Smart shoppers know that insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Drivers who compare other prices will, in all likelihood, switch companies because there is a great chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent study showed that consumers who made a habit of comparing rate quotes saved about $850 each year compared to policyholders who never shopped around.
If finding budget-friendly rates on auto insurance in San Jose is the reason you’re here, learning how to compare coverages can help simplify the process.
To save the most money, the best way to save on Mercury Milan insurance in San Jose is to start comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in California.
- Try to understand how companies set rates and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many factors that increase rates like accidents, traffic violations, and a negative credit rating can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates from multiple insurance companies. View rates
- Compare the new rates to your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide adequate notice to your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to the new company. As soon as you can, put the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an accessible location in your vehicle.
A valuable tip to remember is to use the same level of coverage on each quote and to quote with all possible companies. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you have insurance now, you will be able to reduce premiums using the ideas you’re about to read. Finding the cheapest auto insurance coverage in San Jose can be much easier if you know how to start. But California drivers must understand how insurance companies compete online and use it to your advantage.
When comparison shopping, there are several ways to obtain and compare prices from many different California insurance companies. The best method to compare rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online.
Getting free quotes online is quite simple, and it makes it obsolete to go to insurance agencies in your area. The internet eliminates the middleman unless you require the peace of mind that only a licensed agent can provide. However, consumers can price shop your coverage online but have a local agent actually write the policy.
Just remember that more quotes will improve the odds of getting a lower rate than you’re paying now.
The companies shown below provide price comparisons in California. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you compare several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Earn discounts on San Jose insurance
Car insurance is not cheap, but there may be some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain credits will be shown when you complete an application, but a few must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Simply owning a home can get you a discount because it means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving may be able to save a few bucks on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than spreading payments over time you may reduce your total bill.
- Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents have much lower rates as compared to frequent claim filers.
- Low Mileage – Maintaining low annual mileage could be rewarded with lower premium rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Paperwork-free – Many insurance companies will give you a small discount for buying a policy and signing up on the web.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Active or retired federal employment could qualify for a slight premium decrease with some insurance companies.
- New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new Milan can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
- Data Collection Discounts – Drivers that enable their insurance company to analyze vehicle usage by using a telematics device such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might get better premium rates as long as the data is positive.
- Memberships – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations can get you a small discount on insurance.
One last thing about discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.
The illustration below compares Mercury Milan insurance premiums with and without discounts. The data is based on a male driver, no claims, a clean driving record, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Larger insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are detailed below.
- GEICO may have discounts that include multi-policy, membership and employees, emergency military deployment, air bags, daytime running lights, and multi-vehicle.
- Auto-Owners Insurance discounts include anti-lock brakes, paperless, paid in full, group or association, and safe vehicle.
- American Family may include discounts for mySafetyValet, air bags, accident-free, TimeAway discount, defensive driver, good student, and Steer into Savings.
- Esurance offers premium reductions for multi-policy, anti-lock brakes, good student, renters, defensive driver, online shopper, and safety device.
- Progressive has savings for online quote discount, homeowner, online signing, continuous coverage, multi-policy, good student, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm may offer discounts for driver’s education, good driver, multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, and good student.
- AAA has discounts for good student, multi-policy, education and occupation, AAA membership discount, multi-car, and good driver.
Before buying, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts might not be offered on policies everywhere. To choose providers that offer discounts in San Jose, click here.
Mercury Milan insurance statistics and information
The rate table shown below outlines different insurance prices for Mercury Milan models. Having a good grasp of how policy rates are formulated is important to be able to make decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milan | $434 | $686 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,790 | $149 |
Milan Premier | $434 | $810 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,914 | $160 |
Milan Premier AWD | $490 | $810 | $492 | $30 | $148 | $1,970 | $164 |
Milan Hybrid | $490 | $810 | $578 | $34 | $174 | $2,086 | $174 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in specific location which can revise auto insurance rates significantly.
Can higher deductibles save money?
