The most effective way to get cheaper Honda Element insurance is to start comparing prices regularly from companies who provide auto insurance in Portland.
- It will benefit you to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases like tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unacceptable credit history can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Request rate estimates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium and see if there is a cheaper rate in Portland. If you can save money and change companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
One thing to point out is that you’ll want to compare similar limits and deductibles on each quote and to quote with every insurance company. This ensures the most accurate price comparison and maximum price selection.
Unfortunately, almost 70% of drivers kept their policy with the same company for at least the last four years, and 38% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. Many drivers in Oregon could pocket up to 60% a year, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to find lower-cost insurance by shopping around.
If you are insured now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to buy cheaper auto insurance while maximizing coverage. Locating the best rates in Portland can initially seem challenging. Drivers just have to understand the fastest way to quote multiple rates from many different companies online.
The following companies can provide free rate quotes in Portland, OR. If you want the best cheap car insurance in Oregon, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get the most affordable price.
Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts
Companies offering auto insurance do not list every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for primary and secondary vehicles with one company can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Claim Free – Portland drivers who stay claim-free pay less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
- Memberships – Belonging to certain professional organizations may earn a discount on your next auto insurance statement.
- Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may reduce rates when you quote Portland auto insurance depending on your company.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can stop better under adverse conditions so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Driver Training Discounts – Participating in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
- Online Discount – Some larger companies provide a small discount shop Portland auto insurance on the internet.
- Telematics Devices – Drivers who elect to allow driving data submission to look at their driving habits by using a telematics device such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By making one initial payment instead of making monthly payments you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Early Switch Discount – A few larger companies allow discounts for buying a policy prior to your current Element insurance policy expiration. This discount can save up to 10%.
You can save money using discounts, but many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Honda Element annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The prices are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, Oregon 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, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-car discounts applied.
A few of the larger companies and a partial list of their discounts can be found below.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including good driver, accident-free, safe vehicle, anti-theft, and driver’s education.
- Esurance may offer discounts for emergency road assistance, DriveSense, renters, online quote, good student, and Switch & Save.
- Progressive offers discounts including multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, and good student.
- Liberty Mutual has savings for safety features, newly retired, hybrid vehicle, teen driver discount, and good student.
- Auto-Owners Insurance offers discounts for anti-lock brakes, student away at school, company car, teen driver, paperless, safe driver, and paid in full.
- GEICO includes discounts for seat belt use, defensive driver, military active duty, five-year accident-free, emergency military deployment, and daytime running lights.
Before buying, ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Some discounts may not apply to policies in your state. To see a list of providers with the best discounts in Oregon, follow this link.
Insurance coverage details
The premium information below showcases a range of coverage costs for Honda Element models. Understanding how rates are determined helps drivers make smart buying decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $170 | $322 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,080 | $90 |
Element LX 4WD | $170 | $322 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,080 | $90 |
Element EX 2WD | $170 | $322 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,080 | $90 |
Element EX 4WD | $170 | $322 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,080 | $90 |
Element SC 2WD | $170 | $322 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,080 | $90 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can change insurance rates substantially.
Choosing deductibles
A question often asked by Portland drivers is at what level do you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates illustrate the difference in cost between high and low deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $246 | $416 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,121 | $93 |
Element LX 4WD | $246 | $416 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,121 | $93 |
Element EX 2WD | $246 | $416 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,121 | $93 |
Element EX 4WD | $246 | $416 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,121 | $93 |
Element SC 2WD | $246 | $416 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,121 | $93 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $200 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $970 | $81 |
Element LX 4WD | $200 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $970 | $81 |
Element EX 2WD | $200 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $970 | $81 |
Element EX 4WD | $200 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $970 | $81 |
Element SC 2WD | $200 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $970 | $81 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in specific zip code location which can impact premium rates noticeably.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs roughly $12 more each month or $144 a year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at least 21 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you decide on a higher deductible. Here is how you can do this calculation yourself.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $93 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $81 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $12 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $12 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 21 months |
Safe drivers pay less for car insurance
The information below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can drive up Honda Element insurance prices for different ages of insureds. The data is based on a married male driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The chart below compares Honda Element yearly insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The rates are based on no claims or driving citations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no definitive rule of when to phase out full coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Honda Element claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $600 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some circumstances where buying only liability insurance is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage in place.
