Ontario Auto Insurance Savings the Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About
Cutting costs on Ontario auto insurance is difficult for beginners to shopping for insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a big hassle to find lower rates in Ontario.
You should take the time to check auto insurance prices occasionally because insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the lowest price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you how to quote online to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these tips. Buying the cheapest protection in Ontario is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nevertheless, California drivers need to have an understanding of the way companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.
Vehicle Insurance Comparison
Most major insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO quote insurance quotes on the web. Getting online rates is quite easy as you just enter the coverage amounts you desire as requested by the quote form. Once you submit the form, the system requests your driving and credit reports and returns a price quote based on these and other factors.
This simplifies rate comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and enter the same data into a form can get tiresome after awhile. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step if you want to find a better rate.
The easy way to compare rates
A more efficient way to lower your rates is to use a quote form that analyzes rates from a bunch of companies at once. It’s a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes online shopping a lot less work. Immediately after submitting the form, your coverage is rated and you can select your choice of the quotes that you receive. If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. The entire process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will know how your current rates stack up.
If you want to compare pricing, click here and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you type in your coverages identical to your current policy. This guarantees you will receive a price comparison based on identical coverages.
Do auto insurance companies bend the truth?
State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim that you can save if you change your coverage to them. How do they all say the same thing?
All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who fall outside these standards will be charged more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why insurance companies can state the savings. That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It’s not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
Many Things Influence your Rates
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better auto insurance rates.
- No coverage gaps is important – Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to increase your auto insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
- Drive less and save money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- Performance makes a difference – The performance level of the car you are insuring makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
- One company can mean more discounts – Most companies will give a discount to people who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by splitting coverages up.
- Choose a safe vehicle and save – Safer cars can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
- What are your deductibles? – Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more money you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
More discounts equal less premium
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.
To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in California, click this link.
Price shop online but buy from a local Ontario agent
A small number of people would rather sit down with an agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can obtain better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
After filling out this quick form, the quote information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent.
Deciding on an insurance company requires more thought than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- How are claims handled?
Choose the right auto insurance agent
When researching a local agent, there are a couple of types of agencies to choose from. Insurance agencies in Ontario can either be captive or independent.
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only write with one company like American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents partially due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.
Below is a list of captive insurance agents in Ontario that can give you price quotes.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 1910 S Archibald Ave # S – Ontario, CA 91761 – (909) 947-3600
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 3633 Inland Empire Blvd # 500 – Ontario, CA 91764 – (909) 948-9774
- Allstate Insurance – 700 N Mountain Ave – Ontario, CA 91762 – (909) 986-1257
- State Farm Insurance – 750 N Archibald Ave # J – Ontario, CA 91764 – (909) 581-1242
Independent Agents
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, we recommend you get quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
Below are independent insurance agencies in Ontario who can help you get price quotes.
- Carrillo Agency – 434 N Lemon St – Ontario, CA 91764 – (909) 986-2757
- Gab Insurance Svc Group – 3350 Shelby St – Ontario, CA 91764 – (909) 484-2119
- Adriana’s Insurance Svc Inc – 951 N Haven Ave # A – Ontario, CA 91764 – (909) 291-4040
To view a full list of insurance agents in Ontario, go to this page.
Once you have received reasonable responses for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.
In conclusion
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.
Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in responding to claim requests, unfair underwriting practices and even being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company can be pretty painless.
More detailed California auto insurance information is available at the California Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, and read industry bulletins.
The following information may also be useful.