A study showed that the vast majority of consumers renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and nearly the majority have never compared insurance rates at all. The average driver in Fresno could save as much as $500 every year just by comparing rates, but they don’t invest the time required to compare rates online.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to find better pricing on Kia Optima insurance is to regularly compare price quotes from insurance carriers that insure vehicles in Fresno. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Gain an understanding of how companies set rates and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that increase rates such as inattentive driving and a poor credit rating can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple sources. View rates
- Compare the new quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if cheaper Optima coverage is available in Fresno. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
An important bit of advice to remember is that you use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every price quote and and to get price quotes from as many companies as possible. This helps ensure an accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you are already insured, you will surely be able to reduce the price you pay using the concepts you’re about to learn. Comparing rates for the most affordable car insurance in Fresno is quite easy. But California vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to set your policy premium and use this information to your advantage.
Most companies give pricing on the web. Obtaining pricing for Kia Optima insurance in Fresno is pretty easy as you just type in your required coverages as requested by the quote form. When complete, the system will order reports for credit and driving violations and generates pricing information.
Being able to quote online for Kia Optima insurance in Fresno simplifies rate comparisons, and it’s absolutely necessary to do this in order to get a lower rate.
To save time and use this form to compare rates, consider comparing rates from the companies shown below. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you copy deductibles and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. This guarantees you will be getting rate comparison quotes for similar coverage.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free quotes in California. In order to find the best cheap auto insurance in Fresno, it’s a good idea that you get rates from several of them to get the most affordable price.
Fresno insurance discounts for a Kia Optima
Some companies don’t necessarily list all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so below is a list some of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious auto insurance savings.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Teen drivers should enroll in driver’s education in high school.
- Renewal Discounts – Some companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current Optima insurance policy expires. You may see this discount when you get Fresno auto insurance quotes online.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers without accidents can save as much as half off their rates compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Telematics Discount – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to study driving patterns through the use of a telematics system such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive might see lower rates if they have good driving habits.
- Use Seat Belts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Just know that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, that’s just not realistic.
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Kia Optima car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The data is based on a female driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
A few popular companies and the discounts they provide can be found below.
- Progressive discounts include good student, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, multi-policy, online quote discount, and homeowner.
- Farmers Insurance has savings for mature driver, bundle discounts, early shopping, multi-car, and teen driver.
- Farm Bureau policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, safe driver, good student, renewal discount, driver training, youthful driver, and 55 and retired.
- State Farm has discounts for safe vehicle, multiple policy, good student, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and multiple autos.
- GEICO offers discounts including daytime running lights, membership and employees, five-year accident-free, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy.
- SAFECO offers discounts for drive less, anti-lock brakes, homeowner, multi-car, and bundle discounts.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for safety features, multi-policy, hybrid vehicle, teen driver discount, new move discount, and newly retired.
When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. Some credits might not be available to policyholders in Fresno. If you would like to see a list of auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in Fresno, click here to view.
Analysis of coverages
The coverage table shown below outlines a range of rate quotes for Kia Optima models. Being able to understand how rates are established can help drivers make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $182 | $372 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,320 | $110 |
| Optima EX | $204 | $440 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,410 | $118 |
| Optima SX | $204 | $440 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,410 | $118 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in specific location which can change premiums substantially.
Where to set your deductibles
One of the most common insurance questions is what deductibles to buy. The following insurance rates show the costs and benefits between high and low physical damage deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $342 | $576 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,623 | $135 |
| Optima EX | $386 | $678 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,769 | $147 |
| Optima SX | $386 | $678 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,769 | $147 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima LX | $278 | $464 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,422 | $119 |
| Optima EX | $314 | $546 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,540 | $128 |
| Optima SX | $314 | $546 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,540 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in specific garaging location which can impact auto insurance rates greatly.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $18 more each month or $216 a year than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $250 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 14 months between claims, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible.
