If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to save on auto insurance rates is to do a yearly price comparison from different companies who sell insurance in Stockton.
- Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the modifications you can make to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a less-than-favorable credit rating can be amended by paying attention to minor details. Keep reading for more ideas to prevent rate hikes and find overlooked discounts.
- Step 2: Get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Stockton. If you find a lower rate and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
One thing to point out is that you use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to look at as many different companies as possible. This provides a level playing field and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
It’s astonishing, but the vast majority of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least the last four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never compared rates to find cheap insurance. American consumers could pocket roughly $860 a year just by shopping around, but they don’t understand how simple it is to find cheap rates by getting comparison quotes.
If you’re already insured or are just looking to switch companies, use these cost-cutting techniques to buy cheaper auto insurance and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this article is to tell you how car insurance companies work and some tricks to saving. Comparison shoppers just have to understand the tricks to compare rates online.
Stockton car insurance discounts
Some companies don’t list all discounts very clearly, so the below list has both the well known as well as the least known car insurance savings.
- Smart Student Discounts – Being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
- Drivers Education – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them participate in a local driver’s education class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Forcing all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Discount for Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Distant Student Discount – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
- Federal Government Employee – Having worked for a branch of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease with certain companies.
- Safety Course Discount – Taking part in a defensive driver course may get you a small discount and also improve your driving technique.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The chart below compares Lexus LS 460 car insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. Data assumes a female driver, no claims, a clean driving record, 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 multi-car, homeowner, marriage, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Some companies that possibly offer these discounts may include but are not limited to:
When comparing rates, check with every company which discounts they offer. Depending on the company, some discounts may not be offered in your area. To locate car insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in California, click here to view.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide quotes in Stockton, CA. If multiple providers are shown, it’s highly recommended you get rates from several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Premium rates and analysis
The premium information displayed below showcases different insurance policy prices for Lexus LS 460 models. Learning more about how rate quotes are established is important to be able to make informed purchases.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $444 | $1016 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $2,038 | $170 |
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $444 | $1016 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $2,038 | $170 |
| LS 460 AWD 4-Dr | $444 | $1016 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $2,038 | $170 |
| LS 460 L 4-Dr Sedan | $444 | $1016 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $2,038 | $170 |
| LS 460 L AWD 4-Dr | $444 | $1016 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $2,038 | $170 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect auto insurance rates considerably.
Where to set your deductibles
One common question asked by Stockton drivers is how low should you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates determine the differences in price when you select higher and lower comp and collision deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $100 deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $576 | $1176 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,287 | $191 |
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $576 | $1176 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,287 | $191 |
| LS 460 AWD 4-Dr | $576 | $1176 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,287 | $191 |
| LS 460 L 4-Dr Sedan | $576 | $1176 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,287 | $191 |
| LS 460 L AWD 4-Dr | $576 | $1176 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $2,287 | $191 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $620 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,450 | $121 |
| LS 460 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $620 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,450 | $121 |
| LS 460 AWD 4-Dr | $320 | $620 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,450 | $121 |
| LS 460 L 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $620 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,450 | $121 |
| LS 460 L AWD 4-Dr | $320 | $620 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,450 | $121 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact insurance rates significantly.
Based on the figures above, using a $100 deductible costs roughly $70 more each month or $840 annually than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 13 months between claims, you would most likely save money if you decide on a higher deductible.
How to determine if a higher deductible is a good idea
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $191 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $121 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $70 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $70 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
One big caveat is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to pay more when you have a physical damage claim. That will require enough money stashed away in the event you need to pay the higher deductible.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can change Lexus LS 460 insurance rates for different age categories. The data is based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to get professional advice
Always keep in mind that when comparing a policy, there really isn’t a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Can I use my car for my catering business?
- Should I buy only the required California minimum liability coverage?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Am I covered if I back into my garage door?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Insurance agents near you
A lot of people would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a smart decision Professional insurance agents are highly skilled in risk management and will help you if you have claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing auto insurance online is you can get cheap rate quotes and also buy local. Supporting local agents is important particularly in Stockton.
Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Stockton that can give you free Stockton car insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no need to find an agent because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. If you have a need to compare prices from a particular provider, feel free to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Independent or Exclusive: It’s your choice
When narrowing the list to find local Stockton agents, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Auto insurance agents can either be independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Both handle auto insurance, but it’s a good idea to understand how they are different because it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies do not sell for just one brand so they can write business with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, they can switch companies in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparing rates, you will want to include rate quotes from several independent agencies to ensure the widest selection of prices. Many independent agencies also insure through smaller mutual companies which may provide better rates.
Listed below is a list of independent agents in Stockton that may be able to give you comparison quotes.
- Banuelos Insurance Agency
2300 Waterloo Rd – Stockton, CA 95205 – (209) 513-3248 – View Map - Truex Insurance Agency
4609 Quail Lakes Dr #1 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 477-1111 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Maffei Ins and Fin Services
2540 Pacific Ave #1 – Stockton, CA 95204 – (209) 957-9433 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are highly trained on the products they sell which aids in selling service over price. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents partially due to loyalty to the company and strong financial ratings.
Below is a list of exclusive insurance agents in Stockton that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Jim Molina – State Farm Insurance Agent
7273 Murray Dr #7 – Stockton, CA 95210 – (209) 473-0516 – View Map - George Azevedo Jr – State Farm Insurance Agent
718 Lincoln Center – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 474-3285 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Arnold Respicio
2333 W March Ln, Ste C1 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 951-7739 – View Map
Choosing the best insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:
- How long has their agency been open in Stockton?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Smart consumers save more
When trying to cut insurance costs, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price while not skimping on critical coverages.
People who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, questionable increases in premium, being labeled a high risk driver and lack of trust in their agent. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider can be easy and end up saving you some money.
You just read some good ideas how you can shop for Lexus LS 460 insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Even more information is located at these sites:
- Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for a Honda Civic in Stockton? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Teenage Males in Stockton? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Stockton Auto Insurance Quotes for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Stockton Auto Insurance Quotes for Inexperienced Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Unemployed Drivers in Stockton? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Stockton Auto Insurance Quotes for Good Drivers? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Ford F-150 in Stockton? (FAQ)
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)