Everyone knows that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who shop around for cheaper price quotes will probably buy a new policy because there are good odds of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A recent survey revealed that people who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved about $3,500 over four years compared to policyholders who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding the best rates on auto insurance in Riverside is your objective, then learning a little about the best way to quote and compare insurance can save time and make the process easier.
It takes a little time, but the best way to get discount Scion xD insurance is to compare prices regularly from insurers that sell auto insurance in Riverside.
- Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about how auto insurance works and the things you can change to lower rates. Many factors that cause rate increases like speeding tickets, careless driving and a not-so-good credit score can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Step 2: Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide written notification to your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit payment and a completed application for your new coverage. As soon as coverage is bound, place your new proof of insurance paperwork in an easily accessible location.
The most important part of this process is that you use identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and the best price selection.
If you are already insured or are looking for a new policy, use these tips to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Riverside is really quite simple as long as you have a good starting point. Drivers just have to understand the least time-consuming way to compare price quotes online.
Rates and data analysis
The information shown below covers different insurance rates for Scion xD models. Being able to understand how insurance policy rates are determined can be valuable when making decisions on which coverage to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XD 4-Dr Hatchback | $184 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,146 | $96 |
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Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact premium rates greatly.
Careless driving habits raise Riverside auto insurance rates
The diagram below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault claims impact Scion xD insurance costs for each different age group. The rate quotes are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you buy full coverage?
The illustration below shows the difference between Scion xD insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. Data assumes no claims or violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There isn’t a written rule of when to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Scion xD settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company will settle for is $8,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $800 annually for full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Seven discounts for cheaper car insurance quotes
Car insurance companies don’t list every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so below is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Riverside car insurance online.
- Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course that instructs on driving safety is a good idea and can lower rates if your company offers it.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the medical payments premium.
- Paperless Signup – Many larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for signing up on your computer.
- Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
Don’t be surprised that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Scion xD auto insurance rates with and without policy discounts. Data assumes a male driver, no violations or accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and marriage discounts applied.
Some of the larger companies that possibly offer some of the discounts shown above include:
When getting a coverage quote, ask each insurance company what discounts are available to you. Discounts may not apply to policies in your state. If you would like to choose from a list of car insurance companies that offer discounts in Riverside, click here to view.
Car insurance 101
Understanding the coverages of car insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the usual coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for bills such as prosthetic devices, hospital visits and doctor visits. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive coverage
This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, fire damage, theft and damage from getting keyed. The most your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability car insurance
This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a limit of $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability can pay for claims like court costs, pain and suffering, medical expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
The next chart demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as rolling your car, backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your xD to save money on collision insurance.
Quote. Compare. Save.
We just covered a lot of tips how to lower your Scion xD insurance rates in Riverside. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your auto insurance rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates are with a smaller regional carrier. They can often provide lower auto insurance rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
Cheaper car insurance in Riverside is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Riverside agents, so get free Riverside car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not have online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through local independent agents.
Additional detailed information is available by following these links:
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Used Cars in Riverside? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Drivers with a DUI in Riverside? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for 16 Year Olds in Riverside? (FAQ)
- If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)