Affordable Insurance for a Volvo S40 in Oakland

If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from providers in Oakland. You can shop around by following these guidelines.

• First, get an understanding of policy coverages and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that drive up the price like traffic citations and a substandard credit history can be remedied by paying attention to minor details.
• Second, obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices from multiple insurance companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money and make a switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
• Fourth, give notification to your agent or company of your decision to cancel your current coverage and submit the required down payment along with the signed application for the new policy. Once received, place the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle.

A crucial key to this process is that you use the same amount of coverage on every price quote and and to get rates from every company you can. Doing this enables a fair price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.

It’s a known fact that auto insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. People who shop around for cheaper price quotes will, in all likelihood, buy a different policy because there is a good chance of finding a policy with better rates. A study showed that people who routinely shopped around saved an average of $865 annually compared to other drivers who never compared rates.

If finding the best price on auto insurance in Oakland is why you’re reading this, knowing how to get price quotes and compare insurance coverage can save money and time.

Smart Consumers Save on Insurance

Many things are considered when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable like your driving record, although others are less apparent such as your marital status or how safe your car is.

• Bad drivers pay high rates – Your driving citation history can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Even one chargeable violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Attentive drivers get better rates as compared to careless drivers. Drivers who have received dangerous violations such as DUI or willful reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to legally drive a vehicle.

  The chart below illustrates how speeding tickets and accident claims drive up Volvo S40 insurance costs for different age groups. The information is based on a single male driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

• Urban areas may pay more – Choosing to live in less populated areas of the country is a positive aspect if you are looking for the lowest rates. People in densely populated areas have to deal with traffic congestion and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area corresponds to lower accident rates and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.

• Costs for men may be higher – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Males and females cause fender benders in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get higher numbers of serious violations such as reckless driving.

  The diagram below shows the comparison of Volvo S40 premium costs for male and female drivers. The costs are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.

• When should you file insurance claims? – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance companies in California give the lowest premiums to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that pose a financial burden.

Just remember that comparing more quotes helps improve the odds of finding more affordable rates.

The providers in the list below can provide price quotes in California. In order to find cheap car insurance in Oakland, we suggest you visit as many as you can in order to find the most competitive rates.

Insurance rate breakdown

The data table displayed next showcases estimates of insurance rates for Volvo S40 models. Knowing how policy premiums are figured can be useful when making decisions on the best policy to buy.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in specific Oakland garaging location which can decrease or increase coverage rates greatly.

Deductible analysis

One of the more difficult decisions when buying insurance is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The premium rates below may aid in understanding the difference in cost when you select higher and lower deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 deductible and the second pricing table uses a $500 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in your specific Oakland location which can affect prices substantially.

Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $19 more each month or $228 annually than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go more than 13 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you opt for a higher deductible.

The example below highlights how deductible selection and can affect Volvo S40 insurance costs for each different age group. The information is based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are factored in.

Do you need full coverage?

The diagram below shows the comparison of Volvo S40 yearly insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The rate quotes are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.

Guidelines for eliminating full coverage

There is no exact formula of when to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s pretend your Volvo S40 settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $4,000 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing you more than $400 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are some conditions where only buying liability is not recommended. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not drop full coverage.

Three reasons auto insurance is important

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Volvo S40 in Oakland, insurance is required for several reasons.

First, almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a specific minimum amount of liability coverage 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.

Second, if your S40 has a lienholder, almost every bank will have a requirement that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you default on your policy, the lender may insure your Volvo for a much higher rate and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.

Third, insurance safeguards both your assets and your Volvo. It also can pay for all forms of medical expenses that are the result of an accident. As part of your policy, 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 auto insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of having auto insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays more than $830 a year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Companies offer many types of discounts on Volvo S40 insurance in Oakland

Companies don’t always publicize all discounts in an easy-to-find place, so below is a list a few of the more well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using when you buy Oakland car insurance online.

