Buick Enclave insurance image courtesy of QuoteInspector.com
When trying to find cheaper insurance, do you get confused by the number of insurance sources that you can choose from? You're not alone. There are such a vast assortment of sources available that it can really be a burden to find a more affordable company. If you've ever been there, you know that San Diego is a great city to live in, but paying high insurance rates makes it impossible to buy full coverage.
Unthinkable but true, over 70% of drivers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for over three years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared rates to find affordable insurance. Many drivers in San Diego can save hundreds of dollars each year just by comparing rates, but most undervalue the amount of money they would save if they switched to a more affordable policy.
Smart consumers take time to compare rates on a regular basis since prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates on Buick Enclave insurance in San Diego two years ago there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. Block out anything you think you know about insurance because you're about to learn how to use online quotes to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.
Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in San Diego can be much easier if you know how to start. Practically everyone who comparison shops for insurance most likely will be able to lower their premiums. Although California consumers do need to learn the methods companies use to determine premium rates and use it to your advantage.
Compare quotes for San Diego Buick Enclave insurance
When looking for the cheapest Buick Enclave rate quotes, there are a couple ways of comparing rate quotes from many different California insurance companies. The best method to find the lowest Buick Enclave rates is to use the internet to compare rates.
Just remember that comparing more rates from different companies helps you find a lower rate. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide online price quotes, so it's recommended that you also compare rates from them, too.
The companies shown below provide price comparisons in California. If multiple companies are shown, we recommend you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $234 | $490 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,450 | $121 |
Enclave CX AWD | $216 | $392 | $456 | $26 | $136 | $1,226 | $102 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $300 | $576 | $424 | $26 | $126 | $1,452 | $121 |
Enclave XL AWD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in garaging location in San Diego which can alter prices greatly.
Deductible comparison
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The rates below summarize the rate fluctuation between high and low insurance deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Enclave CX AWD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $386 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,689 | $141 |
Enclave XL AWD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,733 | $144 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Enclave CX AWD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $238 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,264 | $105 |
Enclave XL AWD | $266 | $426 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,292 | $108 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in your specific San Diego location which can lower or raise auto insurance rates substantially.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $36 more each month or $432 every year 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 tend to average at a minimum 21 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you opt for a higher deductible.
How to determine if a higher deductible is a good idea
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $142 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | - $106 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $36 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 - $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $36 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 21 months |
One big caveat is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you do file a claim. You need to have enough extra money in the event you need to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.
Full coverage or liability only
The chart below examines Buick Enclave insurance premiums with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The rates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, $1,000 deductibles, single female driver, and no discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There is no written rule to delete physical damage insurance, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the vehicle's replacement cost less your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let's say your Buick Enclave settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, you would only receive $5,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying in excess of $500 a year for full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage.
Car insurance policy discounts you can't miss
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there could be significant discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain reductions will be credited when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be asked about prior to getting the savings.
- Multiple Policy Discount - If you can combine your auto and home policy and insure them both with the same insurance company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Theft Deterrent System - Cars equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Homeowners Savings - Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings since home ownership requires personal responsibility.
- Early Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once rather than spreading payments over time you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Driver's Education for Students - Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver's ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Buy New and Save - Putting insurance coverage on a new Enclave may earn a small discount since newer vehicles are generally safer.
- Paperless Signup - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on their website.
- Claim-Free Discount - Insureds who avoid accidents and claims have much lower rates when compared to policyholders that have many claims.
- Braking Control Discount - Vehicles that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are much safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.
Companies that may offer quotes with most of these discounts include:
Check with each insurance company to give you their best rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policies everywhere. To locate insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in California, follow this link.
What if I want to buy from local San Diego auto insurance agents?
Many people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a smart decision A good thing about comparing car insurance online is that drivers can save money and get lower rates but also keep your business local.
By using this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is submitted to companies in San Diego who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. Get lower rates without a big time investment. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific car insurance provider, you just need to go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.
Picking a company is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in San Diego?
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- How would your car be valued if totalled?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Are they full-time agents?
- How long has their agency been in business in San Diego?
When finding a reputable agency, there are two types of agencies and how they are slightly different. Car insurance policy providers can be described as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies can only provide pricing for a single company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. They are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agencies are trained well on what they offer and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Some insured continue to choose to use a exclusive agent mainly due to the brand and strong financial ratings.
Below are exclusive insurance agencies in San Diego willing to provide comparison quotes.
- David Hiser - State Farm Insurance Agent
910 Grand Ave #205 - San Diego, CA 92109 - (858) 272-2343 - View Map - State Farm: Tom Latsko
8680 Navajo Rd #214 - San Diego, CA 92119 - (619) 462-5701 - View Map - R J Blake - State Farm Insurance Agent
1040 University Ave B201 - San Diego, CA 92103 - (619) 681-0060 - View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not locked into one company so as a result can place your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If your agent finds better pricing, they can switch companies in-house and the insured can keep the same agent.
When shopping rates, we highly recommend that you check rates from several independent agencies to have the best price comparison. Most also write with less well-known companies which may provide better rates.
Below are independent insurance agencies in San Diego that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Leavitt Insurance Agency of San Diego
380 Stevens Ave - Solana Beach, CA 92075 - (858) 259-5800 - View Map - Springbrook Insurance Agency
10650 Treena St #105 - San Diego, CA 92131 - (858) 391-3001 ext. 105 - View Map - Rubin Insurance
6363 Greenwich Dr #120 - San Diego, CA 92122 - (858) 457-5720 - View Map
Advertising and insurance
Popular insurance providers such as Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all make the point about savings after switching your policy. But how can every company charge less that you're paying now? It's all in the numbers.
Insurance companies offer their best rates for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, this type of risk profile might have to be over the age of 35, has a low-risk occupation, and has excellent credit. Anybody who matches that profile will qualify for the lowest premium rates in San Diego and have a good chance to save money with a new company.
Drivers who are not a match for these criteria will have to pay higher premium rates which leads to the customer not purchasing. The trick is to say "people that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. Each company has different criteria, so you absolutely need to quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know with any certainty which company will be your best fit.
Car insurance coverages and their meanings
Understanding the coverages of car insurance helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) - This pays for 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 coverage pays for claims like a broken windshield, hitting a deer, hitting a bird and rock chips in glass. The most your car insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle's value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverages - Collision coverage pays for damage to your Enclave from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like scraping a guard rail, rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a building. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your Enclave to bring the cost down.
Auto liability - Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like funeral expenses, emergency aid, structural damage, loss of income and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
Insurance for medical payments - Med pay and PIP coverage pay for bills for things like ambulance fees, funeral costs and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance - This coverage provides protection when the "other guys" are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle's damage.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5), it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Car insurance savings summarized
Cheaper car insurance in San Diego can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood San Diego agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies only sell coverage through local independent agents.
We just covered many ways to get a better price on Buick Enclave insurance in San Diego. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable San Diego auto insurance quotes. You may even find the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.
Insureds change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, lack of trust in their agent, high rates after DUI convictions or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company is actually quite simple.
Additional detailed information can be found in these articles:
- Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Homeowners in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable San Diego Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda Civic in San Diego? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Safe Drivers in San Diego? (FAQ)
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
- Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)