Choosing a Cheap Car Insurance Company

How to get a cheap car insurance policy from a company you trust

There are many reasons you may be seeking the cheapest auto insurance option. Your household finances may be tighter than usual. Or maybe you don't drive a lot. Whatever the reason, a low-cost policy doesn't have to mean a no-frills experience with the insurance company. As you compare quotes from cheap car insurance companies, consider more than just price. Policies from leading carriers, such as Nationwide, may be exactly what you need. Here's what to look for:

A solid reputation

Over the past 80 years Nationwide Insurance^® has grown from a small auto insurance company to one of the largest and strongest insurance and financial services companies in the world. You can’t say that about most cheap car insurance companies. The key to our growth has been simple: helping customers protect what’s most important to them while providing outstanding customer service.

Personal customer service

Why choose Nationwide auto insurance? As a Nationwide auto insurance policyholder, you’ll enjoy great customer service online or over the phone, as well as through our vast network of Nationwide agents and Nationwide-affiliated independent agents. But don’t take our word for it. We post our customers' auto insurance reviews online for you to read. Cheap auto insurance companies don’t do that.

24/7 access

Because difficult situations always seem to happen at the worst possible time, Nationwide's renowned On Your Side^® Claims Service is available around-the-clock 365 days a year to get you back on the road as fast as possible. A cheap car insurance company can’t match that standard.

Fast, custom quotes

Whether it's online, on the phone or in person, we'll quickly design a car insurance quote that meets your precise needs. And we offer flexible billing options. You can pay monthly, quarterly or semi-annually through the mail, online or over the phone.

Lots of free extras

Look at cheap car insurance companies and see if they can provide free perks like our 24-hour claims service, an 800 number with a real person at the other end, our On Your Side Review (a free consultation to see if you have the insurance you need and the discounts you deserve) and Nationwide^®AutoWatch^®, which lets you monitor your covered auto repair online.

Custom options

Nationwide offers you a variety of options that allow you to customize your policy. Cheap auto insurance companies can't offer you great options like Roadside Assistance, Accident Forgiveness or Vanishing Deductible^®.

Insurance terms, definitions and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies or declaration pages, which control coverage determinations. Such terms may vary by state, and exclusions may apply. Discounts may not be applied to all policy coverages.

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How to get cheap car insurance in California

Getting a cheap car insurance policy doesn’t mean you don’t get quality, you just save money. Here are some tips to get a cheaper auto insurance policy in California.

Carry a high deductible

An easy way to get a lower rate is to carry a higher deductible. Having a $1,000 deductible instead of $250 will give you savings month after month and over the life of the car can mean a substantial chunk of change.

Know your limits

When you first buy a car, getting the highest coverage on everything seems like (and often is) the best idea. But if you’ve own your cars for several years or it is an older car to begin with, you might be paying for more coverage than you need. For example, if your car is only worth $2,000 and your collision coverage costs $500 / year and you have a $1,000 deductible, after 2 years you’re paying more than what you’ll get for your car. However, if you don’t have a nest egg to replace your car and you rely on your car every day, collision still might be a good option for you.

Combine policies

Most insurance companies will give you a discount when you combine policies. By bundling a homeowners or renter’s insurance policy with your car policy, you’ll get a discount. You can also purchase a bundle that includes an umbrella policy. Often times, a bundled policy that includes homeowners, auto and umbrella policies is less expensive than buying homeowners and car insurance policies from separate insurers.

Insure multiple cars and drivers

By adding multiple cars onto the same policy, insurers will give you a bulk rate. If you have a motorcycle, RV or boat, you can ask about getting those on the same policy, too. If you have more than one safe driver on the policy, you might be eligible for even more discounts.

Get an agent

Comparison shopping is time consuming and you’re limited to the discounts that the insurers provide to the public. By using an agent, not only can your agent shop around, but they also have access to deeper discounts from insurers. Make sure to use a reputable insurance agency. Of course, if you live in California and need car insurance, you can fill out our free online quote and we can get you set up.

Commercial vs individual auto insurance

Is commercial auto insurance more expensive than individual auto insurance or is it simply a different type of car insurance?

When it comes to commercial insurance policies, there are two questions one must ask. First, will I qualify for one? Second, will I receive an actual commercial policy? In answer to the first question, one must meet one of two qualifications. One qualification is the number of vehicles you own. If you own five or fewer vehicles, you will not be considered for a commercial policy. The second qualification has to do with the name on the policy. If you have less than five vehicles and they are under your personal name, you will most likely not receive a commercial policy. A possible exception is if these vehicles are classified as business vehicles (e.g., truck, taxi, limo, delivery vehicle). To have the best chance of qualifying for commercial insurance, one should have five or more vehicles that are registered under a business/company name rather than a personal name.
In answer to the second question regarding receiving an actual commercial policy, it is important to remember that it is difficult to get an actual, "pure" commercial policy at the present time. Years ago, people attempted to avoid paying accident charges by classifying themselves as contractors or businessmen. In so doing, they could have their personal vehicles placed under a commercial policy. Insurance companies caught up and have changed it, making it more difficult today to obtain a commercial policy.
In some states, an insurance company will offer payments for personal auto insurance. However, no states offer payments for commercial auto insurance. Thus, the individual named on the policy will not receive any money from the company if he/she is the holder of a commercial policy. He/she may receive payments by having individual auto insurance.
In answer to the question above, commercial auto insurance will likely cost more than individual auto insurance. It is covering insurance on more than one vehicle and most likely, more than one driver. Comparing the features of a commercial policy versus an individual policy on an auto insurance company revealed some differences between the two policies. The commercial policy included lease gap coverage and sound receiving and reproducing equipment. The former allows the company to cover the rest of your lease if the car is totaled and the remaining lease is more than the cash value of the car. The latter covers damage to permanently installed electronic equipment used for transmitting data or audio signals. There are other differences between the two policies, indicating that commercial insurance is slightly different from individual auto insurance.