Do you get exhausted from not being able to afford to pay high car insurance rates every month? You are no different than many other consumers in Texas. Since you have so many companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to find the lowest price insurer.
It’s a good habit to compare premium rates yearly because insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best rate on Fit coverage six months ago there is a good chance you can find better prices now. There are lots of tips to save on car insurance out there, but we’re going to give you the best ways to buy car insurance cheaper.
The purpose of this article is to help educate you on the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using these tips. Texas consumers just need to know the most efficient way to shop over the internet.
Components of Your Honda Fit Insurance Premiums
Many factors are used when quoting car insurance. Most are fairly basic such as your driving record, but some are more obscure such as your marital status or your commute time. Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in lower rates.
- Your stress level may be raising your prices – Jobs like fire fighterspolice officers and emergency personnel are shown to have higher premiums than the average policyholder because of high stress levels and lots of time spent away from family. On the other hand, careers like scientists, engineers and homemakers get better rates on Fit coverage.
- Choose high crash test ratings and save – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your Honda Fit scored at minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may pay a lower rate.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are quite a few extra add-on coverages that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Add-on coverages like personal injury protection, towing coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. They may sound like good ideas when buying your policy, but if you don’t need them get rid of them and save.
- Younger drivers pay higher premiums – Older people are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents , and are generally more financially stable.Teen drivers are known to get distracted easily when behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
- Costs are impacted by vehicle performance – The make and model of the car you need insurance for makes a huge difference in your auto insurance rates. Because the Honda Fit is a standard SUV, insurance will be slighty more as compared to the average rate in Houston. Economy passenger vehicles usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
- Reduce prices by staying claim free – Auto insurance companies in Texas award lower rates to policyholders who are not frequent claim filers. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
- Premiums and your address – Being located in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident and lower theft and vandalism rates. City drivers tend to have more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. Higher commute times statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
- Save miles and save money – The higher the mileage driven every year the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive better premium rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle. An incorrectly rated Fit is throwing money out the window.
Do you qualify for discounts?
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known credits available to you. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Passive Restraints – Options like air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can save a few bucks since owning and maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Sign Early and Save – A few insurance companies offer discounts for switching policies early. This can save 10% or more.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Buying a new car model can save you some money due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
- Professional Organizations – Affiliation with specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could earn you a nice discount when getting a .
- Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance carriers reward you with lower prices if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving less may allow you to get lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit may lower your rates slightly.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will definitely lower your policy premiums.
A list of companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are outlined below.
- State Farm discounts include Steer Clear safe driver discount, accident-free, anti-theft, student away at school, and multiple autos.
- American Family may have discounts that include good student, TimeAway discount, mySafetyValet, air bags, and good driver.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for defensive driver, military active duty, daytime running lights, five-year accident-free, membership and employees, good student, and multi-policy.
- 21st Century offers discounts for good student, 55 and older, theft prevention, teen driver, air bags, defensive driver, and anti-lock brakes.
- Progressive includes discounts for continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, homeowner, good student, online quote discount, and online signing.
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company to give you their best rates. Some discounts might not apply in your area. For a list of companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in Houston, click here.
For more Texas car insurance information
Much more information about car insurance in Texas can be found on the located here. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, learn about specific coverages, and read state legal mandates and laws.
The following articles may also be useful.
- Insider Advice on Lower Houston Car Insurance
- Lowest Prices from Houston Car Insurance Agents
- 6 Shopping Tips Proven to Save Money on Car Insurance Costs in Houston Texas
Leave no stone unturned
When you , it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.
In this article, we covered a lot of ways to reduce Honda Fit insurance auto insurance rates online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your premium rates. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.