Cheap Scion xB Insurance in Bakersfield

Unbelievable but true according to a study over 70% of drivers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for over three years, and about 40% of consumers have never quoted rates to find cheap coverage. With the average car insurance premium being $1,400, Bakersfield drivers could pocket almost $469 a year by just comparing quotes, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to find cheap rates by getting comparison quotes.

The easiest way to find cheaper Scion xB insurance is to regularly compare prices from companies who provide car insurance in Bakersfield. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.

First, try to learn a little about how your policy works and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that increase rates like traffic violations, accidents, and a substandard credit score can be eliminated by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.

Second, quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple sources.

Third, compare the new rates to the premium of your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you can save money and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

Fourth, provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit payment and a completed application to your new carrier. As soon as you can, put the certificate of insurance with your registration paperwork.

A valuable tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to look at as many companies as possible. This ensures a fair price comparison and the best price quote selection.

If you have insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce premiums using the ideas covered in this article. Locating the best rates in Bakersfield is much easier if you have a good place to start. Nevertheless, California consumers can benefit from knowing how insurance companies calculate their prices and use it to your advantage.

There are several ways of comparing rates from car insurance companies in your area. The simplest method to lower the rate you pay for insurance is to perform an online rate comparison.

Comparing quotes online is fast and free, and it makes it obsolete to spend your day driving to local Bakersfield insurance agencies. Quoting Scion xB insurance online makes this unnecessary unless your situation requires the professional abilities that you can only get from talking to an agent. It is possible to price shop your coverage online but have a local agent actually write the policy.

Just remember that quoting more helps improve the odds of finding lower pricing. Some smaller insurers do not give online Bakersfield xB insurance quotes, so you need to compare quotes from the smaller companies as well.

The companies shown below have been selected to offer price comparisons in Bakersfield, CA. If multiple companies are listed, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.

Rate information and statistics

The rate information displayed next showcases a range of coverage costs for Scion xB models. Understanding how auto insurance policy rates are calculated is important for you to make decisions on the best policy to buy.

Table data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise price quotes considerably.

Can higher deductibles save money?

One frequently asked question is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The comparisons below determine the costs and benefits between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.

Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in your specific Bakersfield location which can impact premiums significantly.

Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs roughly $28 more each month or $336 annually than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at a minimum 27 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.

The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can impact Scion xB insurance costs for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Scion xB liability rates compared to full coverage

The example below shows the difference between Scion xB premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data assumes no violations or claims, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.

When to stop paying for full coverage

There is no written rule to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Scion xB claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $8,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing you more than $800 a year for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not remove full coverage.

Why you need quality insurance for your vehicle

Despite the potentially high cost of Scion xB insurance, buying auto insurance serves several important purposes.

First, almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability coverage if you want to drive legally. 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 you have a loan on your Scion xB, most lenders will require you to have full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Scion at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them the higher price.

Third, insurance protects not only your Scion but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay to defend you if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the repair costs.

The benefits of having insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly for liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in California is overpaying over $865 each year so shop around once a year at a minimum to be sure current rates are still competitive.

What Determines Scion xB Insurance Rates?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that aid in calculating your premiums. When consumers understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find better insurance rates.

The following are some of the things utilized by car insurance companies to help set premiums.

Expect high rates for teens – Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, cause fewer claims and accidents, and are safer drivers. Teen drivers have been known to be inattentive behind the wheel so they pay higher insurance rates.

The chart below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

Liability coverage is peace of mind – Liability coverage provides coverage when a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. This coverage provides for a legal defense which can cost a lot. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.

Having a spouse can lower premiums – Being married helps lower the price on your policy. Marriage translates into being more stable financially and insurance companies reward insureds because married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Save mileage and save money – The more you drive in a year’s time the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies charge rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Incorrect rating for your xB may be costing you. Verify your vehicle rating is showing the right rating data, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Car features that cut prices – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you some money. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping car theft and help bring rates down.

