Truthfully, the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates in Sacramento is to regularly compare prices from different companies who provide car insurance in California. Price quotes can be compared by following these guidelines.
First, take a few minutes and learn about how car insurance works and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many rating factors that result in higher prices like speeding tickets, accidents and a not-so-good credit score can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
Second, compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for many different companies. Find a Sacramento insurance agent
Third, compare the new quotes to your existing coverage to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your existing policy and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to your new insurance company. Immediately keep the new proof of insurance certificate above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
The key thing to remember is that you’ll want to compare identical coverage information on every quote request and and to get quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this ensures a level playing field and maximum price selection.
A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that the vast majority of California car insurance customers have stayed with the same insurance company for a minimum of four years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared car insurance rates at all. American drivers can cut their rates by approximately $859 a year, but most tend to underestimate the benefits if they just switched companies.
The purpose of this post is to teach you how to compare rates easily and also pocket some savings If you’re already insured, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce the price you pay using these methods. But California car owners need to have an understanding of the way companies determine how much to charge and use it to find better rates.
How to shop Chevy TrailBlazer insurance online
When price shopping your coverage, comparing more rates from different companies helps you find more affordable rates. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide Sacramento TrailBlazer insurance quotes over the internet, so you need to compare price estimates from those companies as well.
The following companies offer free rate quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can to find the lowest car insurance rates.
Choosing the best TrailBlazer insurance in California is an important decision
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Chevy in Sacramento, insurance serves a purpose in several ways.
- Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a minimum amount 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.
- If you bought your Chevy TrailBlazer with a loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will force you to have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may insure your Chevy at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them the higher premium.
- Insurance preserves not only your Chevy TrailBlazer but also your financial assets. Insurance will pay for all forms of medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of having insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially if you ever need it. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying over $825 a year so compare quotes from several companies at least once a year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Specific coverages for a Chevy TrailBlazer
Having a good grasp of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like hail damage, falling objects, damage from flooding, a broken windshield and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Collision – This coverage covers damage to your TrailBlazer from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with a tree, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your TrailBlazer to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Chevy TrailBlazer.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5 in California), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Auto liability – Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
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 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, attorney fees, bail bonds, structural damage and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The next chart demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be adequate coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills such as X-ray expenses, EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Ratings for California car insurance companies
Ending up with a highly-rated car insurance company can be difficult considering how many companies there are to choose from in California. The rank data below may help you choose which auto insurance companies to look at when comparing rate quotes.
Top 10 Sacramento Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Top 10 Sacramento Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Compare auto insurance prices regularly to save
As you shop your coverage around, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
In this article, we presented a lot of information how to lower your Chevy TrailBlazer insurance prices in Sacramento. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Sacramento car insurance, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company.
Consumers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, poor customer service, not issuing a premium refund or high rates after DUI convictions. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
Other resources
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
- Who Has Affordable Sacramento Auto Insurance for Lyft Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a 20 Year Old Male in Sacramento? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Sacramento Auto Insurance for Seniors? (FAQ)
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)
- Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)