Are you sick and tired of wondering where the money will come from to pay your car insurance bill each month? You’re in the same situation as many other vehicle owners in Texas. Multiple insurers compete to insure your vehicles, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies and get the definite lowest rate
It’s a good habit to get comparison quotes before your next renewal since prices change regularly. Just because you found the lowest rate on Taurus coverage last year you will most likely find a better premium rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we’re going to show you one of the best ways to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
If you have insurance now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Houston is not rocket science. Texas drivers just need to know the proper methods to shop their coverage around on the web.
Discounts for lower-cost car insurance rates
Car insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but you might be missing out on some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. A few discounts will automatically apply when you complete an application, but some discounts are required to be inquired about before you get the savings.
- Student Discounts – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings of 20 to 30 percent.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents can save as much as half off their rates on Taurus coverage compared to accident prone drivers.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Some insurance carriers give a lower rate if you buy life insurance from them.
- Driver Training Discounts – Taking part in a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and make you a better driver.
- Theft Deterent Discount – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and will save you 10% or more.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Policyholders that allow their car insurance company to scrutinize vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might get better premium rates if they are good drivers.
Discounts save money, but please remember that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Despite the appearance that all the discounts add up to a free policy, it’s just not the way it works. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the cost of your policy.
Larger car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.
- Travelers policyholders can earn discounts including home ownership, IntelliDrive, new car, driver training, save driver, good student, and student away at school.
- 21st Century may include discounts for teen driver, good student, student driver, early bird, theft prevention, and automatic seat belts.
- State Farm may offer discounts for safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good student, multiple autos, and passive restraint.
- GEICO offers discounts for air bags, five-year accident-free, multi-vehicle, military active duty, defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, and driver training.
- SAFECO discounts include anti-theft, multi-car, accident prevention training, anti-lock brakes, drive less, safe driver, and bundle discounts.
- AAA offers discounts including education and occupation, pay-in-full, AAA membership discount, good driver, anti-theft, good student, and multi-car.
When quoting, ask every prospective company which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts might not be offered in every state.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same car insurance coverage
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you could use an agent’s help.
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Texas?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
Car insurance quotes from local neighborhood Houston car insurance agents
Many people prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and doing that can be a smart decision Experienced insurance agents can help you build your policy and will help you if you have claims. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get cheap car insurance rates and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your information is sent to insurance agents in Houston who will give you bids to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. If you need to compare prices from one company in particular, you would need to navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Finding the right insurance company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be willing to answer these questions.
- Where are claims handled?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
- Does their agency support local causes in Houston?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- How long have they been in business?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Independent or Captive: It’s your choice
When searching for a reliable insurance agent, there are a couple of different agency structures and how they operate. Car insurance agents can be classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both types can handle car insurance, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in how they write coverage since it may influence which type of agent you select.
Captive Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be captive can usually just insure with one company like Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are not able to provide other company’s prices so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are well trained on their products and sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Agents in the independent channel can quote rates with many companies and that enables them to quote your coverage through many different car insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, the agent simply finds a different carrier and the insured can keep the same agent. If you are comparing car insurance prices, you should always include rate quotes from several independent agencies to get the most accurate price comparison.
The ad said I’d save $454 a year!
Texas consumers can’t escape the ads that claim the lowest premium rates from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. They all make an identical promise about saving some big amount just by switching your car insurance policy to them.
It sounds good, but how can they all lower your premium rates? Here is the trick they use.
All companies quote their best rates for the type of driver that will not have excessive claims. A good example of this type of insured could be over the age of 35, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will most likely get cheap rates and will probably save a lot of money.
Potential insureds who don’t measure up to these standards may be required to pay higher premium rates which leads to the customer buying from someone else. Company advertisements say “people that switch” not “everyone who quotes” can save as much as they claim. This is how insurance companies can make claims like that. Because of this risk profiling, you really need to compare rate quotes every year. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you lower rates than your current company.
More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can file complaints about a company, get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out industry alerts.
The following information may also be useful.
Quote more, save more
In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can lower your Ford Taurus insurance prices. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small mutual company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
As you prepare to switch companies, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.