Looking for the best Pasadena auto insurance? Many people are not aware that California is one of the few states that require auto insurance companies licensed here to provide drivers with the lowest rate of insurance that they qualify for. This is upon California’s minimum requirements for auto insurance. What this means for the consumer is that if you contact an insurance agent requesting a quote for Pasadena auto insurance, they are required to include all discounts available to you and give you the lowest rate available. Although they can also quote you on their recommended coverage, they must first quote you on the minimum coverage.

Minimum Pasadena Auto Insurance Coverage

The minimum coverage allowed in Pasadena for auto insurance coverage is $15,000 liability for one person in any single accident, $30,000 liability for all persons in any single accident and $5,000 property damage liability per accident. In Pasadena, you can achieve this coverage by carrying a policy with one of the approved insurance carriers licensed in California, by paying $35,000 in cash to your local DMV, providing proof of self-insurance if you own a fleet of vehicles, or by purchasing a surety bond of $35,000 from a licensed California insurance company.

The fines in Pasadena for not carrying auto insurance are up to $500 in cash, payment of to the other driver if you are the cause of a car accident, a suspension of your license until proof of insurance can be shown and your car will be impounded until you show proof of insurance. What’s more, you are responsible for the costs of towing and impounding your vehicle and you will not be able to get your vehicle back until you pay these additional fees.

Recommendations for Pasadena Auto Insurance

As you can see, the minimum coverage requirements are rather low in Pasadena, especially in regards to property damage. What this means for you in terms of payment is that if you cause an accident your insurance will only pay $5,000 towards all damages incurred in an accident, that is for your vehicle and the vehicle that you hit. If the damages incurred are more than $5,000, then you will be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket.

Because there are about 89,000 drivers in Pasadena, and Pasadena requires that all cars pass an annual inspection to ensure that vehicles are road worthy, it is a safe bet that the majority of vehicles on the road have a value of more than $5,000. In addition, with about 50% of the employed population in management level or higher positions, it is likely that there is a relatively high level of high end cars on the road as well.

In California, the average cost per accident is about $12,000. This is a run of the mill accident where no injuries occur. In the case of an accident with injuries, the average cost is about $40,000 for a minor injury and increases up until nearly one million dollars if it is a fatal car crash. As you can see, the required minimums in Pasadena would not cover an accident any worse than a minor one. While you do not need to carry a million dollar policy, it is highly recommended that you carry at least three times the state minimum, which would mean that you should consider at minimum $45,000 liability for one person, $90,000 for all persons in any single accident and $15,000 in property damage liability.

If you are driving a vehicle that is financed through a bank, you will be required to carry comprehensive auto insurance coverage on your vehicle. Once your vehicle is paid off you can switch to the minimum requirements; however, this is not what insurance agents will recommend.

You should consider the value of your vehicle when you think about the coverage that you need. Although California is a tort state, (which means that someone must be found at fault in an auto accident), there are times when a driver only has the minimum required insurance and simply does not have the money to pay the differences in damages or medical care that his or her insurance did not cover. You can purchase underinsured insurance coverage to ensure that your damages and medical care are covered in the event that the other driver cannot pay.

California is also known for two natural disasters, fires and earthquakes. You may want to consider continuing a comprehensive plan that covers natural disasters as well as theft so that you do not have to be without a vehicle if the worst should happen.

While carrying a comprehensive policy may only be required by your bank, your personal situation (including the value of your vehicle) will largely determine what kind of insurance you will want to carry. There is no reason for you to drop necessary insurance simply because it is no longer required. You can, however, save yourself some money by reducing the dollar coverage amount of your comprehensive coverage.

Choosing the Right Pasadena Auto Insurance Company

Choosing the right auto insurance is easy. Using a quote tool to determine your insurance rates will do two things for you. The first is that it will ensure that you only receive rates from auto insurance companies that are licensed to operate in Pasadena. The second is that you will be able to compare the rates of several reputable companies all in one place, saving you both time and money.

You can do some research if you would like on the insurance companies available in your area so that you can determine how their customer service is, how they handle claims, and if there are any past problems by using the Internet to check the Better Business Bureau reports as well as online reviews. Do not be caught unprepared, make sure that you have the right amount of insurance for your vehicle in case the worst should happen.

Comparing Pasadena Auto Insurance Quotes Online

Finding the best Pasadena CA auto insurance rates is made a whole lot easier when you set out to compare quotes from many different companies. Get started comparing Pasadena auto insurance quotes online to find the best deal!