When buying car insurance, a common question is how high should your deductibles be. The following tables show the cost difference when you select higher and lower deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milan | $342 | $576 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,453 | $121 |
Milan Premier | $342 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,555 | $130 |
Milan Premier AWD | $386 | $678 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,599 | $133 |
Milan Hybrid | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milan | $210 | $362 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,082 | $90 |
Milan Premier | $210 | $426 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,146 | $96 |
Milan Premier AWD | $238 | $426 | $376 | $22 | $112 | $1,174 | $98 |
Milan Hybrid | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can revise premium rates greatly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible costs approximately $34 more each month or $408 every year across all Mercury Milan models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at a minimum 22 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you opt for a higher deductible. The table below illustrates the way this decision is made.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $131 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $97 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $34 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $34 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 22 months |
One important caveat is that higher deductibles results in more money out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. That will force you to have enough disposable income in the event you need to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.
Mercury Milan insurance rates by age and gender
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Mercury Milan insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
What if I want to buy from local San Jose insurance agencies?
Certain consumers prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a smart move One of the best bonuses of comparing rate quotes online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent.
Upon completion of this short form, your coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in San Jose who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to search for any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered to you instantly. You can find better rates without requiring a lot of work. If you need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Selecting a insurance company requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. Before buying a policy in San Jose, get answers to these questions.
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
- If your car is totaled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- Will the agent or a CSR service your policy?
When researching local San Jose agents, it’s important to understand the types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Auto insurance policy providers may be either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only provide one company’s prices and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so you might not find the best rates. Exclusive insurance agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.
Listed below are San Jose exclusive insurance agencies that are able to give price quote information.
Allstate Insurance: Valentine Deleon
1425 Foxworthy Ave b – San Jose, CA 95118 – (408) 266-8500 – View Map
Burch Boehner – State Farm Insurance Agent
201 E Taylor St #2 – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 287-8190 – View Map
Beatriz Quezada – State Farm Insurance Agent
441 N 1st St – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 295-7000 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel are appointed with more than one company so they can insure your vehicles through lots of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies which is easy for the insured.
If you need cheaper auto insurance rates, you definitely need to compare quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agencies in San Jose that can give you price quote information.
All Solutions Insurance – San Jose
574 Blossom Hill Rd – San Jose, CA 95123 – (408) 225-4300 – View Map
Casey Nguyen Insurance Agency, Inc.
1639 Meridian Ave a – San Jose, CA 95125 – (408) 286-4467 – View Map
All Coverage Insurance Agency
3033 Moorpark Ave #27 – San Jose, CA 95128 – (408) 244-9100 – View Map
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your financial needs are unique.
For example, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- How do I insure my teen driver?
- Will filing a claim cost me more?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Is motorclub coverage worth it?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- What if a claim settlement is too low?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Protect more than your vehicle
Even though it can be expensive, insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability protection if you drive a vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a lien on your Milan, it’s most likely the lender will require you to buy insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Mercury at a more expensive rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects both your car and your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical transport and hospital expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of insuring your car more than offset the price you pay, especially when you need to use it. But the average driver in California is overpaying more than $825 a year so you should quote your policy with other companies each time the policy renews to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Insurance coverages explained
Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Mercury Milan.
Since many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like damage from getting keyed, vandalism and damage from flooding. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for things like nursing services, EMT expenses and hospital visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto collision coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as rolling your car, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible on your Milan to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability
Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers things such as court costs, pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The next chart demonstrates why low liability limits may not be enough.
A little work can save a LOT of money
Budget-conscious Mercury Milan insurance is possible both online as well as from independent agents in San Jose, so you need to quote San Jose car insurance with both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers may not offer rates over the internet and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
People switch companies for any number of reasons including denial of a claim, being labeled a high risk driver, unfair underwriting practices or poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies is actually quite simple.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
To learn more, link through to the resources below:
- Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Under 25 in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap San Jose Car Insurance Quotes for a Subaru Outback? (FAQ)
- Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)