The best way we recommend to find low-cost car insurance rates in Portland is to annually compare prices from providers who provide car insurance in Oregon. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Spend some time learning about policy coverages and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many things that result in higher prices like at-fault accidents and a low credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Get rate quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple companies. Find a Portland insurance agent
- Compare the price quotes to your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Give notification to your agent or company to cancel your current coverage. Submit a completed application and payment to the new company. Once the paperwork is finalized, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
One piece of advice is to make sure you enter the same deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get quotes from all possible companies. This ensures a fair price comparison and maximum price selection.
It’s safe to conclude that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing rates. Drivers who compare rates at least once a year will presumably switch to a new company because the odds are good of finding a lower-priced company. A recent auto insurance study discovered that people who shopped around saved as much as $860 a year compared to people who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the most affordable auto insurance is the reason for your visit, then having some insight into the best ways to shop for coverages can save time, money, and frustration.
Buying affordable auto insurance in Portland is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. If you have a current auto insurance policy or just want to reduce your rates, you can use these techniques to find the best rates without sacrificing coverage. You only have to learn the least time-consuming way to get comparison quotes instantly.
Six factors that impact insurance prices
Many things are taken into consideration when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as your driving history, but others are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your commute time.
Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” that factor into your rates.
Lower comp and collision deductibles cost more – Comp and collision deductibles are how much the insured will be required to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. Protection for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be a windshield broken by a bird, collision with a deer, and damage from wind. The more money you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Continuous coverage lowers rates – Letting your insurance expire is a fast way to increase your auto insurance rates. In addition to paying higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time. Then you may be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Oregon motor vehicle department.
Premiums can change based on your address – Being located in areas with lower population can save you money when trying to find low car insurance rates. Fewer drivers and short commutes means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Residents of big cities have more auto accidents and more time behind the wheel. The longer drive time statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
Type of car, truck or SUV determines base rates – The performance level of the vehicle you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a significant difference in your premium level. The best insurance prices are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The chart below uses these variables: single female driver age 30, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Volkswagen CC policy rates compared to other vehicles that have different performance risks.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a lot of additional coverages that can add up on your CC policy. Insurance for things like coverage for rental cars, better glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea when deciding what coverages you need, but if you have no use for them get rid of them and save.
Liability insurance is important – The liability coverage on your policy is the coverage that protects you when you are found liable for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Insurance loss data for a Volkswagen CC – Companies analyze the history of losses when determining insurance rates. Models that tend to have higher loss trends will cost more for specific coverages.
The table below outlines the collected loss data for Volkswagen CC vehicles. For each coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, as an average, is set at 100. Values below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while numbers that are greater than 100 indicate frequent claims or larger claims.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen CC 2WD | 132 | 99 | 119 | 99 | 108 | 103 |
| Volkswagen CC 4WD | 162 | 134 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Rates and other information
The information displayed next highlights a range of insurance costs for Volkswagen CC models. Having a better idea how auto insurance premiums are formulated helps drivers make smart choices when comparing insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $344 | $720 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,652 | $138 |
| CC Luxury 4-Dr Coupe | $344 | $720 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,652 | $138 |
| CC VR6 Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $384 | $828 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,800 | $150 |
| CC VR6 Motion 4-Dr Coupe | $384 | $828 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,800 | $150 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in vehicle location which can influence prices greatly.
Do you need full coverage?
The diagram below compares Volkswagen CC insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The prices are based on no violations or claims, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no definitive rule of when to phase out comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Volkswagen CC book value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $300 annually to have full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some cases where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good idea. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Insurance discounts are available to lower rates
Some insurance providers don’t list every possible discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to bring down your rates.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car instead of a used CC can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for newer models.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being on active deployment in the military could qualify you for better insurance rates.
- Student Discounts – This discount could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
- Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Safe drivers can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accident claims.
- Professional Organizations – Belonging to qualifying employment or professional organizations could earn you a nice discount on insurance.
- College Student Discount – Youth drivers who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
- Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Volkswagen can qualify you for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will reduce the cost of your policy.
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Volkswagen CC insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums assume a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Oregon state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of insurers who offer discounts in Oregon, click here.
A conclusion for your auto insurance search
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your objective should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best cost and still be able to protect your assets.
You just read some good ideas how you can find affordable Volkswagen CC insurance in Portland. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even be surprised to find that the best prices are with an unexpected company.
People who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation or even unfair underwriting practices. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.
Helpful learning opportunities
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Silverado in Portland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Portland Car Insurance Quotes for Welfare Recipients? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Nissan Rogue in Portland? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Sentra in Portland? (FAQ)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
- Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)