How much coverage should I get for auto insurance in California?
Posted on Jul 10, 2008 under Insurance Information |I am 19 years old and I live in Southern California. I have a 1 point accident and a 2 point speeding ticket on my record. I have a 2001 Mustang GT and I am wondering how much insurance coverage I need? Obviously the more coverage the better, but the price is much more for each increment, so that's why I'm trying to see what coverage amount I should get or need. Collision/Bodily/Property - $25,000/50,000/25,000 - $50,000/100,000/50,000 - $100,000/300,000/100,000?
I am fairly well educated about insurance and how it works. I understand what the numbers mean and I know about the rates and what varies them. I just am looking for suggestions on the dollar amount of coverage I should get.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Typically, insurance rates will vary from State to State and can even vary by ZIPCODE! It also will depend on the type of car/truck, coverages, limits of liability, and driving record. Some companies run credit scores and MOST run a motor vehicle report and CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report to see about undisclosed accident involvement.
The best thing to do is call a LOCAL independent agent. Don't go across town, or to some other city - look for someone CLOSE. Just look in the phone book for the PIA or Big I (Trusted Choice) logos and you will find a professional licensed agent that will be able to help you solve your insurance problems, and give you rate comparisons of several different companies.
In my agency, we have companies that do NOT run a credit score and welcome drivers with "less than perfect" driving records and specialize in youthful operators!
One of the companies that we have here in Texas STARTED in California - and that's Mercury Insurance. If CA is anything like Texas, their rate actually gets BETTER by increasing your rates from your lowest (what is it 15/30/10?) to the higher $100/300/100! I'm sure there are MORE companies so that's why it will pay you to shop around for a LOCAL agent!
It is always better to have MORE liability protection than is required and as you get older and start amassing assets, you might even consider a Personal Umbrella policy. Then you are talking limits in the MILLIONS!
Compare liability limits to the the guys that rapell off the sides of mountains. They toss their rope over the side, rapel down the side and when they get 100' from the bottom, they run out of rope. You can't get any MORE rope…so, you have to climb back UP the rope and start over. If you have an accident with low limits of liability - that's ALL you've got to protect you and you cannot buy more at the scene of an accident!
Most of the replies on this site say "go to this on-line carrier or that on-line carrier or that 1-800 number" but I'm sure that when you do, you will find some impersonal computer user with a script to work from and you won't be able to talk with the same person every time you have a problem!
Good luck, drive RESPONSIBLY and I hope this helps!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
These numbers represent the maximum your insurance policy will pay for Collision/Bodily/Property. 25k is low for and could be the state minimum for CA. So if you have a major accident your insurance company will pay out 25k at most. You would be liable for the rest. In a lot of cases, it doesn't cost a whole lot more to double coverage. Some drivers can get twice the coverage for a few dollars a month.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
chk on this
http://www.insuranceplan4u.com