Car Insurance Quotes for a Chevy Silverado 3500HD in San Jose

It’s a known fact that insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. Drivers who get comparison quotes once a year will, in all likelihood, switch to a new company because they have a good chance of finding more affordable rates. A recent study showed that drivers who made a habit of comparing rates saved on average $70 a month compared to those who never shopped around for better prices.

If finding the cheapest price for Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose is your intention, learning how to get rate quotes and compare car insurance can make it easier for you to save money.

If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get discount Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose is to compare quotes annually from insurance carriers who provide car insurance in California. You can compare prices by following these steps.

Step 1: Take a little time to learn about coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates low. Many factors that cause rate increases like your driving record and poor credit rating can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle.

Step 2: Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of companies. View companies

Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money and buy the policy, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is to use the same coverage limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as you can. This ensures a fair rate comparison and many rates to choose from.

Choosing the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in San Jose can really be easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have auto insurance now, you will definitely be able to find better prices using the ideas you’re about to read. But California vehicle owners need to have an understanding of the way companies determine prices.

The fastest way that we advise to compare rate quotes for Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose is to take advantage of the fact auto insurance companies have advanced systems to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information like if the car is leased, if your license is active, if it has an anti-theft system, and the year, make and model of vehicles. The data gets transmitted to many highly-rated insurers and they return rate quotes instantly to find the best rate.

To compare rates for your car now, click here and enter your coverage details.

The companies shown below offer quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Discounts mean cheaper rates for Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose

Car insurance is expensive, but you might find some hidden discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain credits will be shown when you purchase, but once in a while a discount must be manually applied in order for you to get them. If you do not double check each discount available, you could be getting lower rates.

• Driver Safety – Taking part in a defensive driving class is a good idea and can lower rates and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars with anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and can earn a small discount on your policy.
• Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Waiver for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but a handful of insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident without getting socked with a rate hike with the catch being you have to be claim-free prior to being involved in the accident.
• Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle on a single policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
• Accident-Free Discounts – Claim-free drivers pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
• Early Signing – Select larger companies give a discount for switching to them early. This can save 10% or more.
• Driver Education Discount – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
• Memberships – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could earn you a nice discount on your policy.

A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

The information below illustrates the difference between Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The data assumes a female driver, no claims or violations, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, multi-car, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

For a list of providers that have a full spectrum of discounts in San Jose, follow this link.

Coverage analysis

The rate table below outlines different insurance policy prices for Chevy Silverado 3500HD models. Having a better understanding of how auto insurance policy rates are formulated can be valuable when making smart choices when comparing insurance rates.

Above prices assume single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Information does not factor in vehicle location which can lower or raise auto insurance rates greatly.

Higher deductibles lower rates

One common question asked by San Jose drivers is what deductibles to buy. The rates shown below determine how much more rates are when you select higher and lower deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in San Jose location which can decrease or increase insurance rates significantly.

Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $39 more each month or $468 for a full year averaged for all Silverado 3500HD models than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at a minimum 19 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money by selecting a higher deductible. Here is an example of how we made this calculation.

The information below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can impact Chevy Silverado 3500HD premium costs for each age group. The information is based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Gender-based insurance premiums in San Jose

The information below illustrates the difference between Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The information below illustrates the difference between Chevy Silverado 3500HD auto insurance rates with full coverage and liability only. The rates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.

Are you wasting money on full coverage?

There is no exact rule to stop paying for comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let’s assume your Chevy Silverado 3500HD settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing in excess of $600 annually for your policy with full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Car insurance quotes from neighborhood San Jose auto insurance agents

Many people still like to go talk to an agent and often times that is recommended The biggest benefit of getting free rate quotes online is that you can obtain the lowest rates and also buy local.

Upon completion of this simple form, your coverage information is submitted to agents in your area that provide free San Jose car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. You can find lower rates AND an agent nearby. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Selecting an provider requires you to look at more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• When do they do policy reviews?
• Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in San Jose?
• Is the quote a firm price?
• How are they compensated?
• Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?

Choose the right auto insurance agent

When searching for a local San Jose insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies and how they work. Agents in San Jose can be classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Agents that choose to be exclusive generally can only insure with one company like Allstate and State Farm. Exclusive agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are well schooled on what they offer and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.

Shown below are San Jose exclusive insurance agencies that are able to give price quotes.

More San Jose agents

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Agents in the independent channel do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and find you cheaper rates. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing car insurance rates, you definitely need to include price quotes from several independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.

The following is a list of independent insurance agents in San Jose who can help you get comparison quotes.

More San Jose agents

Insurance does more than just repair your car

Despite the fact that insurance is not cheap in San Jose, maintaining insurance is required by state law in California and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.

• Most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car. 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.
• If your Chevy Silverado 3500HD has a loan, more than likely the lender will make it mandatory that you carry insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may buy a policy for your Chevy at an extremely high rate and require you to reimburse them the higher price.
• Insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also cover most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers legal expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of buying insurance are definitely more than the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. An average driver in America is currently overpaying as much as $855 a year so you should quote and compare rates at least once a year to save money.

Car insurance policy specifics

Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage covers damage to your Silverado 3500HD caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, hitting a parking meter, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a building. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible on your Silverado 3500HD to bring the cost down.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Chevy Silverado 3500HD.

Due to the fact that many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as vandalism, damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a deer, rock chips in glass and a broken windshield. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses such as hospital visits, dental work, surgery and prosthetic devices. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability car insurance

Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 15/30/5 that translate to $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $30,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for things like pain and suffering, loss of income, attorney fees, structural damage and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. California state law requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

The chart below demonstrates why low liability limits may not be adequate.

Don’t give up on cheap rates

We just presented a lot of information how to get a better price on Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote San Jose car insurance, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost San Jose car insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Lower-priced Chevy Silverado 3500HD insurance in San Jose can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in San Jose, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller providers sell through local independent agencies.

Helpful learning opportunities

• Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Equinox in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest San Jose Auto Insurance for a Toyota RAV4? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest San Jose Auto Insurance for Government Employees? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Police Officers in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest San Jose Auto Insurance Quotes for Single Moms? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Seniors in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Ford Escape in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
• Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)