Did budget coverage turn out to be an overpriced auto insurance policy? You’re in good company because there are lots of Bakersfield residents who feel the same.
Everyone knows that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who get comparison quotes once a year will probably switch auto insurance companies because there is a good chance of finding better rates. A recent auto insurance study discovered that drivers who compared rate quotes regularly saved as much as $70 a month compared to those who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding budget-friendly rates on insurance is the reason for your visit, knowing how to compare insurance coverage can help make the process easier and more efficient.
Steps to saving on BMW M3 insurance in Bakersfield
The easiest way to quote cheaper BMW M3 insurance is to begin comparing prices regularly from different companies in Bakersfield.
First, get a basic knowledge of how insurance companies determine prices and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that result in higher rates such as high-risk driving behaviors and a not-so-good credit rating can be amended by paying attention to minor details.
Second, get rate quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
Third, compare the quotes to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper price is available in Bakersfield. If you can save some money, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, give notification to your current company of your intention to cancel the current policy. Submit a completed policy application and payment to your new insurance company. Make sure you put the certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle’s registration.
One key aspect of rate comparisons is to try to use similar coverage information on each price quote and and to get price quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this provides an accurate price comparison and a good representation of prices.
Insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with advertising and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
It’s important to compare rates occasionally since insurance prices change frequently. Just because you had the lowest quotes on BMW M3 insurance in Bakersfield a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is too much inaccurate information about M3 insurance on the web, but I’m going to show you some good information on how to find affordable auto insurance in Bakersfield.
Data for BMW M3 insurance
The price information displayed below highlights different coverage prices for BMW M3 models. Having a better idea how insurance quotes are established can help customers make informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M3 4-Dr Sedan | $330 | $698 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,658 | $138 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $362 | $778 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,770 | $148 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $362 | $778 | $464 | $28 | $138 | $1,770 | $148 |
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Data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise prices substantially.
Deductible comparison
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is how high should your deductibles be. The rates shown below summarize the rate difference between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second pricing table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M3 4-Dr Sedan | $528 | $1054 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,207 | $184 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $576 | $1176 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,377 | $198 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $576 | $1176 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $2,377 | $198 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M3 4-Dr Sedan | $292 | $556 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,448 | $121 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $320 | $620 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,540 | $128 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $320 | $620 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,540 | $128 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can modify premiums considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $67 more each month or $804 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at a minimum 13 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you choose the higher deductible. Here is a better example of how you can make your own decision.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $193 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $126 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $67 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $67 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
One thing to be aware of is that higher deductibles means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You will want to have enough money in the bank in order to pay the deductible.
Cost of full coverage
The diagram below compares BMW M3 yearly insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data is based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no definitive guideline of when to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your BMW M3 book value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $700 a year for full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some circumstances where dropping physical damage coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should maintain full coverage.
California auto insurance company ratings
Selecting the top auto insurance provider is difficult considering how many companies there are to choose from in California. The ranking information shown next may help you analyze which auto insurance companies you want to consider when comparing rate quotes.
Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- AAA of Southern California
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
Top 10 Bakersfield Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- AAA of Southern California
- GEICO
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- The General
- Progressive
- Allstate
- AAA Insurance
- American Family
Car insurance coverages and their meanings
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (California limits are 15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as hitting a bird, hail damage, rock chips in glass and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Auto liability insurance
Liability coverage protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 15/30/5 that means you have $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like legal defense fees, structural damage, bail bonds and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like ambulance fees, surgery and doctor visits. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision coverage protection
This will pay to fix damage to your M3 caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things such as scraping a guard rail, rolling your car and driving through your garage door. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible on your M3 to save money on collision insurance.
Cheaper car insurance rates are out there
Cheaper BMW M3 insurance in Bakersfield can be found from both online companies in addition to many Bakersfield insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies do not provide price quotes online and most of the time these regional carriers prefer to sell through independent insurance agencies.
When searching for low cost Bakersfield auto insurance quotes, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
We’ve covered many ideas to find cheaper BMW M3 insurance in Bakersfield. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from the smaller companies. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
How to find cheaper BMW M3 insurance in Bakersfield
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates in Bakersfield is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from insurance carriers who can sell car insurance in California. You can compare prices by completing these steps.
- First, gain an understanding of how car insurance works and the modifications you can make to keep rates low. Many things that cause rate increases such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and a bad credit rating can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote rates from many different companies. View companies
- Third, compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in Bakersfield. If you find a lower rate and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
One tip to remember is to make sure you’re comparing identical limits and deductibles on every quote and and to compare all possible companies. This provides a level playing field and the best price selection.
Additional detailed information can be found in the articles below:
- Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Safe Drivers in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Homeowners in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Single Moms in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Veterans in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Five Steps to Filing an Auto Insurance Claim (Insurance Information Institute)
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)