Overwhelmed by the wide range of car insurance company choices in Farmers Branch? You have a lot of company. People have so many choices that it can turn into a real challenge to find better rates.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before being credited.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
- Save over 55 – Mature drivers may receive better car insurance rates.
- Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
- No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
- Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
- Accident Forgiveness – Certain companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
- Safety Course Discount – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Good Student – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.
What impacts Farmers Branch insurance rates?
Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.
- Special features that cut premiums – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
- Where do you drive? – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
- Teen drivers pay high rates – Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teen drivers are statistically proven to be more careless when behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
- Don’t skimp on liability – The liability section of your policy is the protection in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Is there truth in advertising?
Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing that you’ll save big after switching to them. How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.
All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.
Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile will be quoted higher rates which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.
This emphasizes why you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
Additional car insurance information can be read on the Texas Department of Insurance website found here. Consumers can get help finding coverage, download brochures, and view a list of available companies.
Additional helpful sites include Wikipedia and this page on QuoteClickInsure.com.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
We just presented quite a bit of information on how to lower your car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Cheap car insurance is definitely available both online in addition to many Farmers Branch insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.