It goes without saying that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Drivers who compare other prices are highly likely to switch insurance companies because there is a good probability of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey found that people who regularly compared rates saved approximately $850 each year compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding the lowest price for car insurance in Fresno is the reason for your visit, knowing how to compare insurance premiums can save money and time.
The best way we recommend to get budget auto insurance rates in Fresno is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from providers who provide car insurance in California. Drivers can shop around by following these steps.
- Step 1: Get an understanding of how companies price auto insurance and the changes you can make to lower rates. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases like careless driving and a bad credit rating can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application to your new insurance company. Make sure you keep your new proof of insurance certificate in an easily accessible location.
The most important part of shopping around is to use similar limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from every company you can. This provides the most accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
There are several ways to get quotes from different companies. The recommended way to comparison shop is to perform an online rate comparison.
Just keep in mind that more quotes provides better odds of finding lower pricing.
The companies shown below can provide free rate quotes in Fresno, CA. In order to find the best cheap car insurance in Fresno, we recommend you click on several of them to find the cheapest auto insurance rates.
Premium rates and analysis
The price information shown below showcases detailed analysis of prices for Mazda MX-5 Miata models. Learning a little about how insurance premiums are formulated can help drivers make decisions on which coverage to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $340 | $472 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,482 | $124 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $390 | $576 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,636 | $136 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $390 | $576 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,636 | $136 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can raise or lower rates greatly.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The rates shown below may help to conceptualize the cost difference of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $298 | $472 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,305 | $109 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,453 | $121 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,453 | $121 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $242 | $382 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,134 | $95 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $278 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,252 | $104 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $278 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,252 | $104 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific location which can increase or decrease price quotes noticeably.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $16 more each month or $192 annually across all Mazda MX-5 Miata models than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $250 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.
The chart below illustrates how your deductible choice and can impact Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Safe drivers pay cheaper rates
The example below shows how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders can affect Mazda MX-5 Miata annual premium costs for different ages of insureds. The premiums are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance costs by gender and age in Fresno
The diagram below shows the difference between Mazda MX-5 Miata auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no claims, a clean driving record, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage
The example below shows the difference between Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance prices with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The rates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no definitive guideline that works best for making the decision to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Mazda MX-5 Miata claim settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $7,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying over $700 a year for physical damage coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Three reasons insurance is important
Despite the potentially high cost of Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance, insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a minimum amount of liability insurance in order to license the vehicle. 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.
- If your Mazda has a lienholder, most banks will stipulate that you have comprehensive coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the lender will be forced to insure your Mazda at a much higher rate and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards not only your Mazda MX-5 Miata but also your financial assets. It will also cover medical bills that are the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay to defend you if you are sued as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of having insurance outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is wasting up to $869 every year so you should quote your policy with other companies once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Verify you’re applying every discount
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.
- Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment may qualify for a discount when you quote Fresno car insurance depending on your auto insurance provider.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can earn you a little savings because of the fact that having a home is proof of financial responsibility.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy early. You may see this discount when you get Fresno car insurance quotes online.
- Air Bag Discount – Options like air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
- Memberships – Participating in a civic or occupational organization in Fresno could trigger savings on your policy.
- Accident Free – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.
As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.
The information below illustrates the difference between Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no tickets, 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 safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-car, multi-policy, and marriage discounts applied.
If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Fresno, follow this link.
What if I want to buy from local Fresno auto insurance agents?
Many people would rather buy from a local agent and we recommend doing that A nice benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain cheap insurance quotes and also buy local.
By using this quick form, your information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Fresno that give free quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You never need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. If you wish to compare rates from a particular provider, you can always find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Picking the best provider is decision based upon more than just the premium amount. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- What companies can they write with?
When finding an insurance agent, you should know the types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agents in Fresno are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive work for only one company like AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are highly trained on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the brand legacy instead of buying on price only.
Below are exclusive insurance agencies in Fresno willing to provide rate quotes.
- Wilson Wong – State Farm Insurance Agent
1341 W Bullard Ave #6 – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 438-0470 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Patricia Pearson
5755 E Kings Canyon Rd Ste 106 – Fresno, CA 93727 – (559) 255-1861 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Jagdeep Singh
4185 W Figarden Dr #101 – Fresno, CA 93722 – (559) 527-5530 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not limited to a single company so as a result can place your coverage through many companies and get the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and that require little work on your part.
When comparing insurance rates, we highly recommend that you get several quotes from several independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Many independent agencies also insure through smaller companies which could offer lower prices.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Fresno that are able to give rate quotes.
- Bulldog Insurance Agency
7975 N Cedar Ave – Fresno, CA 93720 – (559) 447-5000 – View Map - Mc Carty Insurance Inc: Mc Carty Chad R
1625 Shaw Ave # 111 – Fresno, CA 93710 – (559) 324-1421 – View Map - United Valley Insurance Services
3245 W Figarden Dr – Fresno, CA 93711 – (559) 256-2500 – View Map
How do I know if I need professional advice?
Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that
For instance, these questions may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
- Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in California?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
- Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Specific coverages for a Mazda MX-5 Miata
Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, vandalism, damage from getting keyed and damage from flooding. The most your auto insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverages – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 15/30/5 which means a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability can pay for things such as court costs, loss of income, medical expenses and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below shows why buying low liability limits may not be enough.
Medical expense insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for things like pain medications, X-ray expenses and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your MX-5 Miata resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things like colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your MX-5 Miata to get cheaper collision coverage.
How much can you save?
Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to reduce Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance prices online in Fresno. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Cheap Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance in Fresno is definitely available from both online companies and with local Fresno insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through independent agents.