No car owner is fond of buying car insurance, particularly when the cost is too high. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies to find the best rates possible.
If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in Fort Worth is easy if you know what you’re doing. Texas drivers just need to learn the tricks to buy car insurance online.
Get lower-cost rates by taking advantage of discounts
Companies don’t always advertise the entire discount list very well, so we break down both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could trigger a small discount.
- Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for renewing your policy before your current policy expires. You may see this discount when you get .
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Nissan could be rewarded with discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
- Auto/Life Discount – Not all insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you better premium rates if you take out some life insurance too.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can earn you a little savings since owning and maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any amount of discount should help reduce your policy cost.
A few of the larger companies and their possible discounts can be read below.
- GEICO has savings for multi-vehicle, membership and employees, defensive driver, multi-policy, federal employee, and driver training.
- MetLife may include discounts for accident-free, defensive driver, claim-free, good driver, and good student.
- State Farm includes discounts for multiple policy, good student, multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, good driver, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and defensive driving training.
- Progressive may have discounts that include multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, online quote discount, continuous coverage, and good student.
- Mercury Insurance has discounts for multi-car, age of vehicle, professional/association, good driver, and anti-theft.
- 21st Century offers premium reductions for theft prevention, good student, automatic seat belts, anti-lock brakes, homeowners, and air bags.
- Allstate offers discounts including safe driver, new car, defensive driver, eSmart discount, and FullPay discount.
If you need , ask every company which discounts they offer. Savings might not be available to policyholders in Fort Worth. To locate car insurance companies with the best discounts in Texas, click here.
How much car insurance do I need?
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- When should I drop full coverage on my Nissan Versa?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- What are Texas no-fault laws?
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Be skeptical of car insurance ads
Texas consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim about how much you will save after switching your coverage to them.
How does every company make almost identical claims? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of insured that is profitable for them. For instance, a profitable insured might have to be between the ages of 40 and 55, has a clear driving record, and has a high credit rating. A customer who matches that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who cannot meet these stringent criteria will be charged higher rates which results in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Different companies use different criteria so drivers should quotes from several different companies. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest prices.
More detailed Texas car insurance information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, learn about specific coverages, and report car insurance fraud.
The following information may also be useful.
- Consumers Guide to Searching Online for a Fort Worth Insurance Agent
- Easy Techniques to Cut Costs on Fort Worth Texas Auto Insurance
More effort can pay off
There are still a few companies who don’t offer rates over the internet and many times these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents. Lower-priced Nissan Versa insurance is attainable online and with local Fort Worth insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.