Are you drained from not being able to scrape enough together to buy auto insurance? You have the same problem as many other Texas drivers. People have many auto insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, more choices can make it harder to find the lowest cost provider.
The purpose of this post is to instruct you on how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Texas vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to find the lowest price on the web.
First Step: Get free auto insurance quotes
Finding more affordable BMW 325i auto insurance quotes is an easy way to save money. Consumers just need to take a few minutes to compare from online providers. Price comparisons can be done in a couple of different ways.
- The most efficient way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do a different quote for each company you want a rate for. A single form will get you price quotes direct from many companies.
- A more time consuming way to compare prices requires a visit to each company’s website and go through the quote process again. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you need rates from Auto-Owners, Esurance and Progressive. To do that, you would have to go to each individual site to enter your coverage information, which is not fast way to get rate quotes. To view a list of companies in Dallas, click here.
- The least efficient and most time consuming method of comparing rate quotes is making phone calls or going to and from local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you’re the type of person who wants the professional assistance of a local agency. It is possible to comparison shop online and get advice from an agent in your area.
Compare rates however you want, just compare identical information for each quote you get. If the quotes have different data then you won’t be able to decipher which rate is best in Dallas.
These ten discounts can slash auto insurance rates
Car insurance is not cheap, but you may qualify for discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but less common discounts must be asked about prior to receiving the credit. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you could be paying more than you need to.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% for 325i coverage with some auto insurance companies.
- Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your BMW can qualify you for substantially lower auto insurancerates.
- Membership in Organizations – Belonging to qualifying clubs or civic groups could trigger savings on auto insurance.
- Student Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them enroll and complete driver’s education in high school.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Distant Student Discount – Any of your kids who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars and trucks with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Own a Home – Owning a home in Dallas can earn you a little savings because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
- Senior Citizens – Seniors could receive a small decrease in premiums for 325i coverage.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not necessarily a discount, but a few companies such as Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm will let one accident slide without the usual rate increase with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
We need to note that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. But all discounts should definitely cut the amount you pay for coverage.
A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts are detailed below.
- State Farm has discounts for passive restraint, multiple policy, anti-theft, safe vehicle, and driver’s education.
- American Family discounts include TimeAway discount, good driver, good student, accident-free, air bags, and Steer into Savings.
- AAA has savings for pay-in-full, good driver, multi-policy, good student, and education and occupation.
- GEICO may have discounts that include defensive driver, seat belt use, anti-theft, multi-policy, and daytime running lights.
- Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for professional/association, accident-free, age of vehicle, good driver, and multi-policy.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts for alternative fuel, multi-car, teen driver, bundle discounts, and switch companies.
- Progressive includes discounts for multi-policy, homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and online signing.
Double check with each insurance company the best way to save money. Savings may not apply to policyholders in Dallas. To find providers that offer multiple discounts in Dallas, follow this link.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Dallas?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Specific coverage details
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your BMW 325i.
Since many Texas drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive protection – This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a broken windshield, hail damage, hitting a deer, vandalism and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for chiropractic care, nursing services and funeral costs. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability coverages – This protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property. It protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability coverage pays for things such as bail bonds, pain and suffering, loss of income and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible. Texas state minimum liability requirements are 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more coverage.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things like crashing into a ditch, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Additional auto insurance information is available on the found here. Texas consumers can download brochures, find out industry alerts, get help finding coverage, and read industry bulletins.
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