• Own a Home and Save – Simply owning a home can save you money since owning and maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
• Drivers Education – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them take driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations can get you a small discount on auto insurance.
• Data Collection Discounts – Insureds who allow their auto insurance company to track driving habits remotely like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might see lower rates if their driving habits are good.
• E-sign – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive simply for signing on their website.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could earn a discount of up to 20% off your total S40 insurance premium.
• Employee of Federal Government – Having worked for a branch of the government could provide a small rate reduction depending on your company.

While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, you aren’t that lucky.

The chart below illustrates the difference between Volvo S40 auto insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The data assumes a male driver, no claims or driving citations, 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 safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, multi-car, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and a selection of discounts are:

• American Family may include discounts for TimeAway discount, mySafetyValet, Steer into Savings, accident-free, good driver, and good student.
• Farm Bureau policyholders can earn discounts including youthful driver, renewal discount, 55 and retired, good student, and driver training.
• State Farm has discounts for multiple policy, student away at school, safe vehicle, accident-free, and good driver.
• Travelers offers discounts for IntelliDrive, early quote, save driver, payment discounts, home ownership, and student away at school.
• The Hartford may offer discounts for vehicle fuel type, bundle, anti-theft, good student, and driver training.
• GEICO discounts include seat belt use, anti-lock brakes, multi-vehicle, emergency military deployment, driver training, and membership and employees.
• Progressive includes discounts for homeowner, online quote discount, continuous coverage, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and good student.

When comparing rates, check with each company or agent which credits you are entitled to. Discounts may not apply everywhere. To locate providers offering auto insurance discounts in Oakland, click this link.

Compare prices but still have a local neighborhood Oakland car insurance agent

Many people would prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that drivers can save money and get better rates and also buy local. Putting coverage with local agencies is especially important in Oakland.

By using this quick form, the quote information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Oakland that can provide free Oakland car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to contact an agency because prices are sent to you. You can find the lowest rates without a big time investment. If you have a need to get a price quote from one company in particular, just search and find their rate quote page and give them your coverage information.

Multiple types of auto insurance agents in Oakland

If you are searching for a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the types of agencies and how they are slightly different. Insurance agents are either independent agents or exclusive agents.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These type of agents can quote rates with many companies and that gives them the ability to insure with an assortment of companies and find the cheapest rate. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything.

When shopping rates, you need to check rates from several independent insurance agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison. Many write coverage with different regional companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.

Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Oakland who may provide rate quotes.

• Fred Loya Insurance
  1620 High St STE B – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 434-1801 – View Map
• Ruth Stroup Insurance Agency
  3560 Grand Ave – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 874-5700 – View Map
• Aviation Marine Insurance Services
  5707 Redwood Rd – Oakland, CA 94619 – (510) 530-4415 – View Map

View more Oakland agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Agents of this type generally can only insure with one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Listed below is a short list of exclusive agents in Oakland that can give you comparison quotes.

• Farmers Insurance – Mahir Abdul-Haqq
  4267 Masterson St – Oakland, CA 94619 – (510) 530-8502 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance – Kim McGuire Reid
  4323 Piedmont Ave – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 428-2016 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance: Man Kin Lau
  638 Webster St #200a – Oakland, CA 94607 – (510) 282-7996 – View Map

View more Oakland agents

Selecting an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the quoted price. Any agent in Oakland should have no problem answering these questions:

• Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• Is insurance their full-time profession?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
• When do they do a full risk review?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• How does the company pay claims for a total loss?

Cheap insurance premiums are possible

We just presented many tips how you can find cheap Volvo S40 insurance in Oakland. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced insurance comes from a small local company.

Some insurance companies may not have rates over the internet and these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agents. Affordable Volvo S40 insurance in Oakland can be sourced both online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.

For more information, feel free to visit the articles below:

• How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Hybrid Vehicles in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Hyundai Elantra in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for High Mileage Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for Uninsured Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
• What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)