Everyone knows that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who shop around for cheaper rates will presumably switch to a new company because there is a great chance of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A recent survey found that people who compared rates regularly saved as much as $865 a year compared to people who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding budget-friendly insurance is the reason for your visit, then knowing how to choose a company and compare coverages can save time and make the process easier.
Truthfully, the best way to quote cheaper auto insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers who provide auto insurance in Stockton. You can compare rates by completing these steps.
- Step 1: Read about how insurance companies determine prices and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many rating factors that cause high rates such as accidents, traffic violations, and a not-so-good credit score can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Step 2: Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can quote prices for many different companies. View rates
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in Stockton. If you can save some money, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Notify your company or agent of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a down payment and signed policy application for the new policy. Don’t forget to put the new certificate verifying coverage somewhere easily accessible.
The critical component of shopping around is that you’ll want to compare the same level of coverage on each quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as you can. This provides a level playing field and a thorough price selection.
Quoting cheaper car insurance coverage in Stockton is simple if you know the tricks. Essentially every person who needs cheaper car insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. But California vehicle owners do need to understand how insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.
Car insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Car insurance is expensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts to help bring down the price. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but some discounts are required to be asked for prior to getting the savings.
- Accident Free – Stockton drivers who stay claim-free can save substantially as compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a small discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
- E-sign Discounts – Some larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on the web.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on medical payment and PIP coverage.
- Telematics Discount – People who choose to allow driving data submission to monitor driving habits by using a telematics device such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could see a rate decrease as long as the data is positive.
- Bundled Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could save 10% to 20% off each policy.
You should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The chart below shows the comparison of Dodge Caliber insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The premiums are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Larger car insurance companies and a selection of discounts can be read below.
- GEICO has savings for anti-theft, air bags, federal employee, multi-vehicle, daytime running lights, and seat belt use.
- MetLife has discounts for good driver, claim-free, defensive driver, good student, accident-free, multi-policy
- State Farm may offer discounts for defensive driving training, multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good driver, safe vehicle, multiple autos, and good student.
- Progressive discounts include online signing, multi-policy, online quote discount, homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, and multi-vehicle.
- Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for accident-free, professional/association, good student, annual mileage, and anti-theft.
- 21st Century includes discounts for defensive driver, driver training, homeowners, air bags, teen driver, and anti-lock brakes.
- Allstate may include discounts for early signing, good payer, FullPay discount, economy car, defensive driver, auto/life discount, and multi-policy.
If you want cheaper Stockton car insurance quotes, ask each insurance company which discounts they offer. Some discounts may not apply in your state. To see a list of insurance companies with significant discounts in California, click this link.
When shopping for the cheapest Dodge Caliber rate quotes, there are a couple of ways to compare rate quotes from many insurance companies in California. The fastest way to comparison shop consists of shopping online.
Comparing rate quotes online is fast and free, and it makes it a waste of time to drive around to local insurance agencies. Shopping for insurance online has made agencies unnecessary unless you require the advice and guidance that you can only get from talking to an agent. You can, however, get the lowest quotes online and have a local agent actually service the policy.
Just remember that comparing a wide range of rates provides better odds of finding better pricing.
The car insurance companies shown below provide quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Rates and detailed analysis
The premium table shown next highlights detailed analysis of policy rates for Dodge Caliber models. Having knowledge of how car insurance premiums are established is important for making smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber Express | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber Heat | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber SE | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber Mainstreet | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber Rush | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber SXT | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber Uptown | $292 | $662 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,680 | $140 |
Caliber R/T | $334 | $780 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,840 | $153 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in specific garaging location which can decrease or increase coverage rates significantly.
Seven Tips to Get Cheap Stockton Insurance Premiums
Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the things that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.
Be proud to be claim-free – If you file a lot of claims you can pretty much guarantee higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Companies in California award better rates to policyholders who only file infrequent claims. Insurance coverage is intended for more catastrophic claims.
