Auto Insurance
Liability that actually protects what you have, and coverage for the car that matches what it is worth. We compare carriers and re-shop for you when your situation changes.
California license #6020106
Menlo Insurance Services is the filed name of Opero Labs Inc., licensed by the California Department of Insurance.
Licensed in four states today
California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York. Applications in Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan are with those states now. We do not quote a state before its license is issued.
Independent brokerage
We hold appointments with multiple carriers, so the quote is shopped rather than served from one shelf.
What this policy covers
Liability to others
Injuries and property damage you cause driving, the part California law requires.
Your car
Collision covers crash damage. Comprehensive covers theft, glass, fire, and hitting an animal.
Uninsured motorists
Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough.
Medical payments
Smaller medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of fault.
Why is the liability half the part that matters?
Because the damage to your own car has a ceiling and the damage you do to other people does not. Medical bills, lost wages and a defense can run well past what a car is worth, and the liability limit is the only thing standing between that and everything else you own.
For every kind of California driver
- Commuters who want limits that match their assets
- Households adding a teenage driver
- Owners of older cars doing the coverage math
- Anyone whose rate crept up year over year
What changes your premium
There is no flat rate for this coverage. These are the inputs a carrier prices against, and they are the same things the quote form asks you for.
- Driving records for everyone in the household
- The vehicles, their value and how they are used
- Annual mileage and where the car is garaged
- The liability limits and the collision and comprehensive deductibles
- Prior insurance history and any gap in coverage
Frequently asked questions
How much liability coverage should I carry?
California's legal minimums are low compared to what a serious accident actually costs. If you own a home or have savings to protect, higher limits usually cost less than people expect, and they are what stands between a bad accident and your assets. We quote a few limit levels so you can see the difference.
What deductible should I pick?
The deductible is the part of a claim you pay yourself. A higher one lowers your premium but means more out of pocket after a loss. The honest test is what you could comfortably pay tomorrow. We will show the premium at more than one deductible.
Do I need comprehensive and collision on an older car?
It depends on the car's value against the premium plus deductible. At some point the math stops working, and liability-only becomes reasonable. We will run that math with you rather than sell coverage you do not need.
Does my policy cover rental cars?
Your liability and, if you carry them, collision and comprehensive usually extend to a rental in the US. Gaps like loss-of-use charges exist, which is why the counter offers a damage waiver. We will explain what your specific policy does before you decline it.
Will a ticket or accident raise my price?
Usually yes, for a few years. Different carriers weigh driving history differently though, which is exactly where a broker helps: when your record changes, we re-shop the market for you.
Does this policy cover rideshare and delivery gaps?
Personal policies generally exclude driving for an app. That window needs rideshare coverage.
Does this policy cover business use of the vehicle?
A car used mainly for work may belong on a commercial auto policy.
Does this policy cover wear and mechanical breakdown?
Brakes, transmissions, and maintenance are not insurance losses.
Does this policy cover intentional damage?
Damage you cause on purpose is never covered.
Can you write this where I live?
We are licensed in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York, and applications in Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan are with those states now. We do not quote a state before its license is issued. Start a quote and we will tell you where you stand before you spend time on it.
What actually happens after I start a quote?
You answer a short set of questions, and a licensed broker at Menlo reads them, maps your operation to a class, and shops it with the carriers we are appointed with. There is no instant bind and no black box. You talk to a person before anything is quoted.
Coverages that pair with this
Homeowners Insurance
The structure, everything inside it, and your liability as the owner of the place it happened.
Umbrella Insurance
Extra liability limit sitting above the home and auto policies you already carry, for a fraction of what raising each one costs.
Renters Insurance
Your belongings and your liability in a building whose policy covers the landlord rather than you.
Get an auto quote with limits that fit
A few details about drivers and vehicles is all it takes. We do the comparison shopping for you.