Save on Chevy Colorado Insurance in Bakersfield

If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to save money on auto insurance rates is to compare prices at least once a year from companies who sell auto insurance in Bakersfield.

• Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price such as traffic tickets, fender benders, and poor credit can be improved by paying attention to minor details. This article gives ideas to lower rates and find available discounts that you may qualify for.
• Step 2: Obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
• Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
• Step 4: Provide notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your current coverage. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application to the new insurer. Be sure to keep the new certificate of insurance along with the vehicle’s registration papers.

An essential thing to point out is to try to use the same level of coverage on each quote and and to get prices from as many companies as possible. This guarantees an accurate price comparison and the best price quote selection.

It’s easy to assume that auto insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Consumers who shop around at least once a year will most likely move their business because there is a good probability of finding a policy with better rates. A recent insurance study discovered that consumers who regularly compared price quotes saved over $72 a month compared to policyholders who didn’t regularly shop around.

If finding the lowest price on Chevy Colorado insurance in Bakersfield is your ultimate target, learning how to shop for auto insurance can save time, money, and frustration.

The majority of larger companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm allow consumers to get price estimates online. Obtaining pricing for Chevy Colorado insurance in Bakersfield is possible for anyone as you simply type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their rating system automatically retrieves credit information and your driving record and provides a quote based on the data you entered. Being able to quote online for Chevy Colorado insurance in Bakersfield streamlines rate comparisons, and it’s necessary to do this in order to find lower-cost prices.

To compare rates now, check out the insurance providers below. To compare your current rates, we recommend you enter your coverages as close as possible to your current policy. Doing this assures you are getting a fair comparison using the same coverage and limits.

The auto insurance companies shown below have been selected to offer price quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Score discounts to get cheaper Bakersfield auto insurance quotes

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you might find some hidden discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but some must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

• Telematics Data Discounts – Bakersfield drivers who agree to allow their insurance company to analyze driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot may see discounts as long as the data is positive.
• Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car model can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for newer vehicles.
• Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades may save as much as 25% on a Bakersfield car insurance quote. This discount can apply up to age 25.
• Paper-free Discount – A few companies will give you a small discount for completing your application online.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once rather than spreading payments over time you could save 5% or more.
• 55 and Retired – Seniors can possibly qualify for a slight reduction on a Bakersfield car insurance quote.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for several vehicles with the same auto insurance company can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
• Accident Waiver – This one is not really a discount per se, but companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm may permit one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Low annual miles can earn lower rates due to less chance of an accident.

One thing to note about discounts is that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.

The example below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Colorado car insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The information is based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, multi-car, marriage, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and the discounts they provide can be read below.

• State Farm offers discounts for anti-theft, good student, multiple autos, accident-free, and multiple policy.
• Progressive may include discounts for online signing, multi-vehicle, homeowner, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
• Travelers has savings for home ownership, continuous insurance, multi-policy, early quote, payment discounts, IntelliDrive, and new car.
• American Family discounts include early bird, Steer into Savings, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, good driver, and TimeAway discount.
• Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including newly married, multi-car, new vehicle discount, teen driver discount, and exclusive group savings.

If you need lower rates, check with every insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders in Bakersfield. To see companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in Bakersfield, click here.

Analysis of Chevy Colorado rates

The table displayed next covers a range of insurance coverage prices for Chevy Colorado models. Understanding more about how insurance rates are calculated can be useful when making smart choices when selecting a policy.

Above prices assume married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can influence coverage prices greatly.

Higher deductibles save money

One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should your deductibles be. The comparison tables below approximate the rate fluctuation when you select higher and lower physical damage coverage deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $250 deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Table data represents 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. Information does not factor in specific location information which can increase or decrease premium rates considerably.

Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs approximately $28 more each month or $336 each year averaged for all Colorado models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average more than 27 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose the higher deductible.

The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels and can raise or lower Chevy Colorado yearly insurance costs for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Chevrolet Colorado liability-only versus full coverage

The example below illustrates the difference between Chevy Colorado insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The premiums assume no violations or accidents, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There isn’t a written rule for dropping comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Chevy Colorado replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premium cost is more than $300 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some conditions where buying only liability insurance is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage.

