Pretty sure you bought an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? You’re in good company because there are many people just like you. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm and GEICO constantly blast consumers with ad campaigns and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
Smart consumers take time to get comparison quotes once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. If you had the best rate for E150 Econoline van insurance six months ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online but I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to lower your auto insurance rates.
There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from many different Texas insurance companies. One of the best ways to find the lowest rates is to get quotes online. This can be accomplished by using one of the methods below.
Probably the best way to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This quick form eliminates the need for multiple quote forms for every company. A single form will get you price quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
A more difficult way to get comparison quotes requires you to visit each company website and get a separate price quote. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from GEICO, 21st Century and American Family. You would need to go to every website to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of companies in Houston, click here.
Even if you have time, the least recommended method to quote and compare insurance rates is making phone calls or going to all the different Houston insurance agencies. Quoting and buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless your situation requires the trained guidance of a local Houston agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but still have the advice of a local agent.
The approach you take is up to you, just make absolute certain that you use identical coverage information with every price quote. If the quotes have mixed coverages then you won’t be able to make a fair rate comparison in Houston. Slightly different limits could skew the results. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more quotes helps increase your odds of locating the best offered rates. Some smaller insurers to not give rate quotes online, so it’s recommended that you also compare price quotes from them as well.
Don’t overlook these auto insurance discounts
Car insurance companies do not list every possible discount in an easy-to-find place, so the list below gives a summary of some of the more common as well as the least known credits available to lower your premiums when you . If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are not getting the best rate possible.
- New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new model year vehicles are generally safer.
- Save over 55 – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive lower premium rates for E150 Econoline van insurance.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you can combine your auto and home policy with the same insurance company you could save over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
- Houston Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Houston can save a few bucks since owning and maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Early Payment Discounts – By paying your entire bill at once rather than paying in monthly installments you could save up to 5%.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory options such as air bags may qualify for discounts as much as 30%.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying a policy with more than one vehicle on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% for E150 Econoline van insurance but check with your company.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the appearance that you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way.
A list of auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are outlined below.
- 21st Century may offer discounts for driver training, automatic seat belts, homeowners, air bags, 55 and older, theft prevention, and anti-lock brakes.
- Progressive may have discounts that include good student, continuous coverage, online quote discount, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm offers discounts for Drive Safe & Save, good student, student away at school, multiple policy, multiple autos, accident-free, and good driver.
- Nationwide may include discounts for accident-free, good student, easy pay, multi-policy, Farm Bureau membership, defensive driving, and anti-theft.
- Esurance includes discounts for emergency road assistance, online shopper, homeowner, renters, DriveSense, and Switch & Save.
- The Hartford discounts include anti-theft, bundle, vehicle fuel type, driver training, and good student.
Before buying, ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Some credits may not be offered everywhere. To find auto insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.
When do I need to talk to an agent?
Certain consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and often times that is recommended The best thing about price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get cheap auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent. And buying from local agents is important particularly in Houston.
By using this simple form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Houston that can provide and help you find cheaper coverage. You never need to visit any agencies because prices are sent directly to your email. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates without requiring a lot of work. If you want to compare rates from a specific company, you can always jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
When looking for a reputable agency, it helps to know the two types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Auto insurance agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not employed by one company so they can write business through many different auto insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If they find a cheaper price, the business is moved internally which makes it simple for you.
When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from a couple of independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
Captive Agencies
Agents that elect to be captive generally can only insure with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance and State Farm. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Captive agents are highly trained on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Finding the right auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
How much auto insurance do I need?
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- What are the financial responsibility laws in Texas?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Ford E150 Econoline Van is totaled?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Texas?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Four Things That Affect Your Insurance Costs
Lots of things are part of the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, although others are less apparent like your vehicle usage and annual miles driven.
- How many miles do you drive? – The more you drive every year the more it will cost to insure it. Most companies calculate prices based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than cars that get driven a lot. Having an incorrect usage rating on your E150 Econoline Van may be wasting your money. It’s a good idea to make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
- When should you not file a claims? – Insurance companies in Texas award most affordable rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file a lot of claims you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Bad drivers pay high premiums – Attentive drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Having just one speeding ticket or other violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers with dangerous violations like DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding might be required by their state to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to legally drive.
- Multiple policies with one company – The majority of companies give a discount for people who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, consumers should still comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Smart consumers save more
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to lower your Ford E150 Econoline Van insurance prices. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest prices are with a smaller regional carrier. These companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
Budget-friendly auto insurance is possible both online and from local insurance agents, so you need to with both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional carriers work with local independent agents.
Learn more about Texas auto insurance
Additional information is located on the through this link. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read state legal mandates and laws.
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