Anyone knows that car insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. Consumers who shop around for the cheapest price will presumably buy a different policy because they have a good chance of finding lower rate quotes. A recent auto insurance study discovered that people who shopped around annually saved an average of $3,400 over four years compared to drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the best rates on auto insurance is your objective, then having a grasp of the best way to quote and compare insurance coverage can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.
The best way we recommend to get discount Fiat 500 insurance in Fresno is to compare prices annually from companies in California.
First, try to comprehend what coverages are included in your policy and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many rating factors that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents and poor credit history can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices from multiple sources. View companies
Third, compare the price quotes to your existing policy and see if you can save money. If you can save some money, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Fourth, give notification to your agent or company of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit a completed policy application and payment for the new policy. As soon as you can, place your new proof of insurance certificate in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
An important part of this process is that you use identical deductibles and limits on every price quote and to quote with as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and a complete rate analysis.
If you already have coverage or want to find a cheaper company, you can learn to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage. Buying the cheapest auto insurance in Fresno can be much easier if you know how to start. Drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to compare prices from many different companies online.
The following companies can provide price quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to find the cheapest rates.
Why you need quality insurance for your vehicle
Even though it can be expensive, buying auto insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
First, just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability protection 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, it’s guaranteed your bank will require that you buy insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender will be forced to insure your Fiat at a significantly higher premium and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
Third, insurance safeguards both your Fiat 500 and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit in the event you are sued. If you have damage to your Fiat as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your car are definitely more than the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. On average, a vehicle owner in Fresno is wasting up to $800 each year so you should quote and compare rates each time the policy renews to save money.
How Insurers Calculate Fiat 500 Insurance Prices
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what determines premiums, this enables informed choices that will entitle you to cheaper rates.
The items below are a few of the “ingredients” utilized by car insurance companies to help set prices.
Obey driving laws and save – Good drivers get better prices than their less careful counterparts. Even one moving violation could increase your next policy renewal by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who get dangerous tickets such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 form with the DMV in their state in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
Eliminate unneeded extra coverages – Policies have extra add-on coverages you can purchase when buying insurance. Insurance for coverage for rental cars, high-cost glass coverage, and motor club memberships are examples of these. You may think they are a good idea when buying your policy, but if you have no use for them eliminate them to save money.
Insurance policy lapses increase prices – Allowing your coverage to lapse will be a quick way to bump up your insurance costs. In addition to paying higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you a license revocation or jail time. You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the California DMV.
Safer the car lower the rate – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to be cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means less claims paid which can result in lower premiums. If your Fiat 500 earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may qualify for a discount.
Bad credit will cost you – Having a bad credit rating is a big factor in calculating your premium rate. So if your credit could use some work, you could save money insuring your Fiat 500 if you clean up your credit. People with very high credit ratings tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit ratings.
Costs impacted by your city – Being located in a rural area is a good thing when buying insurance. Lower population means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate. Drivers who live in large California cities have more traffic problems and higher rates of accident claims. The longer drive time means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
Low mileage costs less – Driving a lot of miles each year the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. A policy that improperly rates your 500 is just wasting money. Verify your vehicle rating states how each vehicle is driven.
Insurance loss probability for a Fiat 500 – Insurers include the past claim history for a vehicle to help determine rates. Vehicles that statistically have a higher amount or frequency of claims will cost more for specific coverages.
The table shown below demonstrates the loss history for Fiat 500 vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles compiled together is set at 100. Numbers under 100 indicate better than average losses, while values that are above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or tendency to have higher losses.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 72 | 76 | 66 | 96 | 89 | 84 |
| Fiat 500 Convertible | 76 | 79 | 60 | 85 | ||
| Fiat 500 Electric | 73 | 59 | 76 | 60 | ||
| Fiat 500L | 112 | 80 | 102 | 128 | 93 | 97 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Your situation helps dictate your coverage
When it comes to coverage, there really isn’t a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed.
These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- What are good deductibles for a Fiat 500?
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Find affordable rates by being thorough
In this article, we covered a lot of ways to save on Fiat 500 insurance in Fresno. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Fresno auto insurance, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
When getting Fresno auto insurance quotes online, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Helpful resources
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Homeowners in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Fresno Car Insurance Rates for Uber Drivers? (FAQ)
- Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)