7 Questions California Drivers Should Ask California Insurance Agents
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Ron Trumbo
Insurance Editor
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If you read more than two articles on InsuranceLoco, you'll quickly learn that we believe the only way to find the lowest priced auto insurance policy in California is to compare at least 5 different insurance rates from different local insurance agents. If you have a ticket or accident on your California driving record, that number goes up to 7 different insurance quotes. When you’re having conversations with California insurance agents, make sure you ask a few of these questions:
1. What kind of auto insurance discounts are available to you in California?
Ask about adding multiple cars to the same insurance policy to save on your insurance. Do you qualify for California's good driver discount? Good student discount? Senior driver discount? Share special safety and theft prevention features on your car or truck that may afford discounts. Do you have airbags, anti-lock brakes, a car alarm, etc.?
2. What is the length of the policy that you’re buying?
Sometimes insurance agents may quote you for a 6-month policy, and others will quote for a full year. Given that California’s car insurance rates can vary so much from carrier to carrier, sometimes spotting the difference in policy length can be difficult. When you're shopping for car insurance, you want to eliminate any future surprises. Insurance coverage is a big ol’ contract, and future surprises can be painful.
3. What are the payment plans on your auto insurance policy?
In California, car insurance companies offer a lot of different payment plans. Some require full up front payment for the whole policy, while others allow you to make monthly payments. Be aware that monthly payments can introduce additional service fees that can add up over the course of the policy.
4. Ask if there are any up front fees that are separate for the insurance policy?
A lot insurance agencies charge different fees for simply running different quotes or even processing the purchase of the insurance policy. Make sure you understand these fees clear, and recognize that not every California insurance agent charges fees. If for any reason you decide to change insurance companies in the future, you may not be able to recover this money. Make sure you ask! An example of an up front fee is a Brokers Fee. Brokers fees are not part of the policy, but paid directly to the agent. Not every agent charges this, and it’s used primary to offset any commissions that an insurance agent would lose if you don’t pay your bill.
5. What are the deductible levels on this California auto insurance policy?
Sometimes insurance agents and companies will offer you a very attractive monthly rate for your car insurance policy, and not fully disclose that the “cheap insurance rate” is because of a very high deductible. Are you able to afford an expensive deductible if and when you have an insurance claim?
6. What are you unique needs for Comprehensive and Collision coverage?
Ask the insurance agent about Comprehensive and Collision coverage and what your unique needs may be. If you have a very old car that doesn’t have a very high Blue Book Value, you may be surprise to see how much Comp and Collision coverage you don’t need. Only trust a licensed and experienced California insurance agent to help you make such a decision.
7. Does your California insurance policy allow you to drive to Mexico or Canada?
This is a very common question for Californians. If you live in the Southern California area and drive to Mexico regularly, make sure your California insurance policy covers you.
In your quest to save on your car insurance in California, the quality of answers you receive from California insurance agents, has everything to do with the experience of the agent. Make sure you reach out to only licensed and experienced agents. A good question that we did not add to the above list is a completely open-ended question that truly allows the agent to show their true colors. Simply ask your California agent, "What do you believe is the most important question I should be asking you?" |
