Truthfully, the best way to quote cheaper car insurance rates is to compare quotes annually from insurers who sell insurance in San Francisco.
- Step 1: Take a little time to learn about individual coverages and the things you can change to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that drive up the price such as traffic citations and bad credit can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. This article gives more details to prevent expensive rate increases and find additional discounts.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates for a wide range of insurance providers. Compare rates now
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
A tip to remember is to make sure you enter the same liability limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get price estimates from as many different companies as possible. This enables an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
It’s safe to conclude that insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Consumers who shop around for the cheapest price will probably move their business because there is a good chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent car insurance study revealed that consumers who regularly compared price quotes saved as much as $3,500 over four years compared to people who never compared prices.
If finding the cheapest price for car insurance is the reason you’re here, then having a good understanding the best way to shop and compare insurance coverage can make it simple to find affordable coverage.
When comparing car insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes increases the chance that you will find a better price. Not every company does San Francisco G8 insurance quotes over the internet, so it’s recommended that you also compare price quotes from them as well.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free quotes in California. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Protect more than your vehicle
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Pontiac G8 in San Francisco, car insurance is required in California but it also protects you in many ways.
First, almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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 took out a loan on your Pontiac G8, most lenders will require that you buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Pontiac at a significantly higher premium and force you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects not only your Pontiac G8 but also your financial assets. It also can pay for many types of medical costs incurred in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you have damage to your Pontiac as the result of the weather or an accident, your car insurance policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of buying car insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver overpays more than $820 a year so you should quote your policy with other companies at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Car insurance policy coverages for a Pontiac G8
Learning about specific coverages of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the usual coverages found on most car insurance policies.
UM/UIM Coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Pontiac G8.
Since many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Most of the time these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Auto liability insurance
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other people or property. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see values of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers claims such as court costs, emergency aid and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
The chart below demonstrates why low liability limits may not be enough.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like dental work, EMT expenses, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and funeral costs. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Auto collision coverage
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your G8 caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things like scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible on your G8 to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane, hail damage, a broken windshield and damage from flooding. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.