The preferred way to get budget car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from different companies in Bakersfield. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.
Step 1: Get an understanding of how insurance works and the factors you can control to keep rates low. Many risk factors that drive up the price such as traffic citations and a lousy credit rating can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple sources.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One important bit of advice is to use identical coverages on every price quote and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. This ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
It’s an obvious statement that insurance companies don’t want you shop around. People who shop around annually will most likely move their business because of the high probability of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. Remarkably, a study showed that people who make a habit of shopping around saved an average of $850 each year as compared to drivers who never compared prices.
If finding the lowest rates on Hummer H3 insurance in Bakersfield is your ultimate goal, then learning about how to choose a company and compare insurance rates can save time and make the process easier.
Locating the best insurance company for you in Bakersfield is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. Just about every person who is overpaying for auto insurance will probably be able to find lower rates. But California drivers should learn the way companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.
When shopping for Hummer H3 insurance in Bakersfield there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from many auto insurance companies in California. The easiest way to compare Hummer H3 insurance prices involves getting comparison quotes online. Just keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes provides better odds of finding a lower rate.
The companies in the list below provide comparison quotes in California. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Premium rates and analysis
The coverage information displayed below showcases different prices for Hummer H3 models. Being able to understand how policy rates are calculated helps drivers make decisions on which coverage to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H3 Adventure Package 4WD | $270 | $564 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,514 | $126 |
| H3 4WD | $270 | $564 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,514 | $126 |
| H3 Luxury Package 4WD | $270 | $564 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,514 | $126 |
| H3 Alpha 4WD | $300 | $564 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,544 | $129 |
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Table data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in Bakersfield location which can alter coverage prices noticeably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When shopping for car insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The following tables may aid in understanding the differences in price of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H3 Adventure Package 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
| H3 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
| H3 Luxury Package 4WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
| H3 Alpha 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
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| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H3 Adventure Package 4WD | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
| H3 4WD | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
| H3 Luxury Package 4WD | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
| H3 Alpha 4WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| 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 multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in vehicle location which can change insurance rates substantially.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible costs about $19 more each month or $228 each year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at least 13 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you choose a higher deductible.
The diagram below highlights how deductible selection and can affect Hummer H3 annual premium costs for different age groups of insureds. The premiums assume a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Gender differences in car insurance premiums
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Hummer H3 car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no accidents or driving violations, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The information below visualizes the comparison of Hummer H3 insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The prices are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?
There is no definitive guideline of when to eliminate full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your Hummer H3 replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $5,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying more than $500 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where only buying liability is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Three reasons to insure your vehicle
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Bakersfield, maintaining insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
- Almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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 bought your Hummer H3 with a loan, most lenders will have a requirement that you have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you let the policy lapse, the bank may insure your Hummer at a much higher premium rate and require you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your Hummer and your personal assets. Insurance will pay for medical bills for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of having car insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially for larger claims. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $810 a year so compare rates at least once a year to save money.
Lower the Price of Car Insurance with These Tips
Lots of things are used when premium rates are determined. Most are fairly basic like an MVR report, although others are less apparent like your vehicle usage or your commute time. The best way to find cheaper car insurance is to take a look at the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. When consumers understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables you to make decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
The following are some of the items used by your company to calculate premiums.
Liability insurance is peace of mind – Your policy’s liability coverage will provide protection if ever you are ruled to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
Responsible drivers pay less – Careful drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Having just one citation can bump up the cost by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who have gotten flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
The chart below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can drive up Hummer H3 car insurance rates for different age groups. The prices are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Getting married can save you money – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your car insurance bill. Having a spouse may mean you are more mature and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Always keep your policy in place – Not maintaining insurance is a misdemeanor and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. In addition to paying higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance could earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
Cheaper Bakersfield car insurance rates with discounts
Car insurance is not inexpensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to reduce the price significantly. Some of these discounts will be visible when you complete an application, but occasionally some discounts must be asked about prior to getting the savings.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings of 20 to 30 percent.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles that have anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- College Student Discount – Kids living away from Bakersfield attending college and won’t have access to an insured vehicle could get you a discount.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a new H3 can cost up to 25% less because newer models are generally safer.
