Cheap Rates for Chevy Impala Insurance in Oakland

If you want to save money, the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from providers in Oakland.

First, it will benefit you to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the steps you can take to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates such as traffic citations and an unacceptable credit history can be amended by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. This article gives tips to lower rates and find possible discounts that are available.

Second, compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for many different companies.

Third, compare the new rates to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper price is available in Oakland. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

Fourth, notify your company or agent of your intent to cancel your current policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment for the new coverage. When you receive it, store the proof of insurance certificate in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.

An important part of this process is to make sure you’re comparing the same liability limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get price estimates from all possible companies. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.

It’s a known fact that insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. People who shop around for cheaper prices are inclined to switch car insurance companies because there is a significant possibility of finding better rates. A recent survey found that people who compared rates annually saved about $3,450 over four years compared to other drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.

If finding the lowest price for Chevy Impala insurance is your ultimate target, then learning a little about how to find and compare insurance coverage can make the process less intimidating.

When comparison shopping, there are several ways to compare quotes from many different California insurance companies. By far the easiest way to find competitive Chevy Impala insurance rates is to jump online and get quotes. When price shopping your coverage, more quotes provides better odds of finding the best rates. Some companies don’t provide price estimates online, so you should also compare rates on coverage from those companies, too.

The providers in the list below are ready to provide comparison quotes in California. If you want cheaper car insurance in Oakland, it’s highly recommended you visit as many as you can to get the best price comparison.

Don’t overlook these Chevy Impala insurance discounts

Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that you may not even know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but occasionally some discounts must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

• Student in College – Older children who attend college more than 100 miles from Oakland and do not take a car to college could qualify for this discount.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
• Driver’s Education for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully take a driver’s education course if offered at their school.
• Discount for Swiching Early – A few car insurance companies allow discounts for signing up early. This discount can save up to 10%.
• Military Deployment Discount – Being on active deployment in the military can result in better premium rates.

You should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

The illustration below illustrates the difference between Chevy Impala insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. The price estimates are based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.

To locate car insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Oakland, click this link.

Rates and other information

The rate table shown next highlights estimates of coverage costs for Chevy Impala models. Being more informed about how insurance policy premiums are figured can benefit drivers when making smart choices when selecting a coverage provider.

Data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in your specific Oakland location which can decrease or increase auto insurance rates greatly.

Physical damage deductibles

When shopping for insurance, a common question is how low should you set your deductibles. The following tables sum up how much more you’ll pay between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.

Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can impact insurance rates greatly.

We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible costs approximately $30 more each month or $360 annually averaged for all Impala models than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at least 13 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.

The illustration below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can influence Chevy Impala insurance prices for each age group. The premiums are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Drive responsibly or pay higher rates

The diagram below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders can influence Chevy Impala yearly insurance costs for each age group. The data assumes a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

Gender-based insurance rates by age

The diagram below illustrates the difference between Chevy Impala insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims or violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Full coverage rates compared to liability-only

The illustration below shows the difference between Chevy Impala car insurance rates with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The premiums are based on no claims, a clean driving record, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no set guideline for dropping full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s say your Chevy Impala replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $5,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $500 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are a few situations where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.

Are auto insurance agents a thing of the past?

Many drivers just prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. An additional benefit of comparing auto insurance online is that you can obtain lower rates and still buy from a local agent. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is still important in Oakland.

For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to do any legwork since rate quotes are delivered to you instantly. You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with. If for some reason you want to quote rates from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page and complete a quote there.

The different types of auto insurance agents

If you want a local insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agents and how they are slightly different. Agents in Oakland can be categorized as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Agents of this type are appointed with more than one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with lots of companies and find the cheapest rate. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything.

If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you should always get insurance quotes from several independent agencies to get the most accurate price comparison. Most also have access to small regional insurance companies that may provide cheaper auto insurance rates.

Featured below are independent agents in Oakland that may be able to give you pricing information.

• JCB Insurance Services
  6427 Westover Dr – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 336-3490 – View Map
• Fiesta Auto Insurance Center
  4102 International Blvd – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 261-1300 – View Map
• Greater Metrowest Insurance Agency
  Oakland, CA 94612 – Oakland, CA 94612 – (510) 444-1404 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agents

These agents can only place business with one company such as State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are well schooled on what they offer which aids in selling service over price. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mostly because of the prominent brand name and strong financial ratings.

Listed below are exclusive insurance agencies in Oakland that are able to give rate quotes.

• Farmers Insurance – Norman Garcia
  8105 Edgewater Dr #118 – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 878-7555 – View Map
• Jessica Hebert – State Farm Insurance Agent
  490 Grand Ave #210 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 653-2900 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance – Mike Clauson
  859 Clay St – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 839-3276 – View Map

More insurance agents

Finding the right car insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Any agent in Oakland should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Oakland?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?

After talking to the agent and getting reasonable responses and locked in a price quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that is reputable and can insure your vehicles. It’s important to know that once you purchase a policy you can terminate coverage when you choose so don’t assume that you’re stuck with any specific company for a certain time period.

What Determines Chevy Impala Insurance Premiums?

Part of the insurance buying process is learning the different types of things that are used to determine the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find better insurance rates. Lots of factors are considered when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as your driving record, although others are more transparent like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating.

Policy claims cost money – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in California award the lowest premiums to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.

Eliminate unneeded extra coverages – Policies have extra bells and whistles that may not really be needed if you don’t pay attention. Things like roadside assistance, high-cost glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. The coverages may be enticing when buying your policy, but your needs may have changed so consider taking them off your policy.

Expect high rates for teens – Teen drivers in California are known to get distracted easily with other occupants in the car and because of this, their insurance rates are much higher. Parents adding a inexperienced driver to your policy can really hurt. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and usually have better credit.

The data below uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

Safety first – Safer cars tend to be cheaper to insure. Highly rated vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums.

Credit history impact insurance premiums – Having a bad credit history will be a significant factor in determining what you pay for insurance. People with very good credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit rating can be improved, you could pay less to insure your Chevrolet Impala by improving your rating.

Your spouse saves you money – Having a spouse actually saves money when shopping for insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more mature than a single person and insurance companies reward insureds because married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Insurance loss probability for a Chevy Impala – Car insurance companies use data from past claims to help set a rate to offset losses. Vehicles that statistically have higher losses will have higher rates for specific coverages.

The next table illustrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Chevy Impala vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Percentage values below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while values that are above 100 point to more frequent losses or a tendency for claims to be larger.

Insurance does more than just protect your car

Even though it can be expensive, buying insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

• Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to be legal. 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, more than likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Chevy at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them the higher price.
• Insurance preserves not only your vehicle but also your assets. It will also cover hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of insuring your Impala more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. The average driver in America overpays as much as $750 every year so shop around every year to make sure the price is not too high.

Car insurance company ratings

Ending up with a good quality car insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many different companies insure vehicles in California. The information in the next section can help you select which companies to look at when shopping your coverage around.

Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

1. AAA of Southern California
2. GEICO
3. State Farm
4. The Hartford
5. Mercury Insurance
6. The General
7. Progressive
8. Allstate
9. AAA Insurance
10. American Family

Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. The Hartford
4. AAA of Southern California
5. Titan Insurance
6. The General
7. AAA Insurance
8. State Farm
9. Mercury Insurance
10. Nationwide

More comparisons equals cheaper rates

People leave their current company for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, not issuing a premium refund, extreme rates for teen drivers or even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price and still be able to protect your assets.

Some auto insurance companies may not have the ability to get a quote online and these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent insurance agents. Discount Chevy Impala insurance is definitely available on the web as well as from independent agents in Oakland, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

Additional auto insurance information is located at the links below

• Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Jeep Wrangler in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Oakland Car Insurance Rates for Uber Drivers? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Civic in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance Quotes for Business Use? (FAQ)
• Red Light Cameras (State Farm)
• Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
• New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)