Pretty sure you bought overpriced car insurance? Believe me when I say you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Consumers have so many insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to find a good deal.
You need to do price comparisons on a regular basis because rates trend upward over time. Even if you got the best deal on E150 Econoline van insurance a few years ago there may be better deals available now. There are a lot of ways to save on car insurance on the internet, but in this article, you’re going to get some guaranteed methods to put money back in your pocket.
The purpose of this post is to introduce you to the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Although Texas consumers need to have an understanding of how insurance companies market insurance on the web and use this information to your advantage.
Earn discounts to get lower-cost Texas car insurance rates
Companies do not list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so below is a list some of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious car insurance savings.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy can get you a discount since newer vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Cars and trucks equipped with ABS or steering control are much safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease on E150 Econoline van insurance but check with your company.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple cars or trucks on a single policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Pay Early and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies and insure them with the same company you may earn at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a small discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
- Resident Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and won’t have access to an insured vehicle may qualify for this discount.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to bad drivers.
Don’t be surprised that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Popular car insurance companies and their offered discounts can be found below.
- State Farm has discounts for Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, safe vehicle, student away at school, passive restraint, and anti-theft.
- GEICO offers discounts including membership and employees, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, five-year accident-free, and driver training.
- Allstate may offer discounts for defensive driver, anti-theft, premier plus, passive restraint, utility vehicle, and safe driver.
- SAFECO may have discounts that include safe driver, teen safety rewards, multi-car, anti-lock brakes, drive less, and bundle discounts.
- Farm Bureau offers premium reductions for 55 and retired, renewal discount, driver training, youthful driver, good student, and multi-vehicle.
- Progressive discounts include homeowner, online signing, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, good student, and multi-policy.
- AAA may include discounts for education and occupation, anti-theft, good driver, pay-in-full, multi-policy, good student, and AAA membership discount.
When getting a coverage quote, ask all the companies how many discounts you can get. Some discounts may not apply to policies in your area. If you would like to choose from a list of car insurance companies that offer discounts in Texas, click here.
Learn How to Quote Car Insurance for Less
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that aid in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you understand what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in much lower annual insurance costs.
The list below includes some of the major factors companies use to determine your premiums.
- Better car insurance rates on vehicles with better crash test results – Vehicles that have high safety ratings get lower rates. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means less claims paid which can result in lower premiums. If the Ford E150 Econoline Van scored at minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may qualify for a discount.
- Youthful vs. older drivers – Teen drivers in Texas have been known to be less responsible behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Parents adding a youthful driver to your car insurance policy will cause a huge premium hike. Older people are shown to be more cautious, cause fewer claims and accidents , and usually have better credit.
- Do you know your physical damage deductibles? – Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your Ford. A few examples of covered claims are a broken side mirror, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. Comp and collision deductibles tell how much you are willing to pay before your car insurance pays a claim. The more of the claim the insured is willing to pay, the lower your rates will be on E150 Econoline van insurance.
- How’s your driving record? – Careful drivers receive lower rates as compared to careless drivers. Even a single chargable violation can bump up the cost to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have gotten multiple violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to complete a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to legally drive a vehicle.
- Liability limits on your policy – The liability section of your policy kicks in if you are found to be at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. Your liability coverage provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to other policy coverages, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
- Bundle and save – Most insurance companies afford better rates for people who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you already get this discount, it’s always a smart idea to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consumers may save even more by splitting coverages up.
- When should you file a insurance claims? – Insurance companies in Texas provide most affordable rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.
- When should I not file a claim?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Texas?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Texas?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
When to have guidance from a local insurance agent
Many drivers just want to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is that you can find lower rates and still buy from a local agent. Buying from neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in San Antonio.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the quote information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your business. You never need to search for an agent as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. You can most likely find cheaper rates without requiring a lot of work. If you want to quote rates for a specific company, you would need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Two types of San Antonio car insurance agents
If you would like to find a local insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different types of agencies that you can choose from. Car insurance policy providers can be described as either independent or captive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Agents in the independent channel do not write with just one company so they can quote policies through lots of different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to switch agencies.
If you are comparing car insurance prices, we recommend you contact several independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Captive Agents
Agents in the captive channel have only one company to place business with and some examples include Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. Captive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which aids in selling service over price.
Picking the best insurance agency is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Any good agent should know the answers to these questions.
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
- What is the financial rating for the quoted company?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Is coverage determined by price?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Smaller companies may have the best rates
Companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all tend to make the same promise about saving some big amount just by switching your coverage. How can each company charge you a lower premium? You have to listen carefully.
Most companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that will not have excessive claims. An example of a driver they prefer may be between 25 and 40, has other policies, and drives a safe vehicle. Anyone that matches those criteria will get very good San Antonio premium rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.
Drivers who don’t measure up to these criteria may be forced to pay higher rates and the customer buying from someone else. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” can save as much as they claim. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.
That is why drivers must do a quote comparison often. It is impossible to predict with any certainty which company will have the best premium rates at this point in time.
Texas car insurance information
More information can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and view agent and company licensing information.
The following information may also be useful.
- How to Find the Best Insurance Agent in San Antonio
- Tips to Finding the Best Insurance Agency in San Antonio
Do the work, save more money
When buying insurance coverage, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Budget-conscious Ford E150 Econoline Van insurance can be bought online in addition to many San Antonio insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies work with local independent agents.