Purchasing cheap Lubbock auto insurance on the web is difficult for people who are new to comparison shopping online. With so many companies in the marketplace, how can you have a chance to compare them all to find the best price?
Shopping for affordable auto insurance in Lubbock is simple if you know the tricks. Just about anyone who is required by state law to have auto insurance will more than likely be able to reduce their rates. But Texas drivers must understand how companies compete online.
Why some people pay less for insurance in Lubbock
It’s important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.
- Safer occupants lowers premiums – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
- With age comes lower rates – Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Young drivers tend to be less responsible in a vehicle and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Where you live – Living in a small town has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
- Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a guaranteed way to pay more for auto insurance. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.You may have to file a SR-22 with the Texas motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- Better credit means lower rates – A driver’s credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than those with poor credit.
- Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Careers like lawyers, architects and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates in part from stressful work requirements and long work days. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and performers have the lowest average rates.
- Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
- Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Texas generally give cheaper rates to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended for larger claims.
Discounts are basically free money
Car insurance is not cheap, but there are discounts available that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but a few must be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit.
- Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
- Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will cut your overall premium however.
To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Lubbock, click here to view.
Don’t I need to talk to an agent?
Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting small agencies is important especially in Lubbock.
After filling out this quick form, the quote information is transmitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
What type of Lubbock car insurance agent is right for you?
When researching a good Lubbock insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Lubbock are either captive or independent.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, you should always get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.Many can place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Lubbock willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Cia Insurance Agency and Assoc – 1220 Broadway St – Lubbock, TX 79401 – (806) 762-1205
- Crop Insurance – 5211 Brownfield Hwy – Lubbock, TX 79407 – (806) 771-0942
- Chuck Hawkins Insurance – 3202 47th St – Lubbock, TX 79413 – (806) 799-8711
- White Agency – 7612 Canton Ave – Lubbock, TX 79423 – (806) 748-9013
- Insurance Consultants Agency – 508 N Granby Ave – Lubbock, TX 79416 – (806) 797-3152
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents work for only one company and some examples include American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often purchase coverage from captives partially due to loyalty to the company and solid financial strength.
Below are captive agencies in Lubbock that are able to give price quote information.
- Allstate Insurance Co – 3711 20th St – Lubbock, TX 79410 – (806) 791-6277
- Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Co – 5605 Avenue Q South Dr – Lubbock, TX 79412 – (806) 747-5271
- Farmers Insurance Group – 4101 84th St # A – Lubbock, TX 79423 – (806) 783-0700
- State Farm Insurance – 5137 69th St # E – Lubbock, TX 79424 – (806) 794-2708
To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Lubbock, visit this link.
Selecting an insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
After receiving satisfactory answers to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.
More information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website through this link. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about specific coverages.
One last thing
People switch companies for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, denial of a claim, poor customer service or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is less work than it seems.
Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies and with local Lubbock insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not offer online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from an unexpected company.