Best Quotes for Mitsubishi Lancer Insurance in Stockton

It’s easy to assume that insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. Insureds who compare rates at least once a year will most likely buy a different policy because there is a good chance of finding a lower-priced policy. A study showed that people who regularly compared rates saved $860 a year compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.

If finding the cheapest rates on auto insurance in Stockton is the reason for your visit, then having some knowledge of the best ways to find and compare coverages can help you be more efficient.

Truthfully, the best way to find cheaper quotes for car insurance rates in Stockton is to start comparing prices yearly from different companies that insure vehicles in California.

1. Get an understanding of what is in your policy and the measures you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates such as distracted driving and a less-than-favorable credit history can be controlled by paying attention to minor details.
2. Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates for a wide range of companies.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and determine if cheaper Lancer coverage is available in Stockton. If you find better rates, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.

The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get price quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this provides a fair price comparison and a better comparison of the market.

If you’re already insured, you will definitely be able to shop for the lowest rates using the concepts covered in this article. This information will tell you the most effective ways to compare rates. Nevertheless, California car owners benefit from understanding the way insurance companies charge you for coverage and apply this information to your search.

When shopping for Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Stockton there are multiple ways to compare prices from car insurance companies in your area. The best way to find affordable insurance rates is to jump online and get quotes. Keep in mind that comparing more rates from different companies helps locate lower pricing.

The companies in the list below offer comparison quotes in Stockton, CA. If multiple providers are shown, we suggest you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.

Mitsubishi Lancer coverage analysis

The price information displayed below showcases different insurance prices for Mitsubishi Lancer models. Understanding more about how insurance policy premiums are calculated is important for you to make smart policy decisions.

Data based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in garaging location in Stockton which can increase or decrease rates considerably.

How high should deductibles be?

When shopping for insurance, a common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The rates below sum up the difference in cost between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

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, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Stockton which can raise or lower prices substantially.

Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $40 more each month or $480 every year averaged for all Lancer models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 19 months between claims, you would probably save some money going with the higher deductible.

The diagram below shows how different deductible levels and can affect Mitsubishi Lancer yearly insurance costs for each different age category. The prices are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Insurance prices based on gender

The diagram below illustrates the difference between Mitsubishi Lancer yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no claims or driving violations, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The information below illustrates the difference between Mitsubishi Lancer premium costs with and without physical damage coverage. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.

Should you buy full coverage or liability only?

There isn’t a written rule for eliminating physical damage insurance, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of full coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Mitsubishi Lancer claim settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $3,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $300 a year to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are a few situations where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not drop full coverage.

Three reasons insurance is important

Even though it can be expensive, paying for insurance serves a purpose in several ways.

First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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.

Second, if you bought your car with a loan, almost all lenders will have a requirement that you have physical damage coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may buy a policy for your Mitsubishi at a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them for it.

Third, insurance protects not only your Mitsubishi Lancer but also your assets. It will also cover all forms of medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you have damage to your Mitsubishi as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially when you need to use it. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is overpaying over $825 a year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every policy renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Don’t neglect these eight discounts on Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Stockton

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts very well, so we researched both the well known as well as some of the hidden discounts you could be receiving when you buy Stockton car insurance online.

• Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on the web.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course teaching safe driver skills could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
• Onboard Data Collection – Stockton drivers who agree to allow driving data collection to spy on when and where they use their vehicle remotely such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could see a rate decrease as long as they are good drivers.
• Cautious Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can save as much as half off their rates than their less cautious counterparts.
• Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents are rewarded with significantly better rates on Stockton car insurance quote when compared with insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
• Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up before driving can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices prevent vehicle theft and will qualify for a discount on a Stockton car insurance quote.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle can get you a discount because newer models are generally safer.

One last thing about discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, insurance companies aren’t that generous.

The information below shows the comparison of Mitsubishi Lancer insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault 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 claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, marriage, and multi-car discounts applied.

