 | $165 |
535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $474 | $882 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,981 | $165 |
535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $518 | $882 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,025 | $169 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
535I 4-Dr Sedan | $292 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,448 | $121 |
535I xDrive Station Wagon | $292 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,448 | $121 |
535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $292 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,448 | $121 |
535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,476 | $123 |
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Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in your specific Santa Ana location which can change coverage rates substantially.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $44 more each month or $528 for a full year than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average more than 17 months between claims, you would save more money if you choose the higher deductible.
Calculation for raising deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $166 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | - $122 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $44 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 - $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $44 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 17 months |
One big caveat is that increasing deductibles to save money means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you file a claim. That will require some savings in the event you need to pay the deductible to have repairs made.
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease BMW 535i yearly insurance costs for different insured age categories. The data is based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
BMW 535i insurance costs by age and gender
The example below compares BMW 535i yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you buy full coverage?
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of BMW 535i insurance costs with and without full coverage. The premiums assume no accidents, no driving violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no exact formula of when to exclude physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle's replacement cost less your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let's pretend your BMW 535i replacement cost is $3,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $2,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $200 annually for your policy with full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are a few situations where only buying liability is not recommended. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Santa Ana Insurance Prices are Influenced by These Factors
Many things are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Most are fairly basic such as your driving record, but other factors are more transparent such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility. A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing some of the elements that help calculate your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could help you find lower car insurance prices.
The factors shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by insurance companies to determine your prices.
- Always keep your car insurance in force - Driving with no insurance is not a good idea and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance coverage expire. Not only will you pay higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You could then be forced to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the California department of motor vehicles.
- Liability coverage - The liability section of your policy kicks in in the event that you are responsible for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your policy's liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to comp and collision, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
- Your vocation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like military personnel, social workers, and emergency personnel generally have the highest rates due to job stress and lots of time spent away from family. On the other hand, jobs like professors, engineers and performers pay lower than average rates.
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Obey driving laws and save - Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance as compared to careless drivers. Having a single driving citation may increase your cost to the point where it's not affordable. People who have license-revoking violations like DUI or willful reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
The illustration below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders increase BMW 535i auto insurance rates for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
- Prevent theft and save - Choosing to buy a car with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft deterrent systems such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all help stop car theft and help bring rates down.
Why you need quality insurance for your 535i
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific limits of liability insurance if you don't want to risk a ticket. 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 bought your 535i with a loan, most banks will have a requirement that you carry insurance to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your BMW at a significantly higher premium and force you to reimburse them a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards both your assets and your vehicle. Insurance will also pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay to defend you if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of having car insurance outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. An average driver in America overpays more than $865 each year so compare quotes from several companies at every renewal to ensure rates are competitive.
California car insurance companies
Picking the right car insurance company is hard considering how many companies there are in Santa Ana. The company ratings below can help you pick which companies to look at shopping prices with.
Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- Esurance
- AAA Insurance
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Allstate
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford