Are you sick and tired of scraping the payment together to keep your car insured? You’re in the same situation as most other vehicle owners in Texas. Vehicle owners have multiple car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and although it’s a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to locate the cheapest rates.
The most recommended method to compare car insurance rates is to realize most of the bigger providers actually pay money for the chance to provide you with a free rate quote. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information such as the type of vehicles you drive, level of coverage desired, if it has an alarm system, and how old drivers are. Your rating data is sent automatically to many highly-rated insurers and you should receive rate quotes almost instantly.
To find lower rates now, click here and complete the form.
Save $466 a year! What?
Texas consumers can’t ignore all the ads that claim the lowest rates by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies convey the message that you’ll save big just by switching your coverage.
How do they all say the same thing? Just pay attention to how they say it.
Many companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. For example, a desirable insured may be married and over the age of 30, has a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. Someone who matches that profile will get low rates as well as save some money.
Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements will be charged higher premium rates which leads to business going elsewhere. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save the amount stated. This is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings.
Different companies use different criteria so you absolutely need to quotes as often as possible. It is just not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates for your situation.
Get lower rates by taking advantage of discounts
Buying auto insurance is not cheap, but you might already qualify for some discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Some trigger automatically at the time of quoting, but some must be manually applied in order for you to get them.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
- Membership in Organizations – Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Successfully completing a safe driver class could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies with one company you may save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Distant Student Discount – Older children who live away from home at college and don’t have a car could get you a discount.
- Telematics Data – People who choose to allow data collection to look at driving manner by installing a telematics device like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could save a few bucks if their driving habits are good.
- Paperwork-free – A few larger online companies give back up to $50 for completing your application on the web.
Don’t be shocked that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works.
If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Texas, click here.
Captive versus independent auto insurance agents
A lot of people prefer to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still have a local agent. Putting coverage with local agents is important especially in Austin.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your business. There is no need to contact any insurance agencies because prices are sent to you instantly. In the event you want to compare rates from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
The different types of car insurance agents
When narrowing the list to find a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agents from which to choose. Austin agents can be described as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s good to learn how they are different since it could factor into which agent you choose.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are normally appointed by many insurers so as a result can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rate quotes, we recommend you get insurance quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
Captive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents in the captive channel have only one company to place business with like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. They are unable to provide other company’s prices so keep that in mind. These agents receive a lot of sales training on what they offer and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Finding the right insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the premium amount. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Can you contact them at any time?
- By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
- Does the agent recommend any additional coverage?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- When do they do policy reviews?
Additional auto insurance information can be found on the found here. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, read industry bulletins, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Austin
- New Tricks for Cutting Costs on on Austin, TX Car Insurance
- Things You Must Know Before Purchasing Austin, TX Auto Insurance Online
One last thing about your coverage
You just read many ways to shop for Subaru Outback insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices come from a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
When getting , it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.