It takes a little time, but the best way to get the cheapest Chevy Traverse insurance is to regularly compare quotes from different companies who provide car insurance in Fresno.
- Spend a few minutes and learn about policy coverages and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and a less-than-favorable credit rating can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Obtain price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
The most important part of shopping around is to use identical limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get price estimates from as many different companies as possible. This provides a fair price comparison and a thorough price selection.
It’s an obvious assumption that auto insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. Consumers who compare rates once a year will probably switch to a new company because there is a good probability of getting low-cost coverage. A recent car insurance study revealed that drivers who routinely shopped around saved over $860 a year compared to policyholders who don’t regularly compare prices.
If saving the most money on Chevy Traverse insurance is your objective, then having an understanding of how to get rate quotes and compare auto insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
Choosing the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Fresno is actually very simple if you learn how to start. If you have a current auto insurance policy, you will definitely be able to find the best rates using this information. But California drivers can benefit by having an understanding of how the larger insurance companies set your policy premium because it can help you find the best coverage.
Lower Your Fresno Insurance Prices
Many things are used when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as traffic violations, but some are more obscure such as your credit history or your vehicle rating.
The list below includes some of the things used by companies to determine rates.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Some auto insurance companies apply better rates to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to help guarantee you have the best rates.
- City traffic equals higher prices – Having an address in a rural area can save you money when trying to find low car insurance rates. Fewer people corresponds to lower accident rates in addition to lower liability claims. City drivers have to deal with more auto accidents and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means more chance of being in an accident.
- Avoid coverage lapses – Driving without insurance coverage in place is not a good idea and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance coverage expire. Not only will you pay higher rates, getting caught without coverage may earn you fines and jail time. Then you may be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department.
- Add-on coverages push up prices – There are a ton of extra add-on coverages that may not really be needed on your Traverse policy. Coverage for things like replacement cost coverage, accidental death, and extra life insurance coverage may not be needed and are just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so remove them and pocket the money.
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Gender and auto insurance rates – Over time, data shows women are more cautious behind the wheel. The data does not necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. They both get in accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. In addition to higher claims, males also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males generally have the highest accident percentage so they pay the highest premiums.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Chevy Traverse auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no claims or violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
- Drive lots and pay more – The more you drive in a year’s time the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than those that get driven frequently. An incorrectly rated Traverse can cost quite a bit. It’s a smart idea to ensure your auto insurance policy correctly shows the correct usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Buy a safe car and pay less – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower rates of occupant injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you. If your Chevy Traverse earned at least four stars on Safercar.gov you may pay a lower rate.
- Safeguard your assets with liability protection – The liability section of your policy will protect you if you are responsible for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
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Chevy Traverse claim probability – Auto insurance companies use claims history as a tool for profitable underwriting. Models that statistically have a trend towards higher claims will cost more for specific coverages. The table shown below demonstrates the historical loss data for Chevy Traverse vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, is considered to be 100. Numbers under 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while values that are 100 or greater indicate higher probability of having a loss or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Chevrolet Traverse Vehicles Specific Chevrolet Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Chevrolet Traverse 4dr 2WD 75 101 72 93 90 90 Chevrolet Traverse 4dr 4WD 72 91 82 78 76 78 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEData Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Facts and figures for Chevy Traverse insurance
The rate table displayed below showcases estimates of insurance costs for Chevy Traverse models. Learning as much as possible about how insurance prices are established is important to be able to make informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Traverse LS 2WD | $334 | $544 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,494 | $125 |
Traverse LS AWD | $378 | $544 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,538 | $128 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $378 | $544 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,538 | $128 |
Traverse LT AWD | $378 | $662 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,656 | $138 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $378 | $662 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,656 | $138 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $378 | $662 | $454 | $26 | $136 | $1,656 | $138 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in specific Fresno garaging location which can alter premium rates considerably.
Should you raise deductibles?
When buying car insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The comparison tables below may help you to understand the price difference between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Traverse LS 2WD | $342 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,349 | $112 |
Traverse LS AWD | $386 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,393 | $116 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $386 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,393 | $116 |
Traverse LT AWD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $386 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,497 | $125 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Traverse LS 2WD | $278 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,170 | $98 |
Traverse LS AWD | $314 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,206 | $101 |
Traverse LT 2WD | $314 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,206 | $101 |
Traverse LT AWD | $314 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,288 | $107 |
Traverse LTZ 2WD | $314 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,288 | $107 |
Traverse LTZ AWD | $314 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,288 | $107 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in Fresno location which can affect insurance rates substantially.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible costs about $16 more each month or $192 annually than buying the higher $500 deductible. Since 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 go at least 16 months between claim filings, you would save money by selecting a higher deductible. Below is the way you can decide this on your own policy.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $120 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $104 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $16 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $16 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 16 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to save money means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you file a claim. That will necessitate some funds available in order to pay the deductible to have repairs made.
Liability only or full coverage
The example below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Traverse car insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The data is based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There is no set rule of when to stop paying for physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Chevy Traverse book value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing you more than $300 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where eliminating full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should maintain full coverage.
Score discounts on Fresno auto insurance
Not too many consumers would say auto insurance is affordable, but you may qualify for discounts that you may not even be aware of. Most are applied when you complete an application, but a few need to be inquired about prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Active Service Discounts – Being on active deployment in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Multi-line Discount – Some auto insurance companies give a small discount if you purchase life insurance.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Drivers over the age of 55 may be able to get lower premium rates.
- Student Discounts – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
- Anti-theft System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and earn discounts up to 10% off your Fresno car insurance quote.
- New Car Discount – Buying a new car model can cost up to 25% less because newer models keep occupants safer.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given the whole policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though you would think it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
The example below compares Chevy Traverse insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
To choose insurance companies who offer discounts in Fresno, click here to view.
Fresno car insurance company ratings
Insuring your vehicle with a good quality auto insurance provider is hard considering how many companies provide coverage in Fresno. The rank data in the lists below may help you pick which car insurance companies to look at putting your business with.
Top 10 Fresno Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- American Family
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- AAA Insurance
- GEICO
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- Progressive
Top 10 Fresno Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Smart consumers save more
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Budget-conscious Chevy Traverse insurance can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Fresno, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide online rate quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent insurance agencies.
People switch companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, questionable increases in premium, unfair underwriting practices or even policy non-renewal. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.
To learn more, take a look at these articles:
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Teachers in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Seniors in Fresno? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for a GMC Sierra in Fresno? (FAQ)
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)