If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find discount Honda Element insurance in Long Beach is to do a yearly price comparison from insurance carriers in California.
- Try to learn about how companies price auto insurance and the changes you can make to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that cause high rates like your driving record and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Read the full article for more ideas to lower rates and find overlooked discounts.
- Compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Long Beach. If you find a lower rate, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Provide written notification to your current company of your intention to cancel the current policy and submit payment and a completed application to your new agent or company. Don’t forget to place your new certificate of insurance with your vehicle’s registration.
The critical component of shopping around is to try to use the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to analyze as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and many rates to choose from.
Unthinkable but true, the vast majority of auto insurance customers have been with the same company for a minimum of four years, and almost 40% of drivers have never compared quotes from other companies. With the average premium in California being $1,387, drivers could cut their rates by almost 35% a year by just comparing rate quotes, but most undervalue how much they could save if they switched to a cheaper policy.
Quoting affordable coverage in Long Beach is easy to do. Virtually each driver who is looking for a better price on auto insurance will be able to find better rates. Nevertheless, California drivers must comprehend how insurance companies calculate their prices because rates fluctuate considerably.
When looking for affordable Long Beach auto insurance quotes, there are a couple ways of comparing rates from local Long Beach insurance companies. By far the easiest way to lower the rate you pay for insurance consists of obtaining rate quotes online.
Comparing free price quotes online is easy and it, makes it obsolete to physically go to different Long Beach agent offices. The fact that you can get quotes online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the guidance that you can only get from talking to an agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but still have the advice of a local agent. When price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes helps increase your odds of locating lower pricing.
The companies in the list below can provide comparison quotes in California. In order to find the cheapest auto insurance in Long Beach, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them to get the best price comparison.
Facts and figures for Honda Element insurance
The coverage information below outlines different prices for Honda Element models. Learning more about how car insurance prices are formulated can help drivers make decisions on which coverage to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Element LX 4WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Element EX 2WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Element EX 4WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Element SC 2WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can impact auto insurance rates noticeably.
Raise deductibles and save
One common question asked by Long Beach drivers is which deductibles should you choose. The following insurance rates can help illustrate how much more you’ll pay of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Element LX 4WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Element EX 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Element EX 4WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Element SC 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Element LX 4WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Element EX 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Element EX 4WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Element SC 2WD | $278 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,342 | $112 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can raise or lower coverage prices significantly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible will cost you about $29 more each month or $348 for a full year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at least 14 months between claim filings, you would save more money by going with a higher deductible.
Calculate deductible break even point
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $141 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $112 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $29 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $29 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 14 months |
An important thing to remember is that increasing deductibles to save money results in having to pay to pay more out-of-pocket when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. That will necessitate some savings in order to pay the deductible.
The chart below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can impact Honda Element insurance costs for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Why you need insurance for your vehicle
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Honda Element in Long Beach, insuring your vehicle is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability 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 Element, more than likely the lender will force you to carry insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Honda at a significantly higher premium and require you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
- Car insurance preserves both your vehicle and your assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of buying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. As of last year, the average driver in California is currently overpaying as much as $820 a year so compare quotes from several companies each time the policy renews to ensure rates are competitive.
Five Tips to Get Cheap Long Beach Insurance Costs
When buying insurance it’s important to understand some of the elements that aid in calculating the price you pay for insurance. If you know what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
The list below includes some of the things used by your company to calculate prices.
Men pay more for insurance – Over the last 30 years, statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. It does not mean females are better drivers. Men and women cause fender benders at a similar rate, but males tend to have more serious accidents. Not only that, but men also get cited for more serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI).
The illustration below shows the difference between Honda Element insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no claims, a clean driving record, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
Low coverage deductibles can be expensive – Comp and collision deductibles are how much the insured will be required to pay before your insurance pays a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be rear-ending another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and damage caused by road hazards. The more of the claim you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
Defend yourself with liability – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance kicks in if you are determined to be liable for personal injury or accident damage. Your policy’s liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Vehicles with better crash test results means cheaper premiums – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Highly rated vehicles reduce occupant injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates directly to fewer claims which can result in lower premiums.
Vocation can influence rates – Occupations like lawyers, business owners, and dentists tend to have the highest average rates due to job stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, careers like professors, athletes and retirees receive lower rates.
Car insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Companies do not list their entire list of discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts that you may qualify for.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Claim-free drivers pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them complete a driver education course as it can save substantially.
- Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure multiple cars or trucks with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Insurance companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Professional Organizations – Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when getting a Long Beach auto insurance quote.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The information below illustrates the difference between Honda Element auto insurance rates with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The data assumes a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-car, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and marriage discounts applied.
Larger car insurance companies and some of the discounts are detailed below.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including passive restraint, multiple autos, defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, good driver, and driver’s education.
- Progressive offers discounts for multi-policy, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, homeowner, online signing, good student, and online quote discount.
- Progressive may include discounts for good student, continuous coverage, online signing, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, multi-policy, and homeowner.
- MetLife discounts include accident-free, good student, defensive driver, multi-policy, claim-free, good driver
- Farm Bureau may have discounts that include youthful driver, multi-vehicle, safe driver, multi-policy, and 55 and retired.
- GEICO has savings for defensive driver, emergency military deployment, good student, membership and employees, air bags, and military active duty.
- SAFECO offers discounts including multi-car, teen safety rewards, anti-theft, teen safe driver, and anti-lock brakes.
Check with every company to give you their best rates. Some discounts might not be offered in your area. To view providers with the best discounts in Long Beach, follow this link.
Which is the best car insurance?
Always remember that when buying coverage online or from an agent for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are unique to you.
Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Are my friends covered when driving my car?
- What is the minimum liability in California?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Are rock chip repairs covered?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
- Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
- Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.
Insurance agents can give valuable advice
Certain consumers still like to get advice from a local agent and we recommend doing that One of the great benefits of getting free rate quotes online is that you can obtain lower premium rates and also buy local. And buying from neighborhood agents is especially important in Long Beach.
Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you have a need to get a price quote from a specific insurance provider, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Deciding on a company should include more criteria than just the price. Get answers to these questions too.
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Long Beach?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
Once you have received acceptable answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, you may have just found an insurance company that is a good match to service your policy. Keep in mind it’s your coverage and you can terminate coverage when you choose so never feel that you are obligated to the insurance policy for the full term.
Persistence is the key to cheap rates
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost, not the least amount of coverage.
Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including high prices, policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver or lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.
More affordable insurance in Long Beach is possible on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not provide price quotes online and usually these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent agents.
Helpful articles
- How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for High Risk Drivers in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Where can I buy Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)