Auto Insurance

We are your San Diego, California Auto Insurance experts. We shop dozens of auto insurance partners to find you the best combination of coverage and price. So you never have to sacrifice one for the other. Because we are an independent agent appointed to represent over 30 carriers including Mercury, Allstate, Progressive, MetLife, Travelers, Safeco, The Hartford, and more, you can be assured that we are going to provide the highest level of coverage at the most competitive rates.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability:
Liability coverage pays for bodily injury and property damage that you cause in an accident. Don't get caught short by reducing your liability limits to the state minimum (CA 15/30/5). Buying more coverage might seem like an odd way to save, but the benefit comes if you have a costly claim, which can put your personal assets at risk. Buy standard 100/300/100 coverage, which pays for bodily injury up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, and property damage up to $100,000. If you have a high net worth, boost your bodily injury to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident, you should also talk to your agent about adding an Umbrella policy to supplement your liability coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury & Property Damage Coverage:
The recession has prompted unemployed consumers to go without insurance. One of every six drivers today may be uninsured according to the Insurance Research Council. Without this coverage, if you are hit by an at-fault uninsured driver you will have to pay for repairs to your vehicle out of your own pocket and sue the at-fault driver for damages. Protect yourself by buying uninsured/underinsured motorist protection with the same limits as your liability coverage.

Medical Coverage:
Think carefully about medical coverage. You may not need it if you have good health insurance, but keep or add it if you don't or if your usual passengers might not be well insured.

Deductibles:
A higher deductible reduces your premium because you pay more out of pocket if you have a claim. Raising your deductible from $250 to $500 can cut your premium on collision by 15 to 30 percent. Go up to $1,000 and you could save as much as 40 percent. If you have a good driving record and haven't had an at-fault accident in years, if ever, opting for a higher deductible on collision might be a good bet. Just make sure you can afford to pay it if your luck runs out.

When is it time to delete your Comprehensive & Collision coverage?
You can probably cancel your collision and/or comprehensive coverage when the annual cost of the vehicle's insurance equals or exceeds 10 percent of your car's book value. Otherwise, you could end up paying more over time than you would recoup for repair or replacement of your damaged, stolen, or totaled vehicle.

Rental-Reimbursement: In the event of an accident or theft of your vehicle. If you have another car that you can use while your vehicle is being repaired or searched for, you don't need to pay for rental-reimbursement coverage. But take these events into consideration if you do not have another car readily available. For a minimal fee per year, rental-reimbursement coverage may be much more convenient then public transportation or borrowing a friend's car.

Towing & Roadside Assistance:
If you have an auto-club or another similar membership, you shouldn't double pay by purchasing towing and/or roadside assistance. Towing and roadside assistance are different and vary by carrier. Purchasing towing-reimbursement will normally reimburse you up to $75 for towing related fees. Roadside Assistance can cover Emergency Towing to the nearest qualified repair facility, Flat Tire, Lock out, Dead Battery, and even Essential Fluids (running out of fuel). Roadside assistance is worth its weight in gold when the unexpected strikes.

Ask about Discounts:
Discounts are designed to attract the business of lower risk drivers. Those drivers include students with good grades, new drivers who have taken a driver-training course, older drivers who have taken a refresher course, and members of AAA, or affinity groups such as college graduates and alumni, credit union members, and for certain occupations and professions. Antitheft and safety equipment can also get you a discount. Insurers also offer discounts if you buy your homeowners, renters, life insurance or specialty lines policy (Motorcycle/ATV, Boat, RV) from them. But be sure you check out the total costs both ways. Check your premiums from different insurers combined compared with single insurer packages.

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