Are you at wits end from scraping nickels together to make your car insurance payment? You’re in the same situation as many other Texas drivers. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Progressive and GEICO constantly bombard you with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
You should take the time to compare rates every six months because prices change quite often. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates for Patriot insurance a few years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re going to learn the things you must know in order to save on car insurance.
If you have a current car insurance policy or need a new policy, you can use these tips to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in Houston is not that difficult. Texas drivers only need to know the most efficient way to get comparison quotes on the web.
Save with with these nine discounts
Some insurance providers do not advertise all disounts very clearly, so we researched a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to lower your premiums when you .
- Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for multiple cars on the same car insurance policy can get a discount for every vehicle.
- Use Seat Belts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts can save a little off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Participating in a defensive driver class could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Putting car insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new model year vehicles.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some car insurance companies give a break if you buy a life policy as well.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles may allow you to get substantially lower premium rates.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Telematics Discount – People who choose to allow companies to spy on driving habits by using a telematics device like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm may get a rate reduction as long as the data is positive.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could qualify you for better rates.
You should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it’s just not the way it works.
Companies who might offer most of the discounts above are:
When getting , it’s a good idea to every company which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts listed above might not be offered on policies in Houston. To choose companies who offer free car insurance quotes in Texas, click this link.
There are several ways to compare car insurance quotes, but one way is easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Houston, or you could save time and use online quoting to get prices fast.
Most of the larger companies belong to an insurance system where prospective buyers submit one quote, and every company provides a quote based on that data. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each company.
To access this free quoting program, click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a listing of car insurance companies in Texas. Click here for list of insurance companies in Texas.
However you get your quotes, be sure you’re using apples-to-apples information with each company. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to make a fair comparison for your Jeep Patriot in Houston.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Texas?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Texas minimum liability coverage?
- When should I drop full coverage on my Jeep Patriot?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
When to talk to an insurance agent
A lot of people just prefer to visit with an insurance agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Most agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and will help you if you have claims. An additional benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent.
Once you complete this short form, the quote information gets sent to participating agents in Houston who can give free rate quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. If you need to compare rates from one company in particular, you would need to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
Finding the right insurer is decision based upon more than just a cheap price quote. Get answers to these questions too.
- Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Houston?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
In order to help you select from a list of insurance agencies near you, view this list of car insurance providers in Houston, TX.
Car insurance savings promises
Texas drivers can’t escape the ads for the lowest price car insurance by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all advertise the message about savings if you move your policy.
It sounds good, but how can they all sell you cheaper insurance coverage?
All companies have an ideal profile for the right customer that earns them the most money. For example, this type of insured could be between the ages of 30 and 45, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver who matches those parameters will get low rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who don’t meet those criteria may receive a higher rate which usually ends up with the customer not purchasing. The ads say “people that switch” not “all people who quote” save money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make claims that they all have the best premium rates. This really drives home the point why you really need to compare often. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide the lowest auto insurance rates.
Car insurance coverages for a Jeep Patriot
Having a good grasp of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.
Collision insurance
This covers damage to your Patriot resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things like rolling your car, hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree, backing into a parked car and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a bird, falling objects, hail damage and damage from flooding. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability car insurance
This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage protects against things such as emergency aid, pain and suffering, medical expenses and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30,000/60,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Texas drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (30/60/25 in Texas), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Medical expense insurance
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills for chiropractic care, prosthetic devices, ambulance fees and rehabilitation expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Car insurance savings summarized
Lower-priced Jeep Patriot insurance is attainable both online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies may not provide rates over the internet and usually these smaller providers sell through local independent agencies.
We’ve covered a lot of information how to shop for Jeep Patriot insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a small local company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.
Additional Texas consumer information
More detailed Texas car insurance information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and download brochures.
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