Find Cheaper Kia Optima Insurance in Bakersfield

The most effective way to get affordable Kia Optima insurance is to start doing a yearly price comparison from companies in Bakersfield.

1. Read about the different coverages in a policy and the measures you can take to drop your rates. Many rating factors that increase rates such as speeding and a low credit score can be rectified by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Keep reading for tips to help prevent high rates and get discounts that may be overlooked.
2. Compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple companies. Begin your rate comparison
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and see if you can save money. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
4. Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy. Submit a completed policy application and payment for your new coverage. Once coverage is bound, keep the new proof of insurance certificate above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.

An important bit of advice to remember is that you’ll want to compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and to quote with as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this provides an accurate price comparison and the best price selection.

It’s an obvious assumption that insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who compare other rates will, in all likelihood, buy a new policy because of the high probability of finding discount prices. A survey found that people who compared rates once a year saved $70 a month compared to people who didn’t regularly shop around.

If finding the cheapest price on car insurance in Bakersfield is your ultimate target, then understanding how to shop and compare insurance premiums can make it easier for you to save money.

Best Kia Optima insurance price quotes in California

The companies in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Insurance coverage details

The coverage table displayed below showcases a range of prices for Kia Optima models. Being able to understand how insurance policy premiums are formulated can help customers make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.

Data rating is based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can alter price quotes significantly.

Higher deductibles save money

One of the most common car insurance questions is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The rates shown below can help illustrate the rate difference of buying low and high physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 deductible and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in specific garaging location which can lower or raise coverage prices noticeably.

Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $34 more each month or $408 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at least 22 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you opt for a higher deductible.

Full coverage rates vs. liability-only

The chart below visualizes the comparison of Kia Optima auto insurance rates when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The price estimates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?

There is no definitive formula of when to phase out physical damage insurance, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Kia Optima claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $800 a year to have full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep 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 damaged, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Lower-cost Bakersfield auto insurance rates with discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may be missing some discounts that you may not even know about. Some trigger automatically when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount. If you do not check that you are getting every discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Pay Early and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
• Accident-Free Discounts – Bakersfield drivers who stay claim-free can save substantially in comparison with drivers with a long claim history.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Cars and trucks with ABS braking systems or traction control can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Use Seat Belts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle up could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Telematics Data – Drivers that enable driving data collection to scrutinize driving habits by using a telematic data system such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could see a rate decrease if their driving habits are good.
• E-sign Discounts – Certain larger companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application online.
• Early Signing – Select larger companies give a discount for switching policies before your current Optima insurance policy expires. You may see this discount when you get Bakersfield car insurance quotes online.

A little disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though the math looks like you can get free auto insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

The diagram below compares Kia Optima auto insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums assume a female driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.

To choose insurers that offer multiple discounts in Bakersfield, follow this link.

Six factors that determine insurance prices

Part of the auto insurance buying process is learning the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you have some idea of what influences your rates, this enables you to make decisions that could help you find much lower annual insurance costs. Multiple criteria are considered when pricing auto insurance. Some are obvious like an MVR report, although some other factors are more transparent such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.

Where you live plays a part – Having an address in a small town is a good thing if you are looking for the lowest rates. Fewer drivers and short commutes means fewer accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates. Residents of big cities tend to have more road rage incidents and longer commutes to work. The longer drive time means higher likelihood of an accident.

No claims equals cheaper rates – Auto insurance companies in California award lower rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of claims that pose a financial burden.

Good credit saves on auto insurance – Your credit history is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. People with very high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than those with poor credit. If your credit could use some work, you may save money insuring your Kia Optima if you improve your credit rating.

Your gender affects prices – Over time, data shows that females tend to be a little less risky than males. Now that doesn’t mean females are better at driving than males. They both cause auto accidents at a similar rate, but men have costlier accidents. Not only that, but men also get more serious tickets such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.

The example below compares Kia Optima insurance rates for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.

Remove unneeded extra coverages – There are quite a few extra add-on coverages that can add up if you don’t pay attention. Add-on coverages like roadside assistance, high-cost glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Job stress can affect prices – Careers such as fire fighters, social workers, and dentists generally have higher rates than average attributed to intense work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. Other occupations such as professors, historians and retirees pay lower than average rates.

Kia Optima insurance loss statistics – Companies study historical loss data to help determine rates. Vehicles that tend to have a higher amount or frequency of claims will cost more for specific coverages.

The data below shows the loss history for Kia Optima vehicles. For each coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles averaged together is equal to 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while values that are 100 or greater indicate more frequent claims or tendency to have higher losses.

Car insurance is unique, just like you

Always keep in mind that when comparing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a “perfect” insurance plan. You are unique so your insurance needs to address that.
For instance, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my Kia Optima?
• Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
• I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Get rate quotes but buy from a local Bakersfield insurance agent

Many drivers just prefer to have an agent’s advice and doing that can be a smart decision Professional agents can answer important questions and help you file claims. A good thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain better rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local agents is especially important in Bakersfield.

After filling out this simple form, your information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. You won’t even need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. If you have a need to get a price quote from a specific insurance provider, you would need to go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Types of car insurance agents

If you need to find a reliable insurance agent, there are two types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Agencies in Bakersfield may be either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Both sell insurance policies, but it is important to understand how they are different since it could factor into your selection of an agent.

Independent Insurance Agencies

These type of agents are normally appointed by many insurers and that allows them to write policies with lots of companies and find you cheaper rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move your policy to a different company which requires no work on your part. If you need lower rates, you definitely need to compare prices from a couple of independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Many can place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with that may provide cheaper insurance rates.

Listed below is a partial list of independent agencies in Bakersfield who may be able to give you cheap rate quotes.

• Lorena Magana Insurance Agency, Inc.
  4141 Ming Ave – Bakersfield, CA 93309 – (559) 783-9550 – View Map
• Nationwide Insurance: Michaud Insurance Agency Inc
  201 California Ave – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 633-9900 – View Map
• Tony Camarena Insurance Agency
  324 Oak St – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 322-3500 – View Map

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agencies

These type of agents can only quote rates from one company and examples are Farmers Insurance, State Farm, or Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. Exclusive agencies are highly trained on the products they sell which aids in selling service over price. Some consumers prefer to buy from the same agent for years primarily because of the brand legacy rather than having low rates.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Bakersfield willing to provide price quote information.

• Allstate Insurance: Ana M. Arreola
  6649 Ming Ave – Bakersfield, CA 93309 – (661) 633-2633 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance: Grant Fortt
  2623 F St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 829-4499 – View Map
• Rosie Schweer – State Farm Insurance Agent
  4200 Gosford Rd #103 – Bakersfield, CA 93313 – (661) 396-7961 – View Map

More insurance agents

Choosing the best auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. These are some questions your agent should answer.

• Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
• How much experience to they have in personal lines coverages?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?

Cheaper car insurance is a realistic goal

We just showed you many ways to get a better price on Kia Optima insurance in Bakersfield. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get premium rates for, the higher your chance of finding cheaper Bakersfield car insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies often have lower premium rates on specific markets compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.

More affordable car insurance in Bakersfield can be bought from both online companies and with local Bakersfield insurance agents, so you need to shop Bakersfield car insurance with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not provide price quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies only sell through independent agencies.

When buying insurance coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.

To learn more, feel free to visit these articles:

• Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• Who Has Affordable Bakersfield Car Insurance for a Toyota Tacoma? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a 20 Year Old Male in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
• Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
• A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)