Are you drained from sacrificing other expenses to pay high auto insurance rates every month? You’re in the same situation as many other Texas consumers. Drivers have many insurers to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, having more auto insurance companies makes it harder to compare rates and cut insurance costs.
Buying car insurance in Fort Worth is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these techniques. Texas consumers just need to learn the tricks to find the lowest price over the internet.
The quickest method to compare rates takes advantage of the fact most insurance companies provide online access to provide you with free rate quotes. All you need to do is give them some information like driver details, your occupation, your credit rating estimate, and if the car is leased. Your details gets sent immediately to insurance companies and you will get price comparisons almost instantly.
To check car insurance prices now, click here and enter your zip code.
Your auto insurance coverage should be tailored to you
When choosing coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- Is Texas a no-fault state?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Texas?
- Does my Nissan Frontier need full coverage?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
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’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Buying from car insurance agents
Many people just prefer to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of getting free rate quotes online is you may find lower car insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After completing this quick form, your information is submitted to companies in Fort Worth that provide for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to do any legwork as quotes are delivered directly to your email. If you want to quote rates for a specific company, don’t hesitate to go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.
Finding the right company requires more thought than just a cheap price quote. These questions are important to ask:
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- How are they compensated?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Has the agent ever had any license suspensions?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- Is the quote a firm price?
- How many years have they been established?
If you want to buy auto insurance from a reliable insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents in Fort Worth can be classified as either independent or captive depending on the company they work for. Either can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ since it could factor into which type of agent you select.
Captive Auto Insurance Agencies
Captive agencies can usually just insure with one company such as Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents receive extensive training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
These type of agents do not work for one specific company and that allows them to write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If they quote lower rates, they simply move your policy to a different company which requires no work on your part.
If you are comparing auto insurance prices, we highly recommend that you compare quotes from multiple independent agents in order to have the best price comparison.
Auto insurance coverage breakdown
Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills like pain medications, hospital visits and funeral costs. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Texas drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 30/60/25), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from a tornado or hurricane and falling objects. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims such as loss of income, emergency aid and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Texas state law requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Frontier from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a ditch and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
For more Texas auto insurance information
More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can view agent and company licensing information, read industry bulletins, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Fort Worth