Save Money on Volkswagen Beetle Insurance in Oakland

It’s an obvious conclusion that car insurance companies don’t want you shop around. People who compare rates once a year are inclined to buy a different policy because the odds are good of finding a policy with better rates. A recent insurance study revealed that people who compared rates once a year saved as much as $865 annually as compared to drivers who never compared prices.

If finding the best rates on Volkswagen Beetle insurance in Oakland is your objective, knowing how to shop and compare coverage rates can make it easier for you to save money.

If you want to save money, the best way to find more affordable Volkswagen Beetle insurance is to regularly compare price quotes from insurance carriers who sell insurance in Oakland. This can be done by following these guidelines.

• First, try to learn a little about policy coverages and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many rating factors that result in higher prices like traffic citations, accidents, and a not-so-good credit history can be improved by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. This article gives ideas to help prevent high rates and find possible discounts that are available.
• Second, request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote prices from many different companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and determine if cheaper Beetle coverage is available. If you find a lower rate and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
• Fourth, give notification to your current company to cancel the current policy. Submit payment and a completed application for your new coverage. As soon as you have the new policy, keep your new certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle’s registration.

A good piece of advice is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to compare as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this provides a fair price comparison and the best price selection.

Cheap companies for Volkswagen Beetle insurance in California

The companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in California. To locate cheap car insurance in Oakland, we recommend you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.

Volkswagen Beetle insurance statistics and information

The information below showcases detailed analysis of insurance policy prices for Volkswagen Beetle models. Being more informed about how car insurance prices are figured is important for you to make smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.

Table data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in specific Oakland garaging location which can alter rates greatly.

Auto insurance deductibles

One common question asked by Oakland drivers is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The comparisons below lay out how much more you’ll pay of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first table uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise premium rates significantly.

We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $45 more each month or $540 a year averaged for all Beetle models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go at least 20 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you opt for a higher deductible. The numbers below show how you can make this decision for your own policy.

One big caveat is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to pay more of your own money when you have a physical damage claim. You need some savings in the event you have to pay the deductible to have repairs made.

Volkswagen Beetle insurance costs by gender and age in Oakland

The information below illustrates the difference between Volkswagen Beetle yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no claims, a clean driving record, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Cost comparison with and without full coverage

The information below shows the difference between Volkswagen Beetle auto insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The information is based on no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?

There is no specific rule of when to phase out comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Volkswagen Beetle replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $8,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 annually for your policy with full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not in your best interest. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Volkswagen Beetle insurance discounts in Oakland

Not too many consumers would say insurance is affordable, but you might be missing out on some discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for in order for you to get them.

• Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member could qualify you for better prices.
• Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can get you a discount because newer models have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Government Employee Discount – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few insurance companies.
• Bundled Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company you may save up to 20% and get you low cost Volkswagen Beetle insurance.
• Discount for Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
• Distant Student Discount – Kids who are attending college and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more on Beetle insurance in Oakland.
• Full Payment Discount – By making one initial payment instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can avoid the installment charge.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student may save you up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

The example below illustrates the difference between Volkswagen Beetle insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The price estimates are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and marriage discounts applied.

Auto insurance companies that may offer policyholders some of the above discounts possibly include:

• GEICO
• Travelers
• Nationwide
• Farmers Insurance
• Esurance
• State Farm
• Progressive
• Mercury Insurance

When getting a coverage quote, ask each company or agent which discounts you may be entitled to. A few discounts may not be offered everywhere. To choose providers with the best Volkswagen Beetle insurance discounts in California, click here to view.

Components of Your Volkswagen Beetle Insurance Premiums

Many different elements are used in the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving record, but some are more obscure such as your marital status and annual miles driven. An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the things that aid in calculating the rates you pay for insurance. If you know what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that can earn you cheaper rates.

• Where do you drive? – The more you drive your Volkswagen in a year the more you will pay for insurance. A lot of insurance companies charge rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can be on a lower rate level compared to those used for work or business. An improperly rated Beetle can cost quite a bit. It’s a good idea to make sure your policy is showing annual mileage.

• Bad drivers pay high costs – Having a single speeding ticket or other violation can increase the cost of insurance twenty percent or more. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with serious tickets like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may face state-mandated requirements to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.

  The information below highlights how speeding tickets and accident claims can increase Volkswagen Beetle car insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. Data assumes a married female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

• Lower stress equals lower prices – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like fire fighters, airline pilots, and emergency personnel have the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations like actors, students and performers pay the least.
• Having a spouse brings a discount – Being married helps lower the price when buying insurance. Having a spouse generally demonstrates drivers are more mature and responsible and insurance companies like that married couples file fewer claims.

• Insurance loss statistics a Volkswagen Beetle – Insurers use statistical claims data when they set coverage costs for each model. Vehicles that the statistics show to have increased claim numbers or amounts will cost more for coverage.

  The information below illustrates the insurance loss data used by companies for Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. For each coverage category, the statistical loss for all vehicles combined as an average equals 100. Values that are below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while percentages above 100 point to more losses or tendency to have higher losses.

  
  

  Volkswagen Beetle Insurance Claim Statistics

  Specific Volkswagen Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Volkswagen Beetle	101	93	101	85	95	101
  Volkswagen Beetle Convertible	85	78	95	76	89	79

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

When quoting and comparing proper insurance coverage, there really is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. You are unique and your auto insurance should be unique as well.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• Is pleasure use cheaper than using my Volkswagen Beetle to commute?
• Do I need higher collision deductibles?
• Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
• Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
• Can I make deliveries for my home business?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Can’t I compare prices from local Oakland car insurance agents?

Certain consumers still like to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision A good thing about getting free rate quotes online is that you can find cheap auto insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from local agents is definitely important in Oakland.

After filling out this simple form, the quote information gets sent to local insurance agents in Oakland that provide free Oakland car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to do any legwork since rate quotes are delivered immediately to you. You can find lower rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you wish to quote rates from a specific insurance company, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

Types of car insurance agents in Oakland

If you would like to find an insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures and how they can quote your rates. Oakland agents are classified as either exclusive or independent.

Independent Auto Insurance Agents

Agents in the independent channel are not restricted to one company and that enables them to quote your coverage through many different auto insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If your premiums go up, your policy is moved internally and you stay with the same agent.

When shopping rates, we recommend you contact several independent agencies for maximum quote selection.

Shown below is a small list of independent agencies in Oakland that may be able to give rate quotes.

More Oakland agents

Exclusive Agencies

Agents that choose to be exclusive have only one company to place business with like State Farm or Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. They receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Below are exclusive agencies in Oakland who can help you get comparison quotes.

More Oakland agents

Finding a good insurance agency should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. These questions are important to ask:

• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
• Does the agent help file claims?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• What is the financial rating for the quoted company?

Keep this in mind when shopping around

You just read a lot of ways to reduce Volkswagen Beetle insurance prices online in Oakland. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding low cost Oakland car insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with the smaller companies. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

As you restructure your insurance plan, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Much more information about insurance in California can be read at the links below

• How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a GMC Sierra in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance for a Honda Accord? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Jeep Wrangler in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)
• Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)