Are you kicking yourself for buying overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, many Dallas drivers have buyer’s remorse. Having so many insurance providers from which to choose, it can be hard to locate the right auto insurance company.
You need to quote other rates at least once a year due to the fact that insurance prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the lowest quotes for Sonic insurance at your last renewal you will most likely find a better rate today. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the web, but in this article, you’re going to get a bunch of ideas how to save money.
This article will let you in on how to get online quotes. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to cut costs considerably using this information. But Texas consumers must learn the way insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.
Where can I get the cheapest Dallas auto insurance?
The are a couple different ways to get quotes from all the different companies. The fastest way to compare rates is to jump online and get quotes. This is very easy and can be done by using one of the methods below.
- The fastest and easiest way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for a different quote for every auto insurance company. A single form compares rates from multiple companies.
- A harder way to find lower rates consists of visiting each individual company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let’s assume you want to view quotes from Farmers, GEICO and GMAC. In order to get each rate, you would have to spend time on each company’s site and punch in your information repeatedly, which is why first method is reommended. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Dallas, click here.
- The least efficient and most time consuming way to find cheaper rates is actually driving to and from local insurance agencies. The ability to quote online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained advice only provided by licensed agents. Although, it is possible price shop online but still have the advice of a local agent.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use apples-to-apples coverage data with every price quote. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison for your Chevy Sonic in Dallas. Just a small difference in coverages can result in a big premium difference. Just remember that more quotes will increase your chances of finding more affordable rates. Not every company provides online quotes, so it’s recommended that you also compare quotes from those companies as well.
Be skeptical of auto insurance ads
Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to advertise claims of big savings after switching your auto insurance policy to them. How do they all cost less than your current company?
All companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them the most money. For instance, a preferred risk may be over the age of 50, has other policies, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications receive the lowest rate quotes and will cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who do not match these criteria will get a higher rate and this can result in the customer not buying. The trick is to say “drivers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” will save that much if they switch. That is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.
Because of this risk profiling, it’s extremely important to get as many as possible. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
What Determines Chevy Sonic Insurance Rates?
Lots of factors are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. A few of the factors are predictable such as traffic violations, but other criteria are more transparent like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating. 
The following are some of the most rate-impacting factors used by companies to determine premiums.
- Marriage reduces risk – Getting married actually saves money on your auto insurance bill. Having a spouse means you’re more mature than a single person and insurance companies like that drivers who are married are more cautious.
- High premiums for younger drivers – Older drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.Inexperience drivers have been known to get distracted easily in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates.
- More than one policy can earn a discount – Most larger companies will give discounts to clients that have more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to help guarantee you have the best rates.
- Your vocation is a factor – Occupations such as military generals, business owners and accountants have the highest rates because of intense work-related stress and extremely grueling work hours. On the flip side, jobs such as professors, students and performers have lower than average premiums for Sonic insurance.
- Cars with good safety ratings cost less to insure – Safe vehicles tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
- High performance equals high prices – The performance level of the car, truck or SUV you need to insure makes a big difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest rates will generally be found on small economy passenger vehicles, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price. Because the Chevrolet Sonic is classified as a passenger car, insuring your vehicle will cost similar in price or lower as compared to the average rate in Dallas.
- Driving citations increase rates – How you drive influences premium rates substantially. Drivers who don’t get tickets pay lower auto insurance prices as compared to those with violations. Having just one speeding ticket can increase the cost of insurance by twenty percent. Drivers with flagrant violations such as DUI or willful reckless driving may find they need to prove financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Auto insurance discounts are available to cut your rates
Auto insurance can be pricey, but you might find some hidden discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be asked about prior to getting the savings.
- Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may get savings up to 30%.
- Sign Online – Some of the larger companies will give you a small discount on their website.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could qualify you for better auto insurance rates.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars and trucks with ABS and/or traction control can reduce accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
- Save with More Vehicles Insured – Having more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
A little disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are included below.
- GEICO discounts include daytime running lights, air bags, federal employee, defensive driver, driver training, and anti-theft.
- MetLife includes discounts for multi-policy, accident-free, good student, defensive driver, claim-free, good driver
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including online signing, homeowner, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, and continuous coverage.
- Travelers offers discounts including multi-car, early quote, save driver, home ownership, student away at school, driver training, and good student.
- SAFECO has discounts for anti-lock brakes, safe driver, homeowner, accident prevention training, teen safe driver, and teen safety rewards.
- AAA may include discounts for anti-theft, good driver, AAA membership discount, multi-car, good student, multi-policy, and education and occupation.
When getting a coverage quote, ask each company which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts listed above might not apply in your state. To view providers with discount auto insurance rates in Texas, click here.
Buying from car insurance agents
Some people would rather talk to a local agent and that is not a bad decision An additional benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get cheap auto insurance quotes but also keep your business local. Putting coverage with local agencies is important especially in Dallas.
Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to contact any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. You’ll get the best rates without requiring a lot of work. If you have a need to get a rate quote from a particular provider, you would need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
If you are searching for a reliable insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Agents in Dallas may be either independent agents or captive agents depending on their employer.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be independent often have many company appointments and that enables them to quote your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and find you the best rates. If they find a cheaper price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies.
If you need lower rates, you absolutely need to compare quotes from several independent agencies in order to have the best price comparison.
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only quote rates from one company and some examples include AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
Finding a good insurance agency requires more thought than just the quoted price. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Which family members are covered?
- How experiences are they in personal risk management?
- When do they do policy reviews?
Smart shoppers get results
More affordable auto insurance is possible on the web and with local Dallas insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not have online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies.
We covered a lot of tips how to shop for Chevy Sonic insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more you , the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
Much more information about auto insurance in Texas can be read on the found here. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about insurance regulations, and read state legal mandates and laws.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Dallas