Smart shoppers know that insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. Insureds who perform rate comparisons will most likely move their business because they stand a good chance of finding a policy with better rates. A recent survey revealed that people who regularly shopped around saved approximately $865 a year compared to other drivers who never compared prices.
If finding budget-friendly auto insurance is the reason you’re here, understanding how to shop and compare auto insurance can make the process more efficient.
The recommended way to get discount Acura RDX insurance in Bakersfield is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from companies who can sell car insurance in California.
First, gain an understanding of how companies price auto insurance and the factors you can control to keep rates in check. Many rating factors that result in higher rates such as accidents, traffic violations, and an imperfect credit history can be amended by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Read the full article for information to help prevent costly coverage and find available discounts that you may qualify for.
Second, compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can provide prices from many different companies.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save money and buy the policy, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
Fourth, tell your current agent or company to cancel your current policy and submit a down payment along with a signed application to the new insurer. Immediately upon receiving it, put the new proof of insurance paperwork with your registration paperwork.
A good piece of advice is to use identical coverages on each quote and and to look at as many companies as you can. Doing this enables a level playing field and maximum price selection.
The companies shown below are ready to provide free quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get the cheapest price.
Data for Acura RDX insurance
The table shown below outlines detailed analysis of policy rates for Acura RDX models. Having a good grasp of how insurance prices are determined can assist in making decisions on the best policy coverages.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $346 | $632 | $386 | $22 | $116 | $1,502 | $125 |
| RDX AWD | $346 | $632 | $386 | $22 | $116 | $1,502 | $125 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $390 | $744 | $386 | $22 | $116 | $1,658 | $138 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $390 | $744 | $386 | $22 | $116 | $1,658 | $138 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase price quotes substantially.
Deductible analysis
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The comparisons below highlight the difference in cost when you select higher and lower insurance deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $380 | $686 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,601 | $133 |
| RDX AWD | $380 | $686 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,601 | $133 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $430 | $810 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,775 | $148 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $430 | $810 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,775 | $148 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDX 2WD | $278 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,252 | $104 |
| RDX AWD | $278 | $464 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,252 | $104 |
| RDX Technology Package 2WD | $314 | $546 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,370 | $114 |
| RDX Technology Package AWD | $314 | $546 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,370 | $114 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise coverage rates substantially.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs an average of $32 more each month or $384 every year than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at least 13 months between claims, you would most likely save money going with the higher deductible.
How to calculate deductible break even period
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $141 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $109 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $32 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $32 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
The chart below highlights how deductible choice and can influence Acura RDX insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The data is based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The example below shows the difference between Acura RDX insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The premiums are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.
Should you be buying full coverage?
There is no clear-cut rule to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than around 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Acura RDX book value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $8,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 annually for physical damage coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some scenarios where dropping physical damage coverage is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage.
Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts
Some companies don’t necessarily list all their discounts very well, so the below list has both well-publicized in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Bakersfield auto insurance online.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Good Grades Discount – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
- Federal Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your auto insurance provider.
- Home Ownership Discount – Just being a homeowner can get you a discount because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you can bundle your home and auto insurance with one company you may save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Theft Deterrent – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will qualify for a discount on a Bakersfield auto insurance quote.
We need to note that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride.
The chart below compares Acura RDX insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The premiums are based on a female driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, 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, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-car discounts applied.
The best auto insurance companies and the discounts they provide can be found below.
- State Farm may include discounts for multiple policy, safe vehicle, driver’s education, defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and accident-free.
- American Family may offer discounts for good driver, accident-free, early bird, bundled insurance, air bags, multi-vehicle, and mySafetyValet.
- AAA discounts include anti-theft, pay-in-full, education and occupation, multi-car, and multi-policy.
- GEICO may have discounts that include good student, emergency military deployment, multi-vehicle, seat belt use, and federal employee.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts including professional/association, age of vehicle, good driver, multi-car, low natural disaster claims, good student, and anti-theft.
- Farmers Insurance includes discounts for multi-car, good student, mature driver, bundle discounts, and early shopping.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, good student, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and online signing.
If you need affordable Acura RDX insurance quotes, ask each insurance company how many discounts you can get. Depending on the company, some discounts may not be offered in your area. To locate companies with the best discounts in California, follow this link.
Auto insurance is an important decision
Despite the high insurance cost for a Acura RDX in Bakersfield, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability coverage in order to be legal. 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 you have a lien on your RDX, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it mandatory that you carry insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank will be required to insure your Acura at a much higher rate and make you pay the higher premium.
- Auto insurance preserves not only your vehicle but also your assets. It also can pay for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you have damage to your Acura as the result of the weather or an accident, your policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance definitely exceed the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. The average driver in California is currently overpaying as much as $700 annually so compare rates each time the policy renews to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Which auto insurance company is best in California?
Buying coverage from the best insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Bakersfield. The ranking data displayed below could help you analyze which auto insurance companies you want to consider comparing rates with.
Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- USAA – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Esurance – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
How much car insurance do I need?
When quoting and comparing your policy, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your needs are unique to you.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- Why do I have to buy liability insurance?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Am I covered if I break a side mirror?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Acura RDX is totaled?
- Will filing a claim cost me more?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
When do I need to get advice from an insurance agency?
A small number of people would rather go talk to an agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. An additional benefit of getting free rate quotes online is you can get the best rates and still choose a local agent. And buying from small agencies is especially important in Bakersfield.
Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is immediately sent to participating agents in Bakersfield who want to provide quotes for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies because prices are sent immediately to your email address. If you wish to get a rate quote from a particular provider, you would need to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
What types of car insurance agents are in Bakersfield?
If you would like to find a local agent, it helps to know the two types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Agents in Bakersfield can either be independent or exclusive. Either can write policy coverage, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in the companies they write for since it could factor into the selection process.
Independent Agents
Independent agents can quote rates with many companies so they can quote policies with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If they find a cheaper price, they simply switch companies in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rate quotes, you need to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the most accurate price comparison. Most have the option of insuring with smaller mutual companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Bakersfield that may be able to give you free price quotes.
- Fallgatter Rhodes Insurance
1701 G St – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 324-2424 – View Map - William K Lyons Agency Inc
2100 F St # 200 – Bakersfield, CA 93301 – (661) 327-9731 – View Map - Fox, James H – James H Fox Insurance
42 Bernard St – Bakersfield, CA 93305 – (661) 322-2023 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents write business for a single company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents receive extensive training in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price. Consumers often use the same agent mostly because of the brand rather than having low rates.
Shown below are Bakersfield exclusive insurance agents who can help you get price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Charles Brummer
4300 Coffee Rd, Ste A4 – Bakersfield, CA 93308 – (661) 283-0300 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Hero Singh
3400 Panama Ln h – Bakersfield, CA 93313 – (661) 229-4008 – View Map - GEICO Insurance Agent
5550 California Ave #101 – Bakersfield, CA 93309 – (661) 431-1780 – View Map
Finding a good car insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the quoted price. These questions are important to ask:
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- How long has their agency been in business in Bakersfield?
- Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in Bakersfield?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- How often do they review policy coverages?