Do you think you bought an expensive car insurance policy? Don’t sweat it because there are many people just like you. With consumers having so many options when it comes to car insurance, it can be diffult for drivers to find a more affordable company.
Buying affordable car insurance in Austin can be fairly easy. If you have a current car insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you can use this information to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Texas drivers just need to understand the most effective way to shop their coverage around online.
Cutting your Austin car insurance rates doesn’t have to be difficult. All that’s required is to spend a few minutes on the computer to compare to find the company with . This can easily be done in a couple of different ways.
Experts agree that the best way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing a different quote for every car insurance company. Just one form gets rate comparisons from all major companies.
A slightly less efficient method to obtain and compare quotes online is to take the time to go to the website for every company you want to comare and go through the quote process again. For instance, let’s say you want to get rates from Farmers, Progressive and State Farm. To do that, you would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of companies in Austin, click here.
The least recommended way to quote and compare insurance rates is to spend your day driving to insurance agents’ offices. Comparing rates online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the peace of mind that only a licensed agent can provide. However, consumers can compare online quotes but still have the advice of a local agent.
The approach you take is up to you, just be sure you’re using the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each quote you get. If you enter different values for each quote it will be impossible to decipher which rate is best in Austin.
Lower rate quotes by taking advantage of discounts
Car insurance companies don’t necessarily list every disount available very well, so the list below gives a summary of both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden discounts that you can inquire about if you . If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
- Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Drivers without accidents can save as much as half off their rates on Silverado coverage as compared to drivers with claims.
- Discount for Multiple Policies – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy with one company you could get a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Life Insurance – Larger companies have a small discount if you purchase some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Active Service Discounts – Having an actively deployed family member may lower your prices slightly.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a house in Austin can save a few bucks because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
We need to note that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky.
A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts can be found below.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, continuous coverage, good student, and homeowner.
- MetLife has savings for good driver, claim-free, accident-free, multi-policy, and good student.
- Mercury Insurance may include discounts for professional/association, multi-car, ease of repair, age of vehicle, good driver, annual mileage, and accident-free.
- Nationwide may offer discounts for good student, family plan, defensive driving, multi-policy, and Farm Bureau membership.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for daytime running lights, military active duty, emergency military deployment, membership and employees, air bags, good student, and anti-lock brakes.
- AAA offers discounts including pay-in-full, good student, anti-theft, good driver, and multi-policy.
If you want , ask every insurance company to give you their best rates. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders in your area. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Texas, click here.
Six Tips to Get More Affordable Austin Insurance Costs
Many factors are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. A few of the factors are predictable like an MVR report, although others are less obvious like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When consumers understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to lower rates.
Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate prices.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Some insurers will give discounts to insureds that buy multiple policies. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to ten percent or more. Even with this discount applied, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to help ensure you have the lowest rates. You may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
- Know your credit rating – Having a good credit history is likely to be a major factor in determining what you pay. Drivers with very good credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit. So if your credit rating leaves room for improvement, you may save money insuring your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 if you clean up your credit.
- Having a spouse can lower costs – Getting married may save some money compared to being single. It may mean you are more financially stable and insurance companies reward insureds because married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- What are good liability limits? – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that you are responsible for damages caused by your negligence. This coverage provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is relatively inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
- Which gender costs less? – Statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Both genders tend to get into auto accidents in similar percentages, but the men get into accidents with more damage. Not only are claims higher, but men get higher numbers of serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI).
- Never let your policy expire – Driving with no insurance can get your license suspended and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your insurance coverage expire. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
Local neighborhood agents and car insurance
Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Professional insurance agents are highly skilled in risk management and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from and supporting local insurance agencies is important especially in Austin.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to insurance agents in Austin that can provide for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact an agency as quotes are delivered to you directly. If for some reason you want to compare rates from a specific insurance company, feel free to go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
If you are wanting to find a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents and how they are distinctly different. Austin agents may be either independent or captive. Both types of agents can sell car insurance policies, but it is important to understand the difference in the companies they write for because it may have an impact on the kind of agent you use.
Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type do not sell for just one brand and that gives them the ability to insure amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to switch agencies. If you need lower rates, you will definitely want to include rate quotes from a few independent agents in order to compare the most rates.
Captive Agents
These type of agents work for only one company such as AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Picking an insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- How long has their agency been in business in Austin?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Do you qualify for any additional discounts?
Much more information about car insurance in Texas is available on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, get help finding coverage, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
The following articles may also be useful.
- Get Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes From Austin, TX Agents
- Car Insurance in Austin Texas 7 Discounts You Might be Missing
- Expert Advice on Saving Money on Austin Texas Auto Insurance
More comparisons equals lower rates
We just covered a lot of tips how to compare Chevy Silverado 1500 insurance premium rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your prices. Drivers may discover the lowest premium rates are with a small local company. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.
A few companies do not provide rate quotes online and these regional carriers prefer to sell through local independent agents. Affordable Chevy Silverado 1500 insurance is definitely available online and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis.