Would you like to buy more affordable Scion xB insurance in Fresno? Feeling guilty for buying an expensive insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many Fresno consumers feeling the pinch from expensive insurance.
Unthinkable but true, a large majority of insurance policyholders have stayed with the same insurance company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of drivers have never even compared rates from other companies. Consumers in Fresno could save $500 each year by just comparing quotes, but most just don’t grasp how much they could save if they switched to a cheaper policy.
There are many car insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to find the lowest rates for Scion xB insurance in Fresno.
It is always a good idea to compare premium rates yearly because insurance prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you think you had the lowest price on Scion xB insurance in Fresno last year you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about insurance because you’re about to find out the quickest way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
The goal of this article is to help you learn how auto insurance companies operate and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will surely be able to find better prices using the concepts covered in this article. Although California consumers need to learn the methods companies use to determine prices because rates are impacted by many factors.
Check for these premium slashing discounts
Companies don’t list their entire list of discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Mature Driver Discount – Older drivers may qualify for better insurance rates.
- Federal Employees – Active or former government employment may qualify for a discount when you quote Fresno auto insurance with a few insurance companies.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning your own home or condo may trigger a policy discount on insurance because maintaining a house requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your homeowners and auto insurance with the same company you may save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Seat Belts Save – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% off PIP or medical payments premium.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you aren’t that lucky.
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Scion xB auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The premiums 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 homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To find providers who offer cheap Scion xB insurance quotes in Fresno in California, click here to view.
When quoting car insurance, remember that having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding more affordable insurance. Not every company allows you to get Fresno xB insurance quotes online, so it’s important to compare price quotes from those companies as well.
The following companies can provide free rate quotes in California. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Fresno, CA, we suggest you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Rates and other information
The rate information shown below covers estimates of coverage costs for Scion xB models. Having a good understanding how rate quotes are established can assist in making decisions on the best policy to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XB 2WD | $216 | $324 | $424 | $26 | $126 | $1,116 | $93 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location which can increase or decrease insurance rates substantially.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The example below illustrates the difference between Scion xB car insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The premiums are based on no claims or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying full coverage
There is no exact rule to delete full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Scion xB book value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $7,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying over $700 a year for full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where buying only liability insurance is not a good plan. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not drop full coverage.
Why You Might Pay Inflated Rates in Fresno
Many factors are considered when premium rates are determined. Most are fairly basic such as traffic violations, but others are less obvious such as whether you are married or your commute time. Part of the car insurance buying process is learning some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for car insurance. If you understand what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that could result in lower premium levels.
The itemized list below are some of the most common factors used by insurance companies to determine your premiums.
- Never let your coverage lapse – Letting your insurance expire is a sure-fire way to bump up your car insurance costs. Not only will you pay higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time.
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Are females or males drivers cheaper? – Statistics demonstrate that females tend to be a little less risky than males. Now that doesn’t mean males are worse at driving than females. Females and males are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males tend to have higher claims. Men also get ticketed for serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are several times more likely to be in an accident so it costs more to insure them.
The illustration below shows the difference between Scion xB auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no violations or accidents, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
- How credit history affects car insurance costs – Your credit rating is a big factor in calculating your premium rate. So if your credit rating is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your Scion xB by taking the time to improve your credit score. Insureds that have good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit ratings.
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Insurance prices and vehicle performance – The performance level of the car, truck or SUV you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a significant difference in your auto insurance rates. The best insurance prices are usually found on low performance passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
The following data uses these assumptions: married female driver age 30, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Scion xB rates compared to other models that have a range of performance risks.
- Lower rates with a multi-policy discount – Some car insurance companies afford lower prices to buyers who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you already get this discount, you may still want to shop around to help guarantee you have the best rates.
- Better rates on vehicles with better crash test results – Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. Highly rated vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
- Your spouse saves you money – Your spouse helps lower the price on car insurance. It may mean you are more mature and it’s proven that married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
- Buy as much liability as you can afford – Your policy’s liability coverage kicks in in the event that you are found liable for an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to other policy coverages, so do not cut corners here.
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Insurance losses for a Scion xB – Insurance companies include the past claim history for a vehicle to help determine the rate you pay. Vehicles that historically have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have a higher premium rate. The next table shows the insurance loss data for Scion xB vehicles.
For each insurance policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles as a whole equals 100. Values below 100 indicate better than average losses, while numbers above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or statistically larger claims.
Auto Insurance Loss Data for Scion xB Models Specific Scion Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Scion xB 86 92 89 148 127 116 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEData Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
When should I discuss my situation with an agent?
When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you might need professional guidance.
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- What is PIP insurance?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Am I covered if I hit a deer?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Can’t I compare prices from local Fresno insurance agencies?
A lot of people still prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision One of the great benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is important especially in Fresno.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your coverage information is sent to insurance agents in Fresno that can give you free Fresno auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your house as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you wish to compare rates from a specific company, you would need to find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.
Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap quote. Any agent in Fresno should have no problem answering these questions:
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
Three reasons auto insurance is important
Even though Fresno xB insurance rates can get expensive, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
First, just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific level of liability insurance if you drive a 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.
Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, it’s guaranteed your bank will force you to have full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Scion at a much higher rate and require you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
Third, auto insurance protects both your assets and your Scion. Insurance will also pay for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially if you ever need it. The average driver in California is wasting up to $865 each year so compare rate quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
Car insurance companies ranked
Choosing a highly-rated auto insurance provider is hard considering how many different companies sell coverage in California. The company information listed below could help you analyze which companies to look at purchasing from.
Top 10 Fresno Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Top 10 Fresno Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- American Family
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- AAA Insurance
- GEICO
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- Progressive
Quote. Compare. Save.
As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to buy enough coverage at the best cost while still protecting your assets.
People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation and questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right insurance provider is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
Lower-priced insurance in Fresno is available both online as well as from independent agents in Fresno, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent agents.
How to quote cheaper Scion xB insurance in Fresno
Truthfully, the best way to find cheaper prices for Scion xB insurance is to regularly compare price quotes from providers who provide car insurance in Fresno.
- First, read about the coverage provided by your policy and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause rate increases such as high-risk driving behaviors and a not-so-good credit rating can be controlled by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Second, compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple insurance companies. View a list of agents
- Third, compare the quotes to your existing coverage to determine if you can save on xB insurance. If you find a lower rate and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Fourth, tell your current company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application for your new policy. Be sure to place the new proof of insurance paperwork in your glove compartment.
A valuable tip to remember is to try to use identical coverage information on every quote request and and to get price estimates from as many companies as feasibly possible. This enables an accurate price comparison and a thorough price selection.
Helpful articles
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Seniors in Fresno? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Civic in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Business Use in Fresno? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)