Having auto insurance in California is required by state law
and can be very costly if caught without it. Many motorists today are seeking the
best deal in town and living in a state where everything is known to be
expensive there are so many options to choose from. Yet there are still folks
driving around with no car insurance. Auto coverage helps protect against a
financial loss in case of a car accident or other type of loss related to your
vehicle. It covers damages and injuries that can be caused by a potential
accident. It also can cover the costs of repairs to your car or replace it if
it were completely damaged or stolen.
Living in California, one of the most expensive states in
the country, can also bring about high insurance premiums. Typically, the
longer one has been driving without tickets and/or accidents on their driving
record, the better Auto Insurance rates they can get. Some other factors that can play a role
include your experience (age), home zip code, and even your credit score. Keep
in mind you may also qualify for discounts based on your vehicles safety
features and other programs offered by carriers. In addition, select carriers
offer deep discounts for having multiple policies in force.
There are many
insurance carriers available and even more offering free California auto insurance quotes online. In some cases the state’s imposed minimum liability
may not be enough to cover the cost of damages that result from an accident. In
these instances, the motorist responsible for the accident will be held liable
for any excess charges not covered by the insurance policy. It is very
important to consider what your needs are and putting together a policy that
will suit both your needs and your budget.
Should I Have "Full Coverage"?
This question is all too common and deserves the proper attention.
The term "full coverage" by definition means that you carry both
liability coverage and collision coverage for your own vehicle. However, it
does NOT mean that everything is covered no matter what! This is a common
misconception and one should understand that you will usually have out of
pocket expenses via a deductible or co-insurance. The fastest way to find out
what type of coverage you currently have is to reference the Declarations page
of your auto policy.
Can My Insurance Premiums Change?
Typically if you have a good driving record and no tickets
or accidents, your initial auto insurance quotes in California should only get
better as time goes on. However, if you do have tickets accidents or live in a
high risk area, your premiums are subject to increase. It is best to evaluate
your premiums at least once a year to make sure your rates coincide with the
best rating factors.
You never know when an accident can occur. With traffic as
bad as it is known to be in California, having the right car insurance solutions in place is very critical.