Portland Insurance Rates are Influenced by These Factors
The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at some of the things that are used to determine the rates you pay for insurance. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.
Shown below are some of the major factors used by companies to determine rates.
- Liability coverage limits should be high – Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are responsible for personal injury or accident damage. It provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – The majority of companies afford discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. If you currently are using one company, it’s always a smart idea to compare other Portland Element insurance rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
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Performance impacts insurance premiums – The type of car you are insuring makes a big difference in your rates. The lowest base rates are usually found on low performance passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
The following data uses these assumptions: married female driver age 50, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Honda Element insurance rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of risk factors.
- Raise deductibles and save – Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your Honda. Some examples of covered claims could be a dented fender, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles tell how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if a covered claim is submitted. The more you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the better rate you will receive.
- Rate your vehicle for proper use – Driving a lot of miles each year the higher the price you pay to insure it. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use cost less to insure than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Element may be costing you. Verify your insurance coverage reflects the correct usage.
What if I want to buy from local Portland auto insurance agents?
A small number of people still like to have an agent’s advice and that can be a smart move Good agents can make sure you are properly covered and will help you if you have claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get the best rates and still choose a local agent. Putting coverage with small agencies is definitely important in Portland.
After completing this simple form, your coverage information is emailed to insurance agents in Portland who will give competitive quotes to get your business. There is no need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. In the event you want to compare rates from a particular provider, feel free to go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Exclusive agents vs. Independent agents
When narrowing the list to find local Portland agents, you must know there are a couple different types of agents and how they are distinctly different. Car insurance agents in Portland are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents. Either one can sell and service car insurance coverage, but it’s worth learning how they differ because it may have an impact on the selection process.
Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents can sell policies from many different companies so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, they simply move the coverage in-house which makes it simple for you. When comparing rate quotes, we recommend you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.
Shown below is a partial list of independent agencies in Portland who can help you get comparison quotes.
Darrell Grenz Insurance Agency
5651 N Lombard St – Portland, OR 97203 – (503) 206-6736 – View Map
Stamm Stuart Bybee Insurance
16455 SE Division St – Portland, OR 97236 – (971) 254-1148 – View Map
Cundari Insurance
8309 SW 22nd Ave – Portland, OR 97219 – (503) 292-0075 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Exclusive agents generally can only insure with one company such as State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. These agents are well trained in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.
The following is a short list of exclusive agents in Portland that are able to give comparison quotes.
Kilong Ung – State Farm Insurance Agent
4000 SE 82nd Ave #1400 – Portland, OR 97266 – (503) 777-6762 – View Map
Gunnar Olson – State Farm Insurance Agent
107 SE Washington St Ste 143 – Portland, OR 97214 – (503) 230-0216 – View Map
John Lokting – State Farm Insurance Agent
307 SE 102nd Ave – Portland, OR 97216 – (503) 252-5581 – View Map
Picking the best auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap quote. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- If they are an independent agency in Portland, which companies do they recommend?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When quoting and choosing your policy, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed.
For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- Am I covered while delivering pizza?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
- What is roadside assistance coverage?
- What happens if I owe more than my Honda Element is worth?
- Should I buy full coverage?
- Which companies are cheaper for teen drivers?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Cheap rates are available
In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can save on Honda Element insurance in Portland. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Honda Element insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the best price on insurance is with the smaller companies. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
Cheaper insurance in Portland is available both online and with local Portland insurance agents, so get free Portland auto insurance quotes from both of them to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide rates over the internet and most of the time these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent agents.
Other articles
- What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
- Who Has Affordable Portland Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Female? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Portland Auto Insurance Quotes for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Portland Car Insurance Quotes for Low Credit Scores? (FAQ)
- Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
- Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)