Really, the only way to get low-cost auto insurance rates is to do an annual price comparison from insurers that insure vehicles in Long Beach.
- Step 1: Try to learn about how auto insurance works and the things you can control to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices such as accidents, traffic violations, and a less-than-favorable credit score can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives more ideas to help reduce prices and find additional discounts.
- Step 2: Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your current policy premium and determine if cheaper S40 coverage is available in Long Beach. If you can save some money and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel your current coverage and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new agent or company. Once the paperwork is finalized, put the new proof of insurance paperwork with your registration paperwork.
The key aspect of shopping around is to try to use similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote and and to compare as many different companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete rate analysis.
Unimaginable but true, nearly 70% of drivers have purchased from the same company for more than four years, and 38% of drivers have never shopped around. With the average premium in California being $1,387, drivers could cut their rates by approximately 35% a year by just comparing rate quotes, but they won’t spend time to compare rates.
You may qualify for discounts for Volvo S40 insurance in Long Beach
Some providers do not list every possible discount very well, so the list below gives a summary of both the well known and the harder-to-find credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Accident Free – Insureds with no claims or accidents get the best car insurance rates when compared with drivers with a long claim history.
- Online Discount – A handful of insurance companies will give you a small discount shop Long Beach car insurance over the internet.
- Active Military Service – Being on active deployment in the military could qualify you for better car insurance rates.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying a new car model can save up to 30% because newer vehicles are generally safer.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get lower premium rates.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – This isn’t a discount exactly, but a few companies such as Allstate and GEICO will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a set time period.
- Long Beach Homeowners Discount – Being a homeowner can get you a discount since owning and maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a class that teaches defensive driver techniques may get you a small discount and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Early Switch Discount – A few car insurance companies give discounts for switching to them before your current coverage expires. This can save 10% or more.
It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way.
The illustration below compares Volvo S40 auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The prices are based on a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, 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, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-car, and homeowner discounts applied.
The best car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are included below.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, accident-free, anti-theft, good student, and multiple policy.
- Farmers Insurance includes discounts for switch companies, mature driver, teen driver, bundle discounts, youthful driver, business and professional, and early shopping.
- GEICO may offer discounts for anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, driver training, good student, and defensive driver.
- American Family discounts include good driver, early bird, Steer into Savings, good student, and defensive driver.
- Nationwide offers discounts for anti-theft, business or organization, multi-policy, good student, easy pay, and Farm Bureau membership.
- Progressive has discounts for online signing, good student, homeowner, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
It’s a good idea to ask all companies you are considering which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts listed above might not be offered on policies in Long Beach. To view companies that offer the discounts shown above in California, click here.
The quickest method we recommend to compare insurance rates in your area is to know the trick car insurance companies participate in a system to quote your coverage. All consumers are required to do is give them some information including marital status, if you require a SR-22, if you went to college, and level of coverage desired. That information is then sent to multiple top-rated companies and you receive quotes with very little delay.
To get price quotes for your car now, click here and complete the form.
The providers in the list below are ready to provide comparison quotes in California. To locate cheap car insurance in Long Beach, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them to get the most affordable price.
Insurance coverage details
The data table displayed next covers detailed analysis of coverage prices for Volvo S40 models. Having a good grasp of how car insurance premiums are established can be of help when making decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S40 2.4I | $490 | $810 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $2,086 | $174 |
S40 T5 | $490 | $810 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $2,086 | $174 |
S40 T5 AWD R-Design | $490 | $810 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $2,086 | $174 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can influence premiums significantly.
Auto insurance deductibles
When comparing auto insurance rates, the most common question is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The rates shown below highlight the difference in cost between high and low policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S40 2.4I | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
S40 T5 | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
S40 T5 AWD R-Design | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S40 2.4I | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
S40 T5 | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
S40 T5 AWD R-Design | $314 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,460 | $122 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table 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, safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in your specific Long Beach location which can increase or decrease rates considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $19 more each month or $228 annually than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at a minimum 13 months between claims, you would come out ahead by going with a higher deductible. The table below shows how you can perform this determination yourself.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $141 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $122 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $19 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $19 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to save money means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You need to have enough savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The example below shows the difference between Volvo S40 insurance prices with full coverage and liability only. The data assumes no violations or accidents, $100 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?
