Feeling guilty for buying an overpriced auto insurance policy? Don’t feel bad because many Houston drivers feel the same as you. There are many auto insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to find a good deal.
Choosing the best insurance company for you in Houston is easy if you know what you’re doing. In a nutshell, anyone who shops for auto insurance will be able to save money. Although Texas consumers need to have an understanding of the methods companies use to compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.
Auto insurance companies offer many discounts
Car insurance companies don’t list every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of some of the more common and also the more inconspicuous credits available to bring down your rates.
- Organization Discounts – Joining qualifying clubs or civic groups can get you a small discount when shopping for auto insurance.
- Save with a New Car – Putting coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Claim Free – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts in comparison to bad drivers.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates for Compass insurance.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify for a discount when you for Compass insurance with certain companies.
Don’t be shocked that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will help reduce your auto insurance premiums.
A few companies that may offer policyholders these discounts include:
If you need lower rates, check with all companies you are considering the best way to save money. Some credits may not apply to policies in Houston. If you would like to choose from a list of companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in Texas, click here.
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices is a ton of work if you aren’t aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You could waste time talking to insurance agencies in Houston, or you could save time and use the web to achieve your goal.
Many companies participate in a marketplace where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and each company provides a quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to start a free quote.
The only downside to comparing rates this way is you can’t choose which providers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to compare prices, we have assembled a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Texas. Click here for list of insurance companies in Texas.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just try to use apples-to-apples coverages on every quote. If each company quotes different values for each quote it will be impossible to get a fair rate comparison in Houston. Slightly different coverage limits may cause a big price difference. It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting the best rates. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide price estimates online, so you should also compare price quotes from the smaller companies as well.
Will just any policy work for me?
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- What happens if I owe more than my Jeep Compass is worth?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Texas?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Auto insurance coverage options for a Jeep Compass
Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Jeep Compass.
Since many Texas drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (30/60/25 in Texas), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hitting a deer. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see values of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers things such as attorney fees, legal defense fees and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Insurance for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for things like hospital visits, surgery and X-ray expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Compass resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
What is YOUR best insurance company?
Budget-friendly auto insurance is attainable both online and from local agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide internet price quotes and these smaller providers prefer to sell through local independent agencies.
We’ve covered many ways to reduce Jeep Compass insurance rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding . Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower car insurance rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as GEICO and State Farm.