It's easy to assume that auto insurance companies don't want you to look for a cheaper policy. Consumers who compare other rates will most likely switch companies because there is a good chance of finding a lower rate. Remarkably, a study showed that consumers who routinely shopped around saved an average of $3,500 over four years compared to drivers who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding discount rates on auto insurance in Santa Ana is why you're reading this, then learning a little about how to get rate quotes and compare insurance coverage can save time, money, and frustration.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find lower priced car insurance rates in Santa Ana is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers in California. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.
- First, try to learn a little about how insurance works and the measures you can control to keep rates down. Many factors that result in higher prices such as high-risk driving behaviors and a less-than-favorable credit rating can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. This article provides ideas to prevent rate hikes and find additional discounts.
- Second, quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can give you price quotes from many different companies. Get quotes now
- Third, compare the new quotes to the premium of your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
One bit of advice is that you use identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get rate quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
If you have a current insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, use these tips to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Locating the most cost-effective insurance policy in Santa Ana can be much easier if you know how to start. Vehicle owners just have to know the fastest way to shop their coverage around from multiple carriers.
The companies shown below offer price quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, we recommend you compare several of them to get the best price comparison.
Analysis of coverages
The price information displayed below showcases a range of insurance rates for Pontiac G6 models. Having a good grasp of how rate quotes are calculated is important for making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G6 4-Dr Sedan | $316 | $464 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $1,566 | $131 |
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Price data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in specific Santa Ana garaging location which can impact premium rates noticeably.
How high should deductibles be?
When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The tables below determine the differences in price when you choose different coverage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G6 4-Dr Sedan | $342 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,543 | $129 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G6 4-Dr Sedan | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
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Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in garaging location in Santa Ana which can impact coverage rates considerably.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible costs an average of $31 more each month or $372 every year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at a minimum 24 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.
How to calculate when to raise deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $129 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | - $98 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $31 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 - $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $31 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 24 months |
One important issue to know is that a higher deductible level results in more money out-of-pocket when you have a claim. You need to have some savings in the event you need to pay the deductible.
Does full coverage make sense?
The illustration below compares Pontiac G6 insurance prices with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data is based on no claims or driving citations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?
There is no definitive guideline that works best for making the decision to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let's assume your Pontiac G6 replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you can't afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Why you need to buy car insurance
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Santa Ana, insuring your vehicle may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability coverage in order to drive the car 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 took out a loan on your vehicle, almost all lenders will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Pontiac at a much higher premium rate and force you to pay the higher premium.
- Car insurance protects not only your Pontiac but also your assets. It will also cover medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, particularly for liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so shop around at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
Learn How to Lower Your Insurance Prices
When buying auto insurance it's important to understand some of the things that help determine your auto insurance rates. If you have a feel for what impacts premium levels, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.
The itemized list below are some of the most common factors used by companies to determine your premiums.
Increase physical damage deductibles to save - Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some examples of claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and having your car stolen. Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more damage repair cost you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
Safer the car lower the rate - Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders. If the Pontiac G6 scored better than an "acceptable" rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.
Rates and your address - Having an address in less populated areas of the country may provide you with better prices when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers and short commutes corresponds to lower accident rates. People who live in big cities regularly have traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means higher likelihood of an accident.
Extra coverages that aren't used - There are a ton of optional add-on coverages you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Coverage for things like rental car reimbursement, high-cost glass coverage, and term life insurance are examples of these. These coverages may sound good initially, but if you don't need them remove them and pocket the money.
Get cheaper Pontiac G6 insurance rates in Santa Ana
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you might find some hidden discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before you will receive the discount.
- Save with a New Car - Buying a new car instead of a used G6 can be considerably cheaper since new model year vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Full Payment Discount - If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Military Discounts - Being on active deployment in the military may lower your car insurance rates slightly.
- Theft Deterrent System - Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen with less frequency and earn discounts up to 10% off your Santa Ana auto insurance quote.
- Discount for Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Distant Student Discount - Children who are attending college and don't have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, it's just not the way it works. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.
The diagram below shows the difference between Pontiac G6 auto insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of the discounts are shown below.
- Progressive may have discounts that include online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, homeowner, and good student.
- GEICO has savings for membership and employees, anti-theft, seat belt use, multi-policy, emergency military deployment, and five-year accident-free.
- State Farm discounts include good driver, multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including DriveSense, emergency road assistance, online shopper, Switch & Save, defensive driver, and Pac-12 alumni.
- The Hartford includes discounts for air bag, bundle, vehicle fuel type, good student, anti-theft, and driver training.
When quoting, ask every prospective company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be available in your area.
Do I need an insurance agency?
Certain consumers still prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Agents are highly skilled in risk management and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that drivers can get cheaper rates and still buy from a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don't have to contact an agency because prices are sent straight to your inbox. If you want to compare rates from a specific insurance company, don't hesitate to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Choosing the best company shouldn't rely on just the quoted price. Any agent in Santa Ana should have no problem answering these questions:
- How long has the business existed?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in Santa Ana?
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
When finding a local Santa Ana insurance agency, there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agencies in Santa Ana are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Both insure your vehicles properly, but it is a good idea to know the difference in how they write coverage since it can impact which agent you choose.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot compare other company's rates so keep that in mind. Exclusive insurance agents receive extensive training on what they offer which helps them sell on service rather than price.
The following are Santa Ana exclusive insurance agents willing to provide price quotes.
Eddie Quillares Jr - State Farm Insurance Agent
415 N Broadway - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 617-7150 - View Map
State Farm Insurance: Luis Olmedo
600 S Grand Ave #101 - Santa Ana, CA 92705 - (714) 486-3441 - View Map
Farmers Insurance: Sandy Hocking-Cline
1801 Park Ct Pl - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 973-9100 - View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents often have many company appointments and that is an advantage because they can write policies through many different car insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If premiums increase, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, you need to get quotes from several independent agencies to have the best price comparison.
Shown below are Santa Ana independent agents willing to provide price quote information.
First American Property and Casualty Insurance Group
4 First American Way - Santa Ana, CA 92701 - (714) 560-7850 - View Map
Leavitt Group - Leavitt Insurance Services of Southern California
1820 E First St #500 - Santa Ana, CA 92705 - (714) 569-2700 - View Map
Insurance Partners Inc
2107 N Broadway #108 - Santa Ana, CA 92706 - (714) 285-4800 - View Map
More quotes mean more insurance savings
We've covered a lot of ways to lower your Pontiac G6 insurance premium rates in Santa Ana. The key thing to remember is the more you quote Santa Ana auto insurance, the higher your chance of finding low cost Santa Ana auto insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the lowest priced insurance comes from the least-expected company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Cheaper insurance in Santa Ana is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Santa Ana, so you need to quote Santa Ana auto insurance with both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide rates over the internet and these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agencies.
More tips and info about insurance is available at these sites:
- Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Santa Ana, CA? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for 4x4 Vehicles in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for a Chevrolet Silverado in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
- How Much are Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for a 20 Year Old Male? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)