Accidents will cost you – Getting just one driving citation may cause rates to rise forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have received license-revoking violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The chart below shows how violations and accidents drive up Dodge Caliber auto insurance rates for each age group. The premiums assume a single male driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Your liability insurance limits – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will protect you in the event that you are responsible for an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to comp and collision, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Higher rates for policy lapses – Having a lapse in insurance coverage will be a quick way to pay more for insurance. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.
Teenage vs. experienced drivers – Older, more experienced drivers tend to be more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and usually have better credit. Inexperience drivers have been known to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel and because of this, their insurance rates are much higher.
The data below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Credit rating impacts costs – Having a good credit rating will be a significant factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with bad credit. If your credit rating could use some work, you could be paying less to insure your Dodge Caliber by improving your rating.
Fast cars cost more to insure – The make and model of the car or truck you need to insure makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. Lower cost passenger models usually have the lowest premiums, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The following chart assumes a single male driver age 30, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Dodge Caliber rates compared to other vehicles that have different risk factors.
Auto insurance quotes from local Stockton insurance agencies
Some consumers just want to get professional advice from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. A nice benefit of comparing auto insurance online is you may find lower prices but also keep your business local. Buying insurance from local insurance agencies is important especially in Stockton.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to companies in Stockton who will give you quotes for your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to leave your computer because prices are sent straight to your inbox. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates and work with a local agent. In the event you want to get a price quote from a particular provider, you can always go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Not all car insurance agents are the same
When looking for a reliable insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that you can choose from. Insurance agencies in Stockton are either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents of this type do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and find the cheapest rate. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, we highly recommend that you get quotes from independent agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
Below are independent insurance agents in Stockton who may be able to give you free price quotes.
Insurance Services of Stockton
1150 W Robinhood Dr # 1A – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 474-6174 – View Map
Truex Insurance Agency
4609 Quail Lakes Dr #1 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 477-1111 – View Map
Raj Insurance Services
1743 Grand Canal Blvd #12 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 472-2060 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
Exclusive agents normally can only provide a single company’s rates like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agencies are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Stockton that are able to give comparison quotes.
Farmers Insurance: Paula Ortiz
4550 N Pershing Ave #3 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 956-3988 – View Map
State Farm: Cheryl Bentley
1502 St Marks Plaza #2 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 952-5065 – View Map
Ann Harvie – State Farm Insurance Agent
5637 N Pershing Ave, Ste E22 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 956-2525 – View Map
Finding the right car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. A good agent in Stockton will have answers to these questions.
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- Does the company have a solid financial rating?
- Can glass claims be handled at your home?
- If they are an independent agency in Stockton, which companies do they recommend?
Three reasons insurance is important
Despite the fact that insurance is not cheap in Stockton, insuring your vehicle serves a purpose in several ways.
- The majority of states have minimum liability requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level 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.
- If your Dodge Caliber has a loan, almost every bank will have a requirement that you have full coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the lender will be forced to insure your Dodge at a much higher premium rate and make you pay the higher premium.
- Insurance protects both your Dodge and your personal assets. It will also pay for medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of insuring your car more than cancel out the cost, particularly for liability claims. An average driver in America is wasting up to $865 each year so you should quote and compare rates each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
How to find a good California car insurance company
Insuring your vehicle with a high-quality car insurance provider can be difficult considering how many choices you have in Stockton. The ranking data shown below can help you analyze which car insurance companies you want to consider when shopping around.
Top 10 Stockton Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- American Family
- AAA of Southern California
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- AAA Insurance
- GEICO
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- Progressive
Cheap insurance premiums are possible
Some insurance companies may not have internet price quotes and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents. Lower-priced insurance in Stockton is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Stockton, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection.
We covered a lot of information how to reduce Dodge Caliber insurance rates online in Stockton. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding low cost Stockton car insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the best rates are with a small mutual company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Much more information about insurance in California can be found at these links:
- Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Elantra in Stockton? (FAQ)
- What is Covered by an Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)
- Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)