How to Save on San Jose Honda Element Insurance

Would you like an easy way to compare low-cost Honda Element insurance in San Jose? High-priced Honda Element insurance in San Jose can dwindle your funds and make it hard to pay other bills.

Smart shoppers know that auto insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. People who compare other prices will probably switch companies because of the good chance of finding more affordable rates. A recent survey discovered that consumers who compared rates once a year saved an average of $865 a year as compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.

If finding the best rates on auto insurance in San Jose is your target objective, knowing the best ways to shop for car insurance can help you be more efficient.

Steps to finding discount Honda Element insurance in San Jose

If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to get the cheapest Honda Element insurance is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from different companies in San Jose. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.

First, it will benefit you to learn about policy coverages and the measures you can control to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases such as accidents, traffic violations, and bad credit can be rectified by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Continue reading for more details to help prevent costly coverage and get bigger discounts.

Second, request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can quote rates from many different companies.

Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy and see if you can save money. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

A key point to remember is to use similar coverage information on each price quote and and to compare all possible companies. Doing this provides a fair price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.

Having so many options for buying cheaper insurance for a Honda Element in San Jose, it’s difficult to find the right insurer.

Best companies for Honda Element insurance

The companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in San Jose, CA. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you visit several of them to get the lowest price.

Honda Element coverage statistics

The information shown below outlines estimates of coverage costs for Honda Element models. Understanding how auto insurance premiums are figured can be valuable when making smart buying decisions.

Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can modify price quotes considerably.

Raise deductibles and save

When shopping for car insurance, a common question is which deductibles should you choose. The comparison tables below sum up the rate difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.

Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in specific location which can alter coverage rates substantially.

Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible costs approximately $31 more each month or $372 each year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average more than 24 months between claims, you would come out ahead going with the higher deductible.

An important thing to remember is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you do file a claim. You need some savings in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.

How careless driving impacts San Jose car insurance rates

The information below demonstrates how speeding tickets and fender-benders increase Honda Element insurance premiums for each different age category. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

Insurance rates and discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you may be paying too high a price.

• College Student – Kids living away from San Jose attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
• Organization Discounts – Being a member of qualifying employment or professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your bill.
• Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems help deter theft and will qualify for a discount on a San Jose auto insurance quote.
• Waiver for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but a few companies such as State Farm and GEICO will turn a blind eye to one accident without the usual rate increase as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
• Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the personal injury premium cost.
• Driver’s Ed – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
• New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new Element can get you a discount because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that adding up those discounts means a free policy, that’s just not realistic.

The illustration below shows the comparison of Honda Element insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and marriage discounts applied.

A few companies that have these discounts include:

• Esurance
• The Hartford
• AAA
• GEICO
• State Farm

Before you buy a policy, ask each company or agent to give you their best rates. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders in San Jose. If you would like to view insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in California, click here to view.

Lower Your San Jose Insurance Prices

Lots of factors are considered when you get your auto insurance bill. Some factors are common sense like your driving record, but other factors are less obvious such as your credit history or how safe your car is. It’s important that you understand some of the things that help calculate the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that can earn you much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the things auto insurance companies consider when setting your prices.

• Alarms and GPS tracking lower rates – Selecting a car model that has a built-in theft deterrent system can save you some money. Theft prevention features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers help track and prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
• Drive less and save – Driving more miles annually the higher your rate. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than those that get driven frequently. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy states the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money. Incorrect rating for your Element can cost quite a bit.
• Pay more if you have a long commute – Residing in a small town can save you money when shopping for auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have more road rage incidents and a longer drive to work. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
• Occupation and insurance prices – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as doctors, police officers, and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average due to stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the other hand, jobs like scientists, engineers and retirees get better rates.

• Impacts performance impacts auto insurance premiums – The make and model of the car or truck you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a big difference in the rate you pay. The lowest performance passenger models normally have pretty low rates, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.

  The chart below is based on a married female driver age 30, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Honda Element car insurance rates compared to other vehicles that have a range of performances.

What is the best car insurance coverage?

Always remember that when buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your car insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions may help highlight if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• How much can I save by bundling my policies?
• What policy terms are available?
• Who is covered when they drive my Honda Element?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in California?
• What exactly is covered by my policy?
• Am I getting all the discounts available?
• What is an umbrella policy?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

When to contact a local insurance agent

Some people just want to go talk to an agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can help you build your policy and will help you if you have claims. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain cheaper prices and still have a local agent.

Once you complete this quick form, your information is emailed to companies in San Jose that give free quotes to get your business. You don’t have to contact any agents because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific company, feel free to go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Deciding on an provider requires you to look at more than just a cheap quote. Get answers to these questions too.

• Does the company use OEM repair parts?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• What insurance companies do they work with in San Jose?
• How many years have they been established?
• Will the agent or a CSR service your policy?

Best car insurance agent in San Jose

If you are wanting to purchase insurance from a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different types of agencies and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Agents can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either type can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s good to learn why they differ since it can impact buying decisions.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

These agents write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents are unable to shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are well schooled on sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Shown below are San Jose exclusive agencies willing to provide rate quotes.

View more agents

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Agents of this type do not write with just one company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If they find a cheaper price, your agent can switch companies and the insured can keep the same agent. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you should always include rate quotes from independent agents to maximize your price options.

Listed below is a list of independent agencies in San Jose who can help you get comparison quotes.

View more agents

One last note

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to reduce Honda Element insurance car insurance rates online in San Jose. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of getting affordable Honda Element insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest car insurance rates come from a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies can often provide lower premium rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.

While you’re price shopping online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

Steps to finding discount Honda Element insurance in San Jose

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find better pricing on auto insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurers who sell auto insurance in San Jose.

First, spend some time learning about how companies set rates and the steps you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that are responsible for high rates like distracted driving and poor credit history can be eliminated by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.

Second, request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.

Third, compare the price quotes to your existing coverage to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save money and switch companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

Fourth, notify your company or agent of your intent to cancel your current coverage and submit a down payment and signed policy application for your new coverage. Once the application is submitted, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle.

The most important part of shopping around is that you use similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this guarantees a fair price comparison and a thorough selection of prices.

More resources

• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes with Multiple Speeding Tickets in San Jose? (FAQ)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for Veterans in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Institute)
• Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)