Women pay lower prices – Over time, data shows that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that males are worse at driving than females. Men and women tend to get into auto accidents in similar percentages, but the men tend to have higher claims. Not only that, but men also get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.

The information below visualizes the comparison of Scion xB auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.

Insurance loss statistics a Scion xB – Companies include the past claim trends for vehicles to determine a price that will be profitable for them. Models that the data determines to have higher losses will have increased rates.

The next table shows the historical loss data for Scion xB vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, is set at 100. Numbers that are below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 point to more losses or larger claims.

Get cheaper Scion xB insurance in Bakersfield with discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you complete an application, but once in a while a discount must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new xB can be considerably cheaper since newer vehicles are generally safer.
• Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment as opposed to paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars with anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and will qualify for a discount on a Bakersfield car insurance quote.
• Bakersfield Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Bakersfield may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance since home ownership demonstrates responsibility.
• Student Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully take a driver’s education course if it’s offered in school.
• Good Grades Discount – Maintaining excellent grades may save as much as 25% on a Bakersfield car insurance quote. You can use this discount normally until age 25.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Active or former government employment could qualify for a slight premium decrease with certain companies.
• Discount for Multiple Policies – When you combine your auto and home insurance and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.

Policy discounts save money, but most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount should help lower the cost of your policy.

The chart below visualizes the comparison of Scion xB insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, homeowner, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.

If you would like to view auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in California, follow this link.

Your insurance coverage should be tailored to you

When it comes to choosing insurance from an agent or online for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Your situation is unique and your insurance should be unique as well.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• How high should deductibles be on a Scion xB?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• Are there any extra discounts I can get?
• Do I need replacement cost coverage?
• How much cheaper are high deductibles?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Buying from auto insurance agents

Certain consumers still like to go talk to an agent and that is just fine! A good thing about getting free rate quotes online is that you can find lower prices and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from local insurance agents is especially important in Bakersfield.

For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Bakersfield that can provide free Bakersfield car insurance quotes for your coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to visit any agencies since rate quotes are delivered to your email. You can find lower rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you have a need to compare rates from one company in particular, just find their quoting web page to submit a rate quote request.

The different types of car insurance agents

If you are wanting to find a local insurance agency, it helps to know the two different agency structures and how they work. Agents in Bakersfield are categorized either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If premiums increase, they can switch companies in-house which is easy for the insured.

When comparison shopping, you definitely need to get quotes from a couple of independent agencies to get the best comparison.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Bakersfield that may be able to give free price quotes.

View more Bakersfield agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

These type of agents generally can only insure with one company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are Bakersfield exclusive insurance agents who can help you get price quote information.

View more Bakersfield agents

Choosing the best car insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap quote. Any agent in Bakersfield should have no problem answering these questions:

• When do they do a full risk review?
• Can glass claims be handled at your home?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?

Upon getting positive responses to any questions you may have and locked in a price quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found an insurance agent that will properly insure your vehicles. Just be aware that you can terminate coverage for any reason so don’t think that you are permanently stuck with a specific company for the entire policy term.

Best auto insurance company in Bakersfield

Insuring your vehicle with the right insurer is difficult considering how many companies sell coverage in Bakersfield. The ranking information below could help you analyze which insurers to look at when comparing rate quotes.

Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. The Hartford
4. AAA of Southern California
5. Titan Insurance
6. The General
7. AAA Insurance
8. State Farm
9. Mercury Insurance
10. Nationwide

Auto insurance savings summarized

We just covered a lot of information how to get a better price on Scion xB insurance in Bakersfield. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Bakersfield car insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

Affordable Scion xB insurance in Bakersfield is possible online as well as from independent agents in Bakersfield, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer internet price quotes and many times these regional carriers only sell through independent insurance agencies.

Additional detailed information can be read in the articles below:

• How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• How Much is Car Insurance for 16 Year Olds in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
• What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
• Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)