We don’t have to tell you that auto insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Insureds who perform rate comparisons will, in all likelihood, switch companies because they have a good chance of finding a lower-priced company. A recent study showed that drivers who regularly shopped around saved as much as $860 a year compared to drivers who never compared rates.
If finding the lowest rates on insurance is the reason you’re reading this, then having an understanding of how to get price quotes and compare insurance coverage can help you succeed in saving money.
The preferred way to get affordable car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers who provide car insurance in Fresno.
First, read about how auto insurance works and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many things that cause high rates such as accidents, traffic violations, and an unacceptable credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Second, get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple sources. View a list of agents
Third, compare the quotes to your existing rates and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you can save money and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
An important note is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get prices from as many different companies as possible. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.
If you already have coverage or just want cheaper coverage, you can use these tips to get lower rates without sacrificing coverage. Locating the best rates in Fresno is quite easy. Smart shoppers just have to use how to compare different rates online.
Car insurance providers offering affordable rates in California
The car insurance companies shown below provide free quotes in California. In order to find the best auto insurance in Fresno, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Data for Lincoln MKS insurance
The price information displayed below covers different prices for Lincoln MKS models. Having insight into how car insurance prices are formulated can be of help when making decisions on the best policy to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $430 | $780 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,720 | $143 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $430 | $780 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,720 | $143 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $474 | $882 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,866 | $156 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in specific location which can impact rates significantly.
Comparison of policy deductibles
One frequently asked question is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The following insurance rates can help you understand the costs and benefits when you choose different comp and collision deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $478 | $932 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,945 | $162 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $528 | $1054 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,117 | $176 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $348 | $630 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,488 | $124 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $348 | $630 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,488 | $124 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $384 | $712 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,606 | $134 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in specific location information which can modify rates significantly.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible costs an average of $40 more each month or $480 each year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you go more than 10 months between claims, you would come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.
The diagram below highlights how deductible selection and can increase or decrease Lincoln MKS insurance costs for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Premiums by gender and age
The example below shows the comparison of Lincoln MKS insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no violations or claims, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
Does full coverage make sense?
The illustration below compares Lincoln MKS insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The premiums are based on no violations or claims, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There is no clear-cut rule that works best for making the decision to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Lincoln MKS replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, you would only receive $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $800 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some situations where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Discounts can help to save on Lincoln MKS insurance in Fresno
Buying auto insurance is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that can help lower your rates. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but some need to be manually applied in order for you to get them.
- Switch and Save Discount – Some companies provide a discount for buying a policy prior to your current MKS insurance policy expiration. You could save around 10% when you buy Fresno car insurance online.
- Low Miles Discount – Maintaining low annual mileage may allow you to get substantially lower prices.
- Claim-Free Discount – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less in comparison with accident-prone drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness – This one is not really a discount per se, but a handful of insurance companies will let one accident slide without raising rates with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a specific time period.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
- Defensive Driver – Taking part in a safe driver course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and make you a better driver.
- Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on a single policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Mature Driver Discount – Seniors may be able to get a small discount on rates.
- Government Employee Discount – Active or former government employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your auto insurance provider.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that you can get free auto insurance, it’s just not the way it works.
The diagram below shows the comparison of Lincoln MKS premium costs with and without discounts applied. The premiums assume a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, homeowner, marriage, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Some of the insurance companies that have many of the previously listed discounts are:
When getting free Fresno car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to every company which credits you are entitled to. Savings may not apply to policyholders in Fresno.
Get rate quotes but work with a neighborhood Fresno auto insurance agent
Many drivers would rather buy from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Experienced insurance agents are very good at helping people manage risk and give you someone to call. A good thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates and still buy from a local agent. Putting coverage with local insurance agencies is especially important in Fresno.
Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to local insurance agents in Fresno that can provide free Fresno car insurance quotes to get your business. You won’t need to contact any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. If you want to get a rate quote for a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
If you are wanting to find a reputable agency, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures and how they operate. Agents in Fresno can either be exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either one can provide auto insurance policies, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in how they write coverage since it could factor into which type of agent you select.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be independent often have affiliation with several companies so they can write business with a variety of different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If they quote lower rates, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to do anything.
If you are comparing rate quotes, you absolutely need to get rate quotes from at a minimum one independent agency so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Featured below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Fresno that can give you free rate quotes.
DLL Insurance Agency
5088 N Fruit Ave Suite 101 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 451-3411 – View Map
Pan American Insurance Agency
7673 N Ingram Ave # 103 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (800) 303-8272 – View Map
Van Beurden Insurance Services, Inc.
7676 N Palm Ave #106 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 436-6655 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel work for only one company like State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Below is a list of exclusive agencies in Fresno that can give you price quotes.
Allstate Insurance: Geena Cha
2511 E Lamona Ave – Fresno, CA 93703 – (559) 494-0766 – View Map
Wilson Wong – State Farm Insurance Agent
1341 W Bullard Ave #6 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 438-0470 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Belen Sanchez-Ceja
2155 N Fresno St #A – Fresno, CA 93703 – (559) 252-2345 – View Map
Deciding on a insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a low price. Before buying a policy in Fresno, get answers to these questions.
- Which companies do they recommend if they are an independent agency?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
- How long has the business existed?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
Affordable car insurance is out there
While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
Budget-friendly car insurance in Fresno is possible online in addition to many Fresno insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not offer rates over the internet and many times these regional insurance providers work with independent insurance agents.
Other information
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Fresno Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 60? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Fresno Car Insurance Quotes for a Kia Forte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Retired Military in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Ford F-150 in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Fresno Auto Insurance Rates for Nurses? (FAQ)
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)