How to Save on Chula Vista Honda Insight Insurance

Paying for high-priced Honda Insight insurance in Chula Vista can dry up your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a rate comparison is a fast and free way to lower your monthly bill.

Amazingly, 70% of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for well over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared rate quotes at all. Drivers in California could pocket as much as 35% a year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don’t grasp how much savings they would realize if they switched to a cheaper policy.

Due to the increasing number of choices for buying lower-cost insurance for a Honda Insight in Chula Vista, it is hard for the average consumer to locate the lowest price company.

The goal of this article is to teach you the best way to quote coverages and some money-saving tips. If you have coverage now, you will be able to lower your rates using these methods. But California drivers must know how big insurance companies calculate your car insurance rates and use it to your advantage.

Companies offering Honda Insight insurance in Chula Vista

The companies in the list below are ready to provide free rate quotes in Chula Vista, CA. In order to find cheap car insurance in Chula Vista, CA, we recommend you get price quotes from several of them to get the lowest price.

Rate information and statistics

The price information displayed next outlines a range of insurance coverage prices for Honda Insight models. Having insight into how rates are established helps drivers make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.

Data based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in Chula Vista location which can raise or lower coverage rates considerably.

Raise deductibles and save

A question often asked by Chula Vista drivers is how low should you set your deductibles. The premium rates below can help show how much more you’ll pay between low and high coverage deductibles. The first data set uses a $100 deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in your specific Chula Vista location which can revise coverage prices considerably.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $30 more each month or $360 for a full year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go at least 13 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible.

Safe drivers pay less for insurance

The illustration below shows how violations and at-fault collisions increase Honda Insight annual premium costs for each different age group. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The information below illustrates the comparison of Honda Insight insurance prices with full coverage and liability only. The costs are based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to switch to liability coverage only

There is no exact rule for eliminating physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can use. 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’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let’s say your Honda Insight replacement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $7,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying in excess of $700 annually to have full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.

There are some situations where only buying liability is not recommended. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Reduce your insurance rates with these nine discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you might be missing out on some discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but some discounts are required to be specially asked for before being credited.

• Save with a New Car – Buying a new car model is cheaper because newer models keep occupants safer.
• Professional Memberships – Affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your next insurance statement.
• Discount for Swiching Early – A few insurance companies offer discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Student in College – Older children living away from Chula Vista attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags can get savings of 25 to 30%.
• Paperless Signup – Some companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application on their website.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
• ABS Brakes – Cars and trucks with ABS and/or traction control have fewer accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
• Theft Deterrent – Cars and trucks optioned with advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will qualify for a discount on a Chula Vista car insurance quote.

Discounts lower rates, but many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.

The example below illustrates the comparison of Honda Insight yearly insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The premiums assume a male driver, no violations or accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, claim-free, multi-car, marriage, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.

A list of insurance companies and some of the discounts are outlined below.

• GEICO offers discounts including good student, membership and employees, air bags, emergency military deployment, and driver training.
• SAFECO may offer discounts for multi-car, drive less, bundle discounts, homeowner, teen safe driver, teen safety rewards, and safe driver.
• State Farm discounts include passive restraint, driver’s education, anti-theft, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, defensive driving training, and safe vehicle.
• MetLife offers discounts for good driver, multi-policy, good student, accident-free, and defensive driver.
• 21st Century may have discounts that include automatic seat belts, early bird, student driver, anti-lock brakes, homeowners, 55 and older, and driver training.
• Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, online quote discount, continuous coverage, good student, online signing, and homeowner.

When quoting, ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Discounts may not be offered everywhere.

Insurance agents are professional risk managers

A small number of people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and we recommend doing that One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent. And buying from neighborhood agents is still important in Chula Vista.

After filling out this short form, your insurance data is emailed to insurance agents in Chula Vista who will give you quotes for your coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to do any legwork due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. You can most likely find cheaper rates without a big time investment. If you need to compare rates from a specific car insurance provider, you would need to jump over to their website to submit a rate quote request.

When researching a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different types of agents from which to choose. Agents are categorized either independent or exclusive.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If premiums increase, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you compare quotes from a few independent agents to maximize your price options.

The following is a partial list of independent agents in Chula Vista who may provide price quotes.

View more agents

Exclusive Agencies

Agents that choose to be exclusive normally can only provide a single company’s rates and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are not able to compare rates from other companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained on what they offer and that can be a competitive advantage.

Below are exclusive agencies in Chula Vista that can give you comparison quotes.

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Finding a good auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Chula Vista?
• Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• Are they involved in claim handling?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
• How long have they been in business?

California auto insurance companies

Ending up with a good quality insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many different companies there are to choose from in California. The company ratings listed below may help you choose which car insurance companies you want to consider comparing price quotes from.

Top 10 Chula Vista Car Insurance Companies Overall

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. AAA of Southern California
4. State Farm
5. The Hartford
6. AAA Insurance
7. GEICO
8. The General
9. Titan Insurance
10. Progressive

Top 10 Chula Vista Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

1. Titan Insurance – 95%
2. USAA – 94%
3. AAA of Southern California – 92%
4. AAA Insurance – 91%
5. Nationwide – 90%
6. State Farm – 90%
7. The Hartford – 89%
8. GEICO – 89%
9. The General – 88%
10. 21st Century – 88%

Insurance coverages explained

Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages available from insurance companies.

Auto liability insurance – Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers claims like emergency aid, medical expenses and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

The illustration below shows why buying low liability limits may not be adequate.

Collision – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Insight from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things like rolling your car, crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your Insight to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Honda Insight.

Due to the fact that many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird, a broken windshield and rock chips in glass. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for things like chiropractic care, funeral costs, EMT expenses and pain medications. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Keep this in mind when shopping around

Discount Honda Insight insurance in Chula Vista can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood Chula Vista agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies may not provide online rate quotes and many times these smaller providers only sell through local independent agencies.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best cost while still protecting your assets.

Steps to finding lower priced Honda Insight insurance in Chula Vista

If you want to save money, the best way to find better pricing on Honda Insight insurance is to do an annual price comparison from different companies who can sell car insurance in Chula Vista. You can compare rates by following these guidelines.

Step 1: Take a little time to learn about the different coverages in a policy and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many factors that result in higher rates like accidents, traffic violations, and a bad credit rating can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.

Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple sources.

Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing rates to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a better price, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

Step 4: Provide proper notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your current policy and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to the new insurer. Don’t forget to keep your new proof of insurance paperwork with the vehicle registration.

One thing to point out is to use the same deductibles and limits on each quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and a thorough price selection.

More learning opportunities

• Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for Lyft Drivers in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Drivers with a DUI in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Infrequent Drivers in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
• How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Homeowners in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
• How Much are Chula Vista Car Insurance Quotes for a Chevrolet Silverado? (FAQ)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for Business Use in Chula Vista? (FAQ)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)