Are you tired of wondering where the money will come from to insure your Kia every month? Your situation is no different than most other drivers in California.
Astonishing but true, the majority of drivers have purchased from the same company for over three years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never quoted rates to find lower-cost coverage. American insurance shoppers could save nearly $860 every year just by comparing rates, but they don’t want to spend time to find lower-cost rates by getting comparison quotes.
Multiple insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a insurance company to get the cheapest price on Kia Sportage insurance in Long Beach.
You need to quote other rates as often as possible because prices are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best rates on Kia Sportage insurance in Long Beach last year you will most likely find a better rate quote today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance because we’re going to show you one of the easiest ways to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
Informed Drivers Can Cut Insurance Costs
Many things are part of the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but other factors are more obscure such as whether you are married or your vehicle rating. When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables informed choices that could help you find lower premium levels.
Maintain auto insurance coverage – Letting your insurance expire will be a sure-fire way to increase your rates. Not only will you pay more, being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in fines and jail time.
Obey driving laws and save – A bad driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Having a single ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers with serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state’s licensing department in order to prevent a license revocation.
The diagram below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders increase Kia Sportage premium costs for different insured age categories. The rates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Bad credit hurts insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, if your credit is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your Kia Sportage by improving your credit score. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to file fewer claims than drivers with bad credit.
Better prices on safer cars – Cars with five star safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles reduce occupant injuries and fewer injuries means your insurance company pays less and thus lower rates. If your Kia has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it is probably cheaper to insure.
High coverage deductibles equal low rates – The deductibles define how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket if the claim is covered. Physical damage coverage, aka comp and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and having a roll-over accident. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less money you will pay for auto insurance.
Be proud to be claim-free – If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Insurance companies in California provide the best rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Auto insurance is designed for more catastrophic claims.
Rates may be higher where you live – Choosing to live in less populated areas of the country can be a good thing if you are looking for the lowest rates. Residents of big cities have to deal with more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accident claims and a lower car theft rate.
Theft deterrents save – Choosing to buy a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart car theft.
Insurance losses for a Kia Sportage – Auto insurance companies study historical loss data when they set coverage costs for each model. Vehicles that the statistics show to have a trend towards higher claims will have increased rates. The table below shows the collected loss data for Kia Sportage vehicles.
For each policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles compiled together is a value of 100. Percentage values below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while numbers above 100 point to more losses or an increased probability of a larger loss.
| Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage 4dr 2WD | 82 | 100 | 66 | 113 | 127 | 109 |
| Kia Sportage 4dr 4WD | 90 | 100 | 83 | 116 | 108 | 101 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Premium rates and analysis
The table shown next outlines different rate quotes for Kia Sportage models. Having a good grasp of how auto insurance policy rates are calculated can be of help when making smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $318 | $638 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,736 | $145 |
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $318 | $638 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,736 | $145 |
| Sportage EX 2WD 4-Dr | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| Sportage LX 4WD 4-Dr | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| Sportage LX | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| Sportage EX 4WD 4-Dr | $366 | $776 | $574 | $34 | $172 | $1,922 | $160 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can raise or lower price quotes greatly.
Can higher deductibles save money?
One frequently asked question is which deductibles should you choose. The rates below can help illustrate the difference in cost when you buy lower versus higher coverage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second pricing table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $332 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,521 | $127 |
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $332 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,521 | $127 |
| Sportage EX 2WD 4-Dr | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
| Sportage LX 4WD 4-Dr | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
| Sportage LX | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
| Sportage EX 4WD 4-Dr | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $184 | $298 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Sportage LX 2WD 4-Dr | $184 | $298 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Sportage EX 2WD 4-Dr | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
| Sportage LX 4WD 4-Dr | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
| Sportage LX | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
| Sportage EX 4WD 4-Dr | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
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 safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can influence price quotes greatly.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $41 more each month or $492 each year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at a minimum 22 months between claims, you would save more money if you choose a higher deductible.
The chart below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can increase or decrease Kia Sportage premium costs for different age groups. The costs are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Kia Sportage liability rates compared to full coverage
The chart below shows the comparison of Kia Sportage car insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The rates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no set guideline to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Kia Sportage settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $2,000 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $200 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Discounts mean cheaper rates for Kia Sportage insurance in Long Beach
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you might be missing out on some discounts that can help lower your rates. Certain credits will be shown at the time of purchase, but some need to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.
- Accident Forgiveness – Not a discount per se, but certain companies will let one accident slide before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a specific time period.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a course that instructs on driving safety could earn you a small percentage discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars with ABS and/or traction control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Life Insurance Discount – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
- Student Driver Training – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
- Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
- Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Switch and Save Discount – A few auto insurance companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current Sportage insurance policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
- Own a Home – Just owning your own home can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Long Beach drivers who agree to allow data collection to look at driving manner remotely such as Progressive’s Snapshot could see a rate decrease if their driving habits are good.
Please keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like all the discounts add up to a free policy, that’s just not realistic. Any qualifying discounts will cut your policy premiums.
The example below shows the difference between Kia Sportage car insurance rates with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The price estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Large auto insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts can be read below.
- State Farm may offer discounts for Drive Safe & Save, good driver, anti-theft, Steer Clear safe driver discount, accident-free, student away at school, and defensive driving training.
- GEICO may have discounts that include daytime running lights, defensive driver, anti-theft, multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, and good student.
- Allstate includes discounts for new car, economy car, utility vehicle, premier discount, and anti-lock brakes.
- SAFECO discounts include safe driver, multi-car, teen safety rewards, anti-theft, and bundle discounts.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts including safe driver, renewal discount, multi-policy, good student, 55 and retired, and multi-vehicle.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including online quote discount, online signing, homeowner, good student, and continuous coverage.
- AAA has savings for good student, AAA membership discount, multi-car, good driver, education and occupation, and multi-policy.
If you are trying to find cheaper Long Beach auto insurance quotes, ask each company or agent the best way to save money. Some discounts listed above may not apply in every state. To locate providers who offer discounts in California, click here.
Ratings for Long Beach car insurance companies
Choosing a good quality insurer can be challenging considering how many companies sell coverage in California. The ranking data below may help you pick which car insurance companies to look at comparing rates from.
Top 10 Long Beach Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA of Southern California – 92%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
Top 10 Long Beach 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
One last note
Budget-conscious Kia Sportage insurance is possible on the web and with local Long Beach insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies don’t offer rate quotes online and many times these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
In this article, we covered many ideas to lower your Kia Sportage insurance prices in Long Beach. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
How to find the cheapest rates for Kia Sportage insurance in Long Beach
The best way we recommend to get low-cost Kia Sportage insurance is to begin comparing prices regularly from providers that sell auto insurance in Long Beach. Price quotes can be compared by completing these steps.
Step 1: Take a little time to learn about how insurance works and the measures you can take to prevent rate increases. Many risk factors that increase rates such as your driving record and a not-so-good credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Step 2: Obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
Step 3: Compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a better price, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
The key thing to know about shopping around is to compare the same deductibles and limits on each quote request and and to get rates from every insurance company. This ensures the most accurate price comparison and a good representation of prices.
Additional learning opportunities
- Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for 19 Year Olds in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- How Much is Long Beach Car Insurance for Immigrants? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Long Beach Car Insurance Quotes for Active Military? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda CR-V in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- How Much are Long Beach Car Insurance Quotes for Teachers? (FAQ)
- How Much is Long Beach Auto Insurance for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
- New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)