There is no definitive rule that is best for determining when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Volvo S40 book value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.
Compare rate quotes but still have a neighborhood Long Beach auto insurance agent
Certain consumers still prefer to get advice from a local agent and that can be a smart move Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of getting free rate quotes online is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And buying from neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in Long Beach.
After completing this quick form, your coverage information is emailed to agents in your area that give free quotes to get your business. You don’t have to find an agent since price quotes are sent immediately to you. If you need to quote rates for a specific company, just jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.
Two types of Long Beach car insurance agents
When looking for a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies and how they function. Agents in Long Beach can be categorized as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either can provide car insurance policies, but we need to point out the difference in the companies they write for since it could factor into your selection of an agent.
Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that elect to be independent do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles through many companies and find you the best rates. If they find a lower price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. If you need cheaper car insurance rates, we highly recommend that you get rate quotes from several independent agencies in order to compare the most rates. Many independent agencies also insure through mutual insurance companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Long Beach who may provide free price quotes.
- Adriana’s Insurance Services Inc
1075 E Pacific Coast Hwy – Long Beach, CA 90806 – (562) 344-9222 – View Map - Rosanne Sanchez Insurance Agency
1165 E San Antonio Dr – Long Beach, CA 90807 – (310) 874-3933 – View Map - Jennifer Lee Insurance Agency
4252 Atlantic Ave – Long Beach, CA 90807 – (562) 427-1109 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive agencies can usually just insure with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They are unable to shop your coverage around so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. They receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Some consumers prefer to choose to use an exclusive agent primarily because of the brand name rather than low price.
The following is a list of exclusive agents in Long Beach that can give you comparison quotes.
- State Farm Insurance: Damian Useda
929 E Wardlow Rd – Long Beach, CA 90807 – (562) 426-8565 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Doug Horn
1635 E Anaheim St – Long Beach, CA 90813 – (562) 591-3100 – View Map - Farmers Insurance: Peter Long
818 E Anaheim St #220 – Long Beach, CA 90813 – (562) 951-1813 – View Map
Selecting an car insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price quote. Any good agent in Long Beach should know the answers to these questions.
- Are there any discounts for paying up front?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- How are they compensated?
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Does the agent recommend any additional coverage?
Three main reasons to buy auto insurance
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Volvo in Long Beach, buying auto insurance may be required for several reasons.
- Just about all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to buy specific limits of liability protection 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 S40, almost all lenders will have a requirement that you have comprehensive coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Volvo at a more expensive rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards not only your Volvo but also your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses incurred in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if you cause an accident and are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially when you need to use it. But the average driver in California is overpaying more than $800 each year so it’s important to compare rates at every renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Parts of your car insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
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 sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Volvo S40.
Since many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5 in California), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things such as medical expenses, legal defense fees, structural damage, medical services and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The next chart shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Comprehensive car insurance
This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like falling objects, fire damage and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Coverage for collisions
This coverage pays for damage to your S40 caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for things like driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your S40 to save money on collision insurance.
Coverage for medical expenses
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses such as X-ray expenses, hospital visits and surgery. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Get the best coverage at the best price
Cheaper Volvo S40 insurance in Long Beach can be found on the web and with local Long Beach insurance agents, so you need to shop Long Beach car insurance with both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online rate quotes and many times these small insurance companies work with local independent agents.
We just presented a lot of techniques to find lower-cost Volvo S40 insurance in Long Beach. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with a small mutual company.
Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as delays in paying claims, policy non-renewal, lack of trust in their agent and even poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.
More information
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a Dodge Ram in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- How Much is Long Beach Auto Insurance for 17 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- How Much is Long Beach Car Insurance for Immigrants? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers with Bad Credit in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Accord in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Long Beach Car Insurance for 16 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Over Age 50 in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford F-150 in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Long Beach Auto Insurance for a 20 Year Old Female? (FAQ)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Prom Night Tips for Teen Drivers (State Farm)