Are you burned out from sacrificing other expenses to make your auto insurance payment? You’re in the same situation as many other Texas drivers. Insurance companies such as State Farm and GEICO continually bombard you with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.
It is always a good idea to get comparison quotes once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance prices trend upward over time. If you had the lowest rate on Silverado coverage a year ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to learn one of the quickest ways to find lower rates on auto insurance.
If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to shop for the lowest rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Dallas is not rocket science. Texas consumers only need an understanding of the tricks to compare prices online.
More discounts mean lower premiums
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may be missing some discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Some discounts will apply at the time of quoting, but once in a while a discount must be inquired about prior to getting the savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
- Good Grades Discount – Being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a defensive driving course could earn you a small percentage discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Theft Deterent Discount – Cars equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully complete driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Telematics Data Discounts – People who choose to allow companies to monitor their driving habits by using a telematics device such as State Farm’s In-Drive could save a few bucks if they show good driving skills.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Seniors are able to get a slight reduction on a on Silverado coverage.
As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
Insurance companies that may have many of the previously listed discounts include:
Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company to give you their best rates. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered everywhere. To view auto insurance companies that offer multiple discounts in Texas, click here.
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can be exhausting if you aren’t aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Dallas, or you could use the web to maximize your effort.
Most car insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers submit their information once, and each participating company can give them a price based on that information. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to comparing rates this way is you don’t know exactly the companies you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to receive pricing from, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Texas. Click to view list.
Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use identical coverages with every price quote. If you use different liability limits it will be nearly impossible to determine which company has the best rates in Dallas.
How to know if you need help
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can help discover whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Auto insurance coverage basics
Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Auto liability – Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as pain and suffering, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30,000/60,000/25,000 but drivers should carry higher limits.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as fire damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and theft. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses like hospital visits, ambulance fees and chiropractic care. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision – Collision coverage pays for damage to your Silverado 1500 resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door, crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Persistence pays off
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest cost and still be able to protect your assets.
Cheap Chevy Silverado 1500 insurance is available on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not provide rate quotes online and usually these regional carriers only sell through independent agents.
We just covered some good ideas how to lower your Chevy Silverado 1500 insurance premium rates. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better likelihood of getting . You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.