It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find better pricing on auto insurance rates in Fresno is to regularly compare prices from companies who provide car insurance in California.
Step 1: Read and learn about coverages and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many rating factors that cause high rates like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an imperfect credit history can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Continue reading for more ideas to help reduce premium rates and find discounts that you may qualify for.
Step 2: Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can quote rates for many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the new quotes to the premium of your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates and buy the policy, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Step 4: Tell your current company to cancel the current policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment for the new policy. Once the paperwork is finalized, keep your new certificate of insurance with the vehicle registration.
A good tip to remember is to make sure you’re comparing identical coverage information on each quote request and and to look at as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and a complete rate analysis.
Inconceivable but true, the vast majority of auto insurance customers renewed their policy with the same company for more than four years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. Drivers in Fresno can save almost 35% each year just by comparing rates, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to find lower-cost rates by getting comparison quotes.
The are a couple different ways of comparing price quotes from different Fresno insurance companies. The fastest way to do a complete rate comparison is to jump online and get quotes. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding the best price.
The following companies have been selected to offer free quotes in Fresno, CA. To get the best cheap auto insurance in Fresno, we recommend you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Get cheap Kia Optima Hybrid insurance in Fresno with discounts
Car insurance companies don’t necessarily list all their discounts very well, so the list below details both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden discounts that you may qualify for.
- Paperless Signup – A few larger online companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Own a Home – Simply owning a home can get you a discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Early Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
- Good Grades Discount – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
- Multiple Cars – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle with the same insurance company qualifies for this discount.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Safe drivers could pay up to 40% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
Remember that some of the credits will not apply the whole policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.
A partial list of companies that may include these money-saving discounts may include but are not limited to:
When getting free Fresno car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to all companies you are considering how you can save money. Savings may not be available in Fresno.
Insurance agent or online?
Some consumers still like to talk to a local agent and that can be a smart move One of the benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get lower rates and still buy from a local agent.
After filling out this short form, the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will give you bids and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. You can most likely find cheaper rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you wish to compare prices from one company in particular, you just need to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Picking an company is decision based upon more than just a low price. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- Will the agent or a CSR service your policy?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- What discounts might you be missing?
Two types of car insurance agents
When researching a reliable agent, you should know the types of insurance agents and how they work. Car insurance agencies are categorized either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Agencies
Agents of this type normally can only provide a single company’s rates like AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. Exclusive agencies are unable to shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Many people buy insurance from these agents partially due to the brand name rather than having the cheapest rates.
Shown below is a list of exclusive agents in Fresno willing to provide rate quotes.
- Bob Perry – State Farm Insurance Agent
3210 E Shields Ave #6 – Fresno, CA 93726 – (559) 224-4546 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Roger Noguera
3032 W Bullard Ave – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 435-2246 – View Map - Dick Wallace – State Farm Insurance Agent
4344 E Ashlan Ave – Fresno, CA 93726 – (559) 222-6501 – View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agencies
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so as a result can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and find you the best rates. If they find a lower price, an independent agent can move your coverage which makes it simple for you. When comparing car insurance rates, you will want to get rate quotes from multiple independent agents in order to compare the most rates. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies that may provide cheaper car insurance rates.
Shown below are independent agents in Fresno who can help you get rate quotes.
- California A1 Stars Insurance Solutions
1589 W Shaw Ave #13 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 412-2957 – View Map - Agri-Center Insurance Inc
2650 W Shaw Ln – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 233-0123 – View Map - James G. Parker Insurance Associates
1753 E Fir Ave – Fresno, CA 93720 – (559) 222-7722 – View Map
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
When it comes to your policy for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Should I get collision insurance on every vehicle?
- Can my babysitter drive my car?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Kia Optima Hybrid is totaled?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
- Are there any extra discounts I can get?
- How much can I save by bundling my policies?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
You Can Change Your Insurance Rates
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the factors that play a part in calculating your policy premiums. When you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find lower rates. Lots of things are part of the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving record, although others are not as apparent like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.
The factors shown below are a few of the things companies use to determine your prices.
Your address can push rates up or down – Choosing to live in a small town can save you money when talking about auto insurance. City drivers have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers on the road means fewer accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
With age comes lower rates – Older drivers tend to be more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets. Drivers with little experience are statistically shown to be inattentive when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates.
Do you really need to file those auto insurance claims? – If you frequently file small claims, you should expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in California provide cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Better credit means lower costs – Having a good credit score is a large factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have poor credit. If your credit history is not that good, you may save money insuring your Kia Optima Hybrid if you clean up your credit.
Employer stress can affect rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like real estate brokers, executives, and dentists have higher rates than the rest of us because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other careers such as scientists, engineers and performers pay the least.
Kia Optima Hybrid statistical loss data – Insurers factor in historical loss data when setting premium costs. Vehicles that tend to have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will cost more for coverage. The table below illustrates the collected loss data for Kia Optima Hybrid vehicles.
For each policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together is equal to 100. Values below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while values over 100 indicate frequent claims or tendency to have larger claims.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 143 | 115 | 116 | 139 | 158 | 151 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Auto insurance is an important decision
Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle is required in California but also provides important benefits.
First, the majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage in order to drive the car 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 your car has a loan, most lenders will force you to have insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Kia at a much higher rate and force you to reimburse them a much higher amount than you were paying before.
Third, auto insurance protects not only your car but also your financial assets. Insurance will also pay for most medical and hospital costs for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you have damage to your Kia as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially when you need to use it. As of last year, the average driver in California overpays more than $865 each year so you should quote your policy with other companies at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Don’t give up on cheaper coverage
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced full coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The goal is to get the best coverage possible at the best cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Affordable Kia Optima Hybrid insurance in Fresno can be sourced from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not offer internet price quotes and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.
Other learning opportunities
- Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Immigrants in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Drivers with Bad Credit in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
- Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
- Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)