- E-sign Discounts – Many insurance companies will give a small break get Bakersfield car insurance on your computer.
- Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will help lower your policy premium.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Hummer H3 insurance premiums with and without discounts. The data assumes a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, marriage, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Large car insurance companies and some of the discounts can be found below.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts for good student, multi-policy, driver training, youthful driver, renewal discount, safe driver, and 55 and retired.
- Liberty Mutual offers premium reductions for multi-car, new vehicle discount, preferred payment discount, hybrid vehicle, new graduate, and good student.
- State Farm may have discounts that include student away at school, driver’s education, good student, multiple policy, passive restraint, multiple autos, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Auto-Owners Insurance may offer discounts for safe driver, anti-theft, safe vehicle, mature driver, paid in full, and air bags.
- GEICO has discounts for federal employee, multi-policy, defensive driver, seat belt use, and anti-lock brakes.
- SAFECO includes discounts for multi-car, safe driver, drive less, homeowner, and anti-lock brakes.
If you need affordable Bakersfield car insurance quotes, ask all companies you are considering how many discounts you can get. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in your area. If you would like to view insurance companies who offer online Hummer H3 insurance quotes in Bakersfield, click this link.
When should I talk to an insurance agency?
Many people still prefer to buy from a local agent. A nice benefit of comparing insurance online is that you can obtain the best rates and also buy local.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Bakersfield who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to search for an agent as quotes are delivered immediately to you. You can find the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with. In the event you want to get a price quote from a particular provider, you just need to navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
Selecting an provider requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Any agent in Bakersfield should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How are claims handled?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- Is coverage determined by price?
Exclusive and independent Bakersfield car insurance agents
When looking for a local insurance agency, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies are considered either exclusive or independent.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only provide pricing for a single company and examples are American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents partially due to the brand name rather than low rates.
Shown below are exclusive agencies in Bakersfield who may provide you with rate quotes.
- Jim Windes – State Farm Insurance Agent
3512 Coffee Rd d – Bakersfield, CA 93308 – (661) 588-1001 – View Map - Tom Smethurst – State Farm Insurance Agent
13061 Rosedale Hwy a – Bakersfield, CA 93314 – (661) 589-1991 – View Map - Mike Boyer – State Farm Insurance Agent
9720 Brimhall Rd Ste 200 – Bakersfield, CA 93312 – (661) 588-1140 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If prices rise, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.
If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you should always compare quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection. Most independent agents also contract with different regional companies which may have better rates.
Shown below are Bakersfield independent agencies willing to provide price quote information.
- Omega Financial and Insurance Services Inc
400 H St – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 326-6870 – View Map - Tony Camarena Insurance Agency
324 Oak St – Bakersfield, CA 93304 – (661) 322-3500 – View Map - Hay Insurance Agency Inc.
4921 Calloway Dr # 101 – Bakersfield, CA 93312 – (661) 829-8933 – View Map
Ratings for California auto insurance companies
Picking the top insurer is hard considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Bakersfield. The ranking information in the lists below can help you pick which car insurance providers to look at when looking for cheaper rates.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
| Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
You can find affordable coverage
Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including policy non-renewal, lack of trust in their agent, high rates after DUI convictions or even questionable increases in premium. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.
When shopping online for insurance, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed full coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
Some insurance providers may not provide rate quotes online and these regional carriers only sell coverage through local independent agencies. More affordable insurance in Bakersfield can be found on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare rates from both so you have a total pricing picture.
Additional information can be found at the links below
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Bakersfield Car Insurance Quotes for a Jeep Grand Cherokee? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with a DUI in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Bakersfield Car Insurance for College Students? (FAQ)
- Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)