Cheapest Bakersfield Honda Fit Insurance

Truthfully, the best way to get more affordable Honda Fit insurance in Bakersfield is to annually compare prices from different companies who provide auto insurance in California.

Step 1: Spend some time learning about individual coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates down. Many factors that drive up the price like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and poor credit history can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article provides more details to find cheap prices and find discounts that may have been missed.

Step 2: Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.

Step 3: Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to determine if you can save on Fit insurance in Bakersfield. If you find a better price and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.

Step 4: Tell your current agent or company to cancel your existing policy and submit the application along with any required down payment to your new carrier. Once coverage is bound, place the new certificate of insurance in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.

A good tip to remember is to use similar limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get rate quotes from all possible companies. Doing this guarantees a fair rate comparison and plenty of rates choose from.

Unfortunately, a large majority of car insurance policyholders in California kept their policy with the same company for at least the last four years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. Drivers in the United States could save 47% a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they just don’t understand how easy it is to compare rates and save money.

Eight discounts for lower-cost auto insurance quotes

Companies don’t list the complete list of policy discounts very well, so we researched a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available.

• College Student – Any of your kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Bakersfield and leave their car at home could qualify for this discount.
• First Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm will allow you to have one accident without raising rates so long as you are claim-free for a specific time period.
• Full Payment Discount – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory options such as air bags can get savings as much as 30%.
• Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
• Good Grades Discount – Maintaining excellent grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles may allow you to get substantially lower premium rates.

Don’t be shocked that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.

The information below visualizes the comparison of Honda Fit annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The costs are based on a female driver, no violations or claims, 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 multi-car, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.

A list of auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.

• Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including online shopper, claim free, multi-car, defensive driver, anti-theft, good driver, and online quote.
• The Hartford has savings for vehicle fuel type, driver training, bundle, anti-theft, and good student.
• AAA offers discounts including multi-policy, good driver, education and occupation, good student, and pay-in-full.
• GEICO includes discounts for good student, membership and employees, air bags, multi-vehicle, military active duty, driver training, and anti-theft.
• State Farm may include discounts for passive restraint, student away at school, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good student, and multiple policy.

Double check with every company to apply every possible discount. Discounts may not be offered in Bakersfield.

Many insurance companies make it easy to get prices direct online. Comparing prices online for Honda Fit insurance in Bakersfield is fairly simple because you just enter the coverage amounts you desire into the form. Once you submit the form, the system orders your credit score and driving record and gives you a price quote based on many factors. Quoting online for Honda Fit insurance in Bakersfield makes it a lot easier to compare rates and it’s also necessary to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for lower-cost prices.

To find out what other companies charge, compare rate quotes from the providers shown below. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you replicate your coverages identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will be getting an apples-to-apples comparison for similar insurance coverage.

The companies in the list below can provide quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If several companies are displayed, it’s a good idea that you get prices from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Auto insurance statistics and figures

The rate table displayed below highlights estimates of insurance premium costs for Honda Fit models. Learning how insurance policy premiums are formulated can help drivers make informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.

Premium data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in garaging location in Bakersfield which can decrease or increase prices significantly.

Should you raise deductibles?

One of the most common auto insurance questions is how high should your deductibles be. The following insurance rates may help you to understand the costs and benefits when you buy lower versus higher policy deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.

Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in your specific Bakersfield location which can change coverage rates substantially.

Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible would cost the average driver about $30 more each month or $360 every year averaged for all Fit models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 13 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.

The information below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Honda Fit insurance costs for each age group. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Drive safe and save

The illustration below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can increase Honda Fit insurance prices for different categories of driver ages. The premiums are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

Annual premiums for males versus females in Bakersfield

The information below illustrates the comparison of Honda Fit auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The example below illustrates the difference between Honda Fit insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The prices are based on no claims or violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

When to stop paying for full coverage

There is no specific rule to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Honda Fit claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying more than $800 annually to have full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not opt for liability only.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage online or from an agent, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
• When should I not buy collision coverage?
• Is there coverage for my trailer?
• How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
• What are good deductibles for a Honda Fit?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• When can my company non-renew my policy?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Am I covered when driving a rental car?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

What if I want to buy from local Bakersfield insurance agencies?

Some people just prefer to talk to a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision A nice benefit of comparing car insurance online is that you can find cheap car insurance quotes but also keep your business local.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your information is submitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to search for an agent since rate quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. You can most likely find cheaper rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote for a specific company, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.

Choosing an company requires you to look at more than just the price. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
• How long have they been in business?
• How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
• Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
• Is the quote a firm price?
• Is every driver in your family covered?
• Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?

Two types of Bakersfield car insurance agents

If you want a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different types of agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Bakersfield agents can either be independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Exclusive agencies can only write with one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Exclusive insurance agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Below are exclusive insurance agents in Bakersfield willing to provide price quote information.

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Independent Agents

Agents of this type are not limited to a single company so as a result can place your coverage through lots of different companies and find you cheaper rates. If your premiums go up, the agent simply finds a different carrier and the insured can keep the same agent. When comparison shopping, you will want to get rate quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Listed below are independent insurance agents in Bakersfield willing to provide comparison quotes.

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Car insurance is not optional in California

Despite the potentially high cost of Honda Fit insurance, buying car insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

• Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability protection 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 Honda, more than likely the lender will make it mandatory 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 lender may insure your Honda at a much higher premium rate and force you to pay the higher price.
• Insurance protects both your car and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical bills for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your car insurance policy will pay to have it repaired.

The benefits of having car insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. But the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $855 a year so shop around every year to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Coverages available on your auto insurance policy

Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for pain medications, nursing services and funeral costs. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Coverage for liability – Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.

Liability can pay for claims such as attorney fees, structural damage and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.

The chart below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.

Comprehensive protection – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like hail damage, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird and damage from flooding. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This protects you and your vehicle when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Collision – This coverage covers damage to your Fit caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things like crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your Fit to save money on collision insurance.

Persistent drivers can save

Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to find affordable Honda Fit insurance in Bakersfield. The key thing to remember is the more you quote Bakersfield car insurance, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the biggest savings come from the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower car insurance rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.

Additional learning opportunities

• No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Cheap Bakersfield Auto Insurance Rates for Government Employees? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Bakersfield Auto Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
• Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
• Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)