No normal person loves paying for auto insurance, especially when they are aware that they could find lower prices if they just compared rates. You have multiple insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.
Buying car insurance in Houston is not that difficult. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Texas drivers just need to understand the tricks to compare price quotes on the web.
Pay discount rates with these discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there may be some discounts to cut the cost considerably. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically at quote time, but a few need to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving less may allow you to get lower prices due to less chance of an accident.
- Early Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment rather than spreading payments over time you can avoid monthly service charges.
- ABS Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying coverage for multiple cars on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Military Deployment Discount – Having an actively deployed family member could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Safety Course Discount – Completing a course that instructs on driving safety may get you a small discount if you qualify.
- College Student – Kids who live away from home to go to college and do not have access to a covered vehicle could qualify for this discount.
- Professional Memberships – Being in certain professional organizations may earn a discount on auto insurance.
- Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
- Paper-free Discount – Many larger companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A few popular companies and their possible discounts are outlined below.
- GEICO offers discounts including air bags, seat belt use, federal employee, emergency military deployment, good student, and anti-lock brakes.
- Travelers has discounts for continuous insurance, save driver, driver training, multi-policy, good student, and payment discounts.
- Farm Bureau offers premium reductions for driver training, 55 and retired, youthful driver, renewal discount, and good student.
- Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including new graduate, new move discount, teen driver discount, newly married, newly retired, preferred payment discount, and exclusive group savings.
- American Family has savings for good student, early bird, defensive driver, air bags, and bundled insurance.
- Progressive may offer discounts for multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, homeowner, online signing, and good student.
If you are trying to find , ask each company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts may not be offered in your area. To choose insurers who offer cheap auto insurance quotes in Texas, click this link.
How to know if you need help
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Houston?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Do I need an insurance agency?
Many people just want to talk to an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Most agents can help you choose the best coverages and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is you may find cheaper car insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your information is emailed to participating agents in Houston that can provide for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to find an agent because quoted prices will be sent to your email. If you need to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.
Picking an insurance company should include more criteria than just a low price. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Houston?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
In order to help you find a licensed agent near you, view this directory of Houston Texas auto insurance providers.
Slick advertising tricks that work
Consumers in Texas can’t get away from all the ads that claim the lowest car insurance rates by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all make an identical promise about how much you will save just by switching your auto insurance policy to them.
How is it possible that every company can make the same claim? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Auto insurance companies quote their cheapest rates for the driver that will not have excessive claims. An example of this type of risk profile should be a female over age 40, carries high limits, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver who matches those parameters will get a cheap rate quote and have a good chance to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Consumers who fall outside the ideal profile may be required to pay higher premium rates which results in the customer not purchasing. The wording the ads use say “drivers that switch” not “all people who quote” save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully make it sound like they have such great prices. Different companies use different criteria so drivers should get price quotes at each policy renewal. Because without a comparison, you cannot know with any certainty which company will give you lower premium rates than your current company.
To find out more about Texas auto insurance
Even more information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about specific coverages, find a variety of consumer forms, and download brochures.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Houston
- Lowest Prices from Houston Car Insurance Agents
- 10 Must-Know Tips When Comparing Houston, TX Auto Insurance
A little work can save a LOT of money
There are still a few companies who may not have the ability to get a quote online regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agencies. Cost effective Nissan Sentra insurance is definitely available on the web and with local Houston insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection.
As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured cut physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.