A study showed that the vast majority of drivers have been with the same company for at least the last four years, and almost half have never compared quotes from other companies. Many consumers in California could cut their rates by up to $500 a year by just shopping around, but they just don’t understand how easy it is to compare rates.
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates is to start comparing rates regularly from providers in San Jose. Prices can be compared by following these steps.
First, try to comprehend individual coverages and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates like traffic citations and a not-so-good credit history can be improved by being financially responsible and driving safely. This article gives tips to get cheaper coverage and find more discounts that you may not know about.
Second, compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for many different companies.
Third, compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you can save some money and buy the policy, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, give notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your existing policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment for your new policy. Once the paperwork is finalized, place the new certificate of insurance above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
One thing to point out is that you use similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables a level playing field and a complete price analysis.
Low Cost Chevy insurance rate quotes in San Jose
The auto insurance companies shown below are ready to provide quotes in San Jose, CA. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Rate information and statistics
The information shown next covers estimates of rate quotes for Chevy Equinox models. Knowing how auto insurance premiums are figured is important for making smart buying decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equinox LS 2WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Equinox LS AWD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Equinox LT AWD | $262 | $478 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,304 | $109 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $296 | $562 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,422 | $119 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $296 | $562 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,422 | $119 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $296 | $562 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,422 | $119 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in specific San Jose garaging location which can affect coverage rates significantly.
Raise deductibles and save
One common question asked by San Jose drivers is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The figures shown below approximate the difference in cost when you choose different deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equinox LS 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Equinox LS AWD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Equinox LT AWD | $380 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,691 | $141 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $430 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,865 | $155 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $430 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,865 | $155 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $430 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,865 | $155 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equinox LS 2WD | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Equinox LS AWD | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Equinox LT AWD | $210 | $362 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,172 | $98 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in San Jose location which can affect price quotes considerably.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs about $46 more each month or $552 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 20 months between claim filings, you would save money by going with a higher deductible. Here is an example of how you can perform this determination yourself.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $147 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $101 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $46 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $46 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 20 months |
An important thing to remember is that increasing deductibles to save money means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have to file a claim. That will force you to have enough disposable savings in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
The illustration below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can influence Chevy Equinox insurance costs for different age groups. The costs are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Chevrolet Equinox liability rates compared to full coverage
The information below shows the comparison of Chevy Equinox insurance prices with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The costs are based on no violations or accidents, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There isn’t a steadfast formula to stop paying for physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Chevy Equinox replacement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If premium cost is more than $700 annually to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some conditions where buying only liability insurance is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Get cheaper Chevy Equinox insurance rates in San Jose
Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.
- Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Telematics Data – San Jose drivers who agree to allow driving data submission to track driving manner by using a telematics device in their vehicle like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot may get a rate reduction if they are good drivers.
- Good Grades Discount – Excelling in school could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. This discount can apply up to age 25.
- Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like Progressive, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual will forgive one accident without getting socked with a rate hike so long as you haven’t had any claims for a specific time period.
- ABS Brakes – Cars with ABS and/or traction control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Pay Early and Save – By making one initial payment instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Discount for New Cars – Putting insurance coverage on a new Equinox can save up to 30% because new model year vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are less likely to be stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
Remember that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though the math looks like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
The chart below compares Chevy Equinox car insurance rates with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a female 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 safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-car discounts applied.
A list of companies and a partial list of their discounts are outlined below.
- Progressive may include discounts for online signing, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online quote discount, continuous coverage, good student, and homeowner.
- GEICO has discounts for anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, emergency military deployment, membership and employees, federal employee, and defensive driver.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including good driver, multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, and multiple autos.
- Esurance has savings for multi-car, emergency road assistance, anti-theft, multi-policy, defensive driver, homeowner, and online quote.
- The Hartford may offer discounts for vehicle fuel type, defensive driver, bundle, driver training, air bag, and good student.
It’s a good idea to ask every company the best way to save money. Some credits might not be offered on policies everywhere.
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
When it comes to insurance from an agent or online, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- Is my Chevy Equinox covered for smoke damage?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- Am I missing any policy discounts?
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- How much cheaper are high deductibles?
- Should I buy only the required California minimum liability coverage?
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Insurance agent or online?
A small number of people prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and doing that can be a smart decision A nice benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and also buy local.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to companies in San Jose who can give free rate quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to find an agent as quotes are delivered directly to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates and a licensed agent to work with. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific insurance provider, just navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
Finding a good insurance company requires more thought than just the quoted price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- How long have they been in business?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
- Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
If you want local San Jose agents, there are a couple of different types of agencies from which to choose. Insurance agents in San Jose can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel generally can only insure with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, State Farm, or Allstate. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Exclusive agencies are trained well on what they offer which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Drivers often buy from the same agent for years mainly due to loyalty to the company rather than having the cheapest rates.
Listed below are exclusive insurance agencies in San Jose willing to provide price quote information.
- Farmers Insurance: Jose Manabat
1620 Oakland Rd #D107 – San Jose, CA 95131 – (408) 437-5456 – View Map - Steve Sosnowski – State Farm Insurance Agent
841 Blossom Hill Rd #102 – San Jose, CA 95123 – (408) 629-4700 – View Map - Nhut Ho – State Farm Insurance Agent
2048 Tully Rd – San Jose, CA 95122 – (408) 223-6163 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not limited to a single company so they have the ability to put coverage through many companies and find you the best rates. If your premiums go up, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. If you are comparing rate quotes, it’s recommended you get rate quotes from several independent agencies to get the best comparison. Most have the option of insuring with companies that do not advertise much that many times have cheaper rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent agents in San Jose that are able to give rate quotes.
- Donald Browne Insurance Services
330 W Hedding St #207 – San Jose, CA 95110 – (408) 292-4329 – View Map - All Solutions Insurance – San Jose
574 Blossom Hill Rd – San Jose, CA 95123 – (408) 225-4300 – View Map - Mission Counties Insurance Agency
1777 Hamilton Ave – San Jose, CA 95125 – (408) 979-8160 – View Map
Upon receiving good answers to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that will adequately provide insurance.
Find cheap rates by being thorough
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, denial of a claim, delays in responding to claim requests or not issuing a premium refund. Whatever your reason, finding a great new company is less work than it seems.
Lower-priced Chevy Equinox insurance in San Jose is attainable online in addition to many San Jose insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.
We’ve covered a lot of information how to reduce Chevy Equinox insurance car insurance rates online in San Jose. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your premium rates. You may even discover the lowest car insurance rates come from the least-expected company.
More detailed auto insurance information is available by following these links:
- Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for 4×4 Vehicles in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for a Ford F-150 in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Police Officers in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for College Graduates in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)