A list of insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are included below.

• GEICO discounts include five-year accident-free, defensive driver, air bags, multi-vehicle, and anti-lock brakes.
• Travelers offers discounts for good student, hybrid/electric vehicle, payment discounts, new car, and home ownership.
• Farm Bureau offers discounts including multi-vehicle, renewal discount, youthful driver, 55 and retired, and driver training.
• Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for new vehicle discount, good student, hybrid vehicle, preferred payment discount, new graduate, and safety features.
• American Family includes discounts for early bird, bundled insurance, accident-free, mySafetyValet, defensive driver, and Steer into Savings.
• Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including online quote discount, multi-vehicle, good student, continuous coverage, and homeowner.

Before buying, ask every insurance company which discounts they offer. Savings may not be available in every state. To see insurance companies that offer discounts in Stockton, click here.

Local agents and insurance

Many people would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that is a smart decision One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find cheaper prices and still have an agent to talk to. Buying insurance from local insurance agencies is important particularly in Stockton.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information gets sent to companies in Stockton who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact an agency since price quotes are sent directly to you. You can find lower rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote from a specific company, feel free to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.

Two types of Stockton car insurance agents

When narrowing the list to find a local agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents and how they are slightly different. Stockton agents are classified as either exclusive or independent.

Independent Agents

Independent agencies are appointed with more than one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. If prices rise, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you stay with the same agent. When shopping rates, you will want to compare prices from several independent insurance agents in order to compare the most rates. A lot of them also have access to small regional insurance companies which could offer lower prices.

Shown below is a partial list of independent agencies in Stockton who can help you get price quotes.

• Insurance Services of Stockton
  1150 W Robinhood Dr # 1A – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 474-6174 – View Map
• Pan American Insurance Agency
  2800 W March Ln – Stockton, CA 95219 – (209) 955-2600 – View Map
• Raj Insurance Services
  1743 Grand Canal Blvd #12 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 472-2060 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

These agents generally can only insure with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. They are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they really need to provide good service. These agents receive a lot of sales training on the products they sell which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Many people buy from exclusive agents partially due to the brand legacy rather than having the cheapest rates.

Below are exclusive insurance agents in Stockton that can give you price quotes.

• George Azevedo Jr – State Farm Insurance Agent
  718 Lincoln Center – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 474-3285 – View Map
• Allstate Insurance Agent: Tim Delaney
  3244 Brookside Rd #170 – Stockton, CA 95219 – (209) 943-8344 – View Map
• Darius Turner – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1036 W Robinhood Dr Ste 103 – Stockton, CA 95207 – (209) 475-9336 – View Map

More insurance agents

Deciding on an car insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:

• By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
• Where are claims handled?
• What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
• If they are an independent agency in Stockton, which companies do they recommend?
• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Stockton?

Parts of your car insurance policy

Understanding the coverages of car insurance aids in choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Medical expense insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for bills for things like ambulance fees, surgery, dental work, nursing services and prosthetic devices. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They 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

Collision – Collision insurance pays for damage to your Lancer 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 protects against things such as sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible on your Lancer to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability – This can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 15/30/5 that translate to $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for things such as pain and suffering, medical services and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.

The next chart shows why the minimum limit may not be high enough to cover claims.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and theft. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Mitsubishi Lancer.

Since many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (California limits are 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Quote often and quote early

We covered quite a bit of information on how to find cheap Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Stockton. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding cheaper Stockton car insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.

A few companies may not offer online rate quotes and usually these small insurance companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents. Affordable Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Stockton is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Stockton agents, so you need to compare both to get a complete price analysis.

As you prepare to switch companies, never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal is to buy enough coverage at the lowest possible cost.

Additional car insurance information can be found on the following sites:

• A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Elantra in Stockton? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a GMC Sierra in Stockton? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for a Jeep Wrangler in Stockton? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for Teachers in Stockton? (FAQ)
• No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)