Finding low-cost insurance for a new or used Hyundai Accent in Texas could be difficult, but you can learn the following methods and make it easy. There are both good and bad ways to shop for auto insurance and we’ll show you the proper way to compare rates on a Hyundai and locate the lowest price either online or from Houston insurance agents.
Discounts can really help to save
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list the complete list of policy discounts very well, so here is a list a few of the more well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using when you .
- Theft Deterent System – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles prevent vehicle theft so companies will give you a small discount.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can get you a discount since owning and maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds with no claims or accidents pay less when compared with drivers with a long claim history.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Successfully completing a defensive driving class could cut 5% off your bill and also improve your driving technique.
- Life Insurance – Larger companies have a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy a life policy as well.
- Resident Student – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle could get you a discount.
- Early Signing – Some auto insurance companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to the expiration date on your current policy. It can save you around 10%.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you can bundle your auto and home insurance with one insurance company you may save nearly 15% which can help you find .
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some companies like GEICO, Allstate and Liberty Mutual may permit one accident without raising rates if you have no claims for a set time period.
- Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver sucessfully take a driver\s education course in high school.
It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most 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, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
If you would like to see a list of insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Houston, click here to view.
When in doubt talk to an agent
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
- When should I remove comp and collision on my Hyundai Accent?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my Hyundai Accent to commute?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Should I rate my Hyundai Accent as pleasure use or commute?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form.
Local Houston insurance agents
Many people still prefer to have an agent’s advice and that can be a smart move An additional benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that drivers can get cheaper prices but still work with a licensed agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is instantly submitted to participating agents in Houston who want to provide quotes for your auto insurance coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies because prices are sent instantly to you. You’ll get the best rates without requiring a lot of work. In the event you want to get a price quote from a specific auto insurance provider, feel free to visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
Selecting an insurer requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Before buying a policy, get answers to these questions.
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- Is there a local claims center in Houston?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
When narrowing the list to find a reliable insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that you can select. Agents in Houston may be either captive or independent.
Captive Agencies
Captive agencies can only provide pricing for a single company like State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Captive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captives are well trained on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Drivers often choose to use a captive agent primarily because of the prominent brand name rather than low price.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents do not sell for just one brand and that allows them to write policies through many different auto insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you stay with the same agent. If you need lower rates, it’s a good idea to check rates from several independent insurance agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison. Most also have access to small mutual carriers which may have better rates.
Insurance advertising tricks
Well-known auto insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all try to convey promises that you’ll save big if you change your coverage. How does every auto insurance company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? It’s all in how they say it.
Insurance companies have an ideal profile for the type of driver that earns them the most money. A good example of this type of driver may be married and over the age of 30, owns a home, and has a short commute. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will probably get cheap rates as well as save a lot if they switch.
Potential customers who cannot meet these stringent criteria may be forced to pay a more expensive rate with the end result being business not being written. The wording the ads use say “drivers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save the amount stated. That’s the way insurance companies can claim big savings. Different companies use different criteria so you really need to quote coverage with many companies. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which insurance companies will fit you best based on your risk profile.
Additional detailed information is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find disaster information, get help finding coverage, and find out industry alerts.
The following articles may also be useful.
- Car Insurance in Houston Texas 5 Tricks to Lower Rates
- Tricks for Effectively Comparing Houston Texas Car Insurance Rates
Specific coverages for a Hyundai Accent
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.
Medical costs insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills for rehabilitation expenses, surgery, hospital visits, chiropractic care and ambulance fees. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Liability insurance – This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property in an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 50/100/50 which means a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, medical expenses and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Texas state minimum liability requirements are 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays for damage to your Accent resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as theft, hitting a deer, falling objects and damage from flooding. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
UM/UIM Coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (Texas limits are 30/60/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Auto insurance savings summarized
Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available both online and from local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get quotes online and these regional carriers only sell through independent agents.
Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including high prices, denial of a claim, poor customer service or even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.