Smart Consumers Can Cut Their Insurance Rates

Many factors are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Most are fairly basic like a motor vehicle report, although others are not quite as obvious like your vehicle usage or your commute time. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the factors that help determine your premiums. If you have a feel for what impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that may result in cheaper rates.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by companies to determine prices.

• Rates can drop if you have more than one policy – The majority of car insurance companies will award better rates to people that have more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. The discount can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you already get this discount, drivers will still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still save money even if you have your coverage with different companies
• Eliminate extra policy coverages – There are quite a few extra add-on coverages that you can buy but may not be useful. Add-on coverages like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and extra equipment coverage may be costing you every month. You may think they are a good idea when deciding what coverages you need, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so think about removing them and cutting costs.
• Poor credit can mean higher costs – Your credit history will be a significant factor in your rate calculation. If your credit leaves room for improvement, you may save money insuring your Chevrolet Colorado by repairing your credit. Drivers with excellent credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with poor credit.
• Discounts for married drivers – Being married helps lower the price compared to being single. It may mean you are more mature than a single person and statistics prove married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
• An active insurance claims history can cost you more – Insurance companies in California award better rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Theft deterrents systems cut prices – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help prevent auto theft.
• Lower physical damage deductibles cost more – Comp and collision deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if a covered claim is submitted. Physical damage coverage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield broken by a bird, collision with a deer, and having a roll-over accident. The more damage repair cost you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.

• Insurance loss data for a Chevy Colorado – Companies factor in historical loss data in order to profitably underwrite each model. Models that the statistics show to have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have higher rates.

  The table below demonstrates the collected loss data for Chevy Colorado vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles as a whole is set at 100. Values that are under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while values that are 100 or greater indicate higher probability of having a loss or a tendency for claims to be larger.

  
  

  Auto Insurance Loss Data for Chevrolet Colorado Models

  Specific Chevrolet Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 2WD	73	57	64
  Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4WD	90	89	86	67
  Chevrolet Colorado Ext Cab 2WD	55
  Chevrolet Colorado Ext Cab 4WD	67

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
  Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

Exclusive versus independent insurance agents

Some people would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a great decision The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that drivers can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local insurance agents is definitely important in Bakersfield.

After filling out this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Bakersfield who want to provide quotes to get your business. There is no reason to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates without a big time investment. If you need to quote rates from a specific car insurance provider, just visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.

Insurance agent types

If you want a good Bakersfield insurance agent, it helps to know the two types of agencies to choose from. Car insurance agencies are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)

Agents of this type are normally appointed by many insurers and that gives them the ability to insure amongst many companies and find the cheapest car insurance rates. If you want to switch companies, your agent can switch companies and you stay with the same agent.

When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below are Bakersfield independent agents who can help you get comparison quotes.

View more Bakersfield agents

Exclusive Car Insurance Agents

Exclusive agents write business for a single company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot place coverage with different providers so you might not find the best rates. These agents are well trained on their products and sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.

The following are exclusive agencies in Bakersfield who can help you get rate quotes.

View more Bakersfield agents

Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions you should ask.

• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in California?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
• When do they do a full risk review?
• Can glass claims be handled at your home?
• How are claims handled?

How to find a good California car insurance company

Choosing a good quality insurer is difficult considering how many choices there are in Bakersfield. The ranking data displayed below may help you pick which insurers to look at when comparing rate quotes.

Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service

1. AAA of Southern California
2. State Farm
3. Esurance
4. AAA Insurance
5. Progressive
6. Liberty Mutual
7. GEICO
8. Allstate
9. Titan Insurance
10. The Hartford

Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank

1. USAA – A++
2. Travelers – A++
3. State Farm – A++
4. GEICO – A++
5. Esurance – A+
6. Nationwide – A+
7. Allstate – A+
8. Mercury Insurance – A+
9. Progressive – A+
10. Titan Insurance – A+

Shop smart and save

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best price and still be able to protect your assets.

Low-cost Chevy Colorado insurance in Bakersfield can be found from both online companies and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers work with local independent agents.

Even more information can be found in these articles:

• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Who Has the Cheapest Bakersfield Car Insurance for Low Credit Scores? (FAQ)
• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• Cellphones, Texting and Driving (iihs.org)
• Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)