Impact of violations and accidents on rates
The information below demonstrates how traffic citations and fender-benders can influence Kia Optima insurance rates for each different age category. The data assumes a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Insurance premiums for males and females
The information below visualizes the comparison of Kia Optima insurance prices for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
Kia Optima liability-only versus full coverage
The chart below shows the difference between Kia Optima car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The premium estimates are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no set guideline to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of having full coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Kia Optima replacement cost is $5,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $4,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are currently paying more than $400 annually for your policy with full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.
Learn How to Buy Car Insurance More Affordably
Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the things that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. If you know what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you better car insurance rates.
Bump up deductibles to lower rates – Your deductibles tell how much you are required to pay if the claim is covered. Physical damage insurance, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, hail damage, and damage caused by road hazards. The more expense the insured is willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
File insurance claims and pay more – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can pretty much guarantee increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Auto insurance companies in California give discounts to drivers who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for more catastrophic claims.
Prices go up with performance – The type of vehicle you own makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. Lower cost passenger cars normally have pretty low rates, but your final cost has many other factors.
The next chart uses these assumptions: single female driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Kia Optima rates compared to other models that have different performance rating factors.
If you don’t need it don’t buy it – There are many additional extra coverages that you can buy if you aren’t diligent. Coverages for rental car coverage, high-cost glass coverage, and motor club memberships are probably not needed. They may sound like good ideas when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Liability insurance preserves assets – The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that you are ruled to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
Kia Optima claim statistics – Insurance companies use past insurance losses when they calculate premium rates for each model. Vehicles that the data determines to have higher losses will cost more for specific coverages. The table below illustrates the actual insurance loss data for Kia Optima vehicles.
For each coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, as a total average, is equal to 100. Values that are below 100 indicate better than average losses, while values that are 100 or greater indicate more frequent losses or an increased probability of a larger loss.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 115 | 101 | 107 | 133 | 142 | 120 |
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 143 | 115 | 116 | 139 | 158 | 151 |
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
What if I want to buy from local Fresno insurance agents?
Certain consumers prefer to have an agent’s advice and that can be a smart move One of the great benefits of comparing insurance online is that you can find cheap insurance quotes and still choose a local agent.
Once you complete this simple form, the quote information is submitted to participating agents in Fresno who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered immediately to you. You can find lower rates and work with a local agent. If you wish to get a rate quote from a specific company, you just need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Finding the right company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price quote. A good agent in Fresno will have answers to these questions.
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
Two types of Fresno auto insurance agents
If you are wanting to find a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Fresno agents are categorized either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Exclusive Agencies
These type of agents generally can only insure with one company and some examples include State Farm or Allstate. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Some people will only buy from exclusive agents partially due to the prominent brand name and strong financial ratings.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive agents in Fresno that are able to give rate quotes.
- Janean Wolfe – State Farm Insurance Agent
7089 N Marks Ave #105 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 432-6392 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Stephen Leonard
1390 N Wishon Ave – Fresno, CA 93728 – (559) 485-0413 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Ron Meadows
1750 E Bullard Ave Ste 101 – Fresno, CA 93710 – (559) 432-0656 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agencies
These type of agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If premiums increase, your agent can switch companies and you stay with the same agent. When comparing rate quotes, you definitely need to contact at a minimum one independent agency in order to compare the most rates. Many independent agencies also insure through small regional insurance companies which could offer lower prices.
Below are Fresno independent agents that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Central Auto Insurance
3668 W Shaw Ave – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 275-9911 – View Map - Walter L. Clark and Associates, Inc.
7673 N Ingram Ave #103 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 222-0300 – View Map - New Horizon Insurance
3039 W Ashlan Ave – Fresno, CA 93726 – (559) 244-6644 – View Map
More effort can pay off
Cost effective Kia Optima insurance is definitely available online and from local insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies may not offer online rate quotes and these small, regional companies sell through local independent agents.
We’ve covered some good ideas how you can reduce Kia Optima insurance car insurance rates online in Fresno. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting affordable Kia Optima insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.
While you’re price shopping online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where an insured cut collision coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price and still be able to protect your assets.
More articles
- Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Fresno Auto Insurance for 16 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Car Insurance for Teen Drivers with Divorced Parents (Allstate)
- How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)