Save Money on Volvo V50 Insurance in Bakersfield

Want to learn how to save money and find low-cost Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield? Trying to come up with a payment for pricey car insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and require stricter spending habits.

It’s amazing but about 70% of customers kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and 38% of drivers have never shopped around. Drivers in Bakersfield could save roughly $500 a year by just comparing quotes, but they just feel it’s too hard to compare rate quotes online.

How to find more affordable Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield

The recommended way to get budget auto insurance rates in Bakersfield is to compare prices once a year from providers who sell auto insurance in California. You can compare rates by following these steps.

• Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about policy coverages and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that drive up the price such as multiple speeding tickets and an imperfect credit score can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
• Step 2: Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide price quotes for a wide range of companies. Start a quote
• Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
• Step 4: Provide notification to your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your existing policy. Submit payment and a completed application for the new policy. As soon as you can, keep your new certificate verifying proof of insurance with your vehicle’s registration.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is to make sure you enter identical coverage information on each quote request and and to get prices from as many different insurance providers as possible. This ensures a level playing field and the best price quote selection.

Companies like Allstate and Progressive persitently shower you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

The best way to compare rates for Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield is to know all the major auto insurance companies have advanced systems to provide you with a free rate quote. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information including if a SR-22 is needed, what your job is, whether you are married, and whether you have decent credit. The rating information is then sent to many highly-rated insurers and you will receive price estimates quickly.

To check rates for your Volvo V50 now, click here and see if a lower rate is available in Bakersfield.

The auto insurance companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in California. If more than one company is shown, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them to get the most affordable price.

Choosing the best Volvo vehicle insurance in California is an important decision

Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle serves an important purpose.

• Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability protection if you drive a vehicle. 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 your Volvo has a loan, most banks will make it mandatory that you buy full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank may insure your Volvo at a much higher premium rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
• Insurance safeguards both your vehicle and your assets. It also can pay for many types of medical costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of carrying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially when you need to use it. Unknowingly, the average driver is overpaying over $820 a year so it’s recommended you shop around at every policy renewal to ensure rates are competitive.

Analysis of coverages

The rate table displayed below highlights different insurance coverage prices for Volvo V50 models. Having a better idea how auto insurance policy rates are established can benefit drivers when making decisions when shopping around.

Premium data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in specific zip code location which can influence auto insurance rates noticeably.

Comparison of policy deductibles

A question often asked by Bakersfield drivers is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The rates shown below help summarize the rate differences between high and low insurance deductibles. The first table uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in garaging location in Bakersfield which can increase or decrease price quotes considerably.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $35 more each month or $420 annually averaged for all V50 models than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 11 months between claims, you would probably be better off going with the higher deductible.

Car insurance premiums based on gender

The chart below illustrates the difference between Volvo V50 car insurance costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no claims or driving violations, full coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The chart below shows the difference between Volvo V50 premium costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Should you pay for full coverage?

There is no definitive rule for phasing out physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Volvo V50 settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying over $700 annually for physical damage coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are some situations where only buying liability is not financially feasible. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not opt for liability only.

Get discounts to get affordable Bakersfield insurance rates

Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Certain reductions will be credited at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you get the savings.

• Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same insurance company could earn a price break for each car.
• Full Payment Discount – If you pay your bill all at once rather than spreading payments over time you can avoid monthly service charges.
• Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify for a discount when you quote Bakersfield auto insurance with a few insurance companies.
• Onboard Data Collection – Drivers who elect to allow data collection to scrutinize driving patterns by using a telematic data system such as Progressive’s Snapshot may see discounts if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up prior to your current V50 insurance policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

The example below compares Volvo V50 insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. The price estimates are based on a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

Popular insurance companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.

• Progressive may offer discounts for homeowner, multi-policy, good student, online signing, continuous coverage, and online quote discount.
• MetLife includes discounts for accident-free, claim-free, multi-policy, defensive driver, good driver, good student
• Mercury Insurance offers discounts for anti-theft, ease of repair, good driver, multi-car, professional/association, and type of vehicle.
• Nationwide may include discounts for good student, accident-free, anti-theft, multi-policy, defensive driving, family plan, and Farm Bureau membership.
• GEICO offers discounts including anti-lock brakes, military active duty, defensive driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, daytime running lights, and good student.
• AAA policyholders can earn discounts including multi-car, good student, multi-policy, AAA membership discount, good driver, and anti-theft.

Before purchasing a policy, check with every company to give you their best rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not apply in Bakersfield.

When should I contact a local insurance agent?

Some people still prefer to sit down with an agent and that can be a smart move One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your coverage information is emailed to companies in Bakersfield who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to search for an agent due to the fact that quote results will go instantly to you. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates and work with a local agent. If you wish to get a rate quote from a specific company, just find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.

Picking an insurer needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

• Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Bakersfield?
• Which companies do they recommend if they are an independent agency?
• Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
• What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?

What type of Bakersfield auto insurance agent is right for you?

If you would like to find a reliable insurance agency, you need to know there are two different types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Auto insurance agents in Bakersfield can be categorized as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies

Agents that choose to be exclusive can only quote rates from one company like State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

Below are exclusive agencies in Bakersfield who can help you get price quotes.

More insurance agents

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company and that enables them to quote your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If premiums increase, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to switch agencies.

When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you compare quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.

Below are Bakersfield independent agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.

More insurance agents

Special considerations

Always remember that when buying coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. You are unique.

For instance, these questions might help in determining if you may require specific advice.

• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
• Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
• Is my trailer covered?
• When should I drop full coverage on my Volvo V50?
• Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Information about specific coverages

Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance covers 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 insurance covers claims like falling objects, rock chips in glass and vandalism. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Volvo V50.

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 very important.

Collision coverage

This coverage covers damage to your V50 resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as rolling your car, colliding with a tree and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible on your V50 to save money on collision insurance.

Auto liability

Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.

Liability can pay for things such as court costs, structural damage, loss of income and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

The next chart shows why low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills for things like EMT expenses, X-ray expenses, hospital visits, funeral costs and dental work. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Cheap auto insurance premiums are out there

As you prepare to switch companies, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Lower-priced Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield is definitely available on the web as well as from insurance agents, so you need to quote Bakersfield auto insurance with both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agents.

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim, being labeled a high risk driver and high prices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies is not as hard as you think.

How to find affordable Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield

If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to get the cheapest Volvo V50 insurance in Bakersfield is to start comparing prices yearly from providers in California. Prices can be compared by completing these steps.

1. Get a basic knowledge of car insurance and the measures you can take to keep rates low. Many rating factors that are responsible for high rates like distracted driving and a not-so-good credit score can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
2. Compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
3. Compare the new rates to your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you can save money and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
4. Provide adequate notice to your current company of your decision to cancel your current policy and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new company or agent. Immediately store the proof of insurance certificate in your glove compartment.

The critical component of shopping around is that you use the same deductibles and limits on each quote and and to look at as many carriers as you can. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and maximum price selection.

Even more information is available in these articles:

• Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for a Honda CR-V in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Learners Permit in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for High School Students in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
• Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)