Wish you could get a refund on an expensive auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say many Houston drivers feel the same as you. There are many insurers to pick from, and although it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to adequately compare rates.
You should take the time to take a look at other company’s rates before your next renewal since rates change quite often. Just because you found the lowest rate for Liberty insurance on your last policy a different company probably has better prices today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the things you must know in order to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
How to Lower Your Insurance Costs
The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have some idea of what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
- Costs are impacted by vehicle performance – The type of car or truck you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in your auto insurance rates. The lowest base rates will generally be found on lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but many other things help determine your insurance rates. Due to the fact that the Jeep Liberty is considered a standard SUV, insuring your vehicle will cost slighty more than the average rate where you live in Houston.
- Drive less and pay lower prices – The more you drive in a year the higher your rates will be. Many insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy correctly shows annual mileage, because it can save money. A policy that improperly rates your Liberty can cost quite a bit.
- Gender and insurance rates – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. The data does not necessarily mean that females are better at driving than males. Males and females cause at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but guys cause more damage. In addition to higher claims, males also get ticketed for serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.
- Your address can push rates up or down – Living in small towns and rural areas is a good thing when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates. Drivers in populated Texas areas have to deal with congested traffic and a longer drive to work. Higher commute times can result in more accidents.
- Liability limits are a factor – Your auto insurance policy’s liability coverage will provide protection in the event that you are ruled to be at fault for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Rates can drop if you have more than one policy – Most major auto insurance companies will give better rates to people that have more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money.
Cheaper rates by taking advantage of discounts
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there may be some discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but occassionally some discounts must be manually applied before they will apply.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Active Military Service – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for multiple cars with one company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Bundle and Save – If you combine your auto and home policies with the same insurance company they may give you a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
- Good Driver Discount – Drivers without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% for Liberty insurance than less cautious drivers.
Don’t be surprised that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Even though it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride. Any amount of discount will positively reduce your policy premium.
Popular auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are outlined below.
- State Farm discounts include safe vehicle, anti-theft, defensive driving training, multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, and multiple autos.
- Farmers Insurance may have discounts that include pay in full, alternative fuel, youthful driver, electronic funds transfer, business and professional, and distant student.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including emergency military deployment, air bags, good student, multi-policy, daytime running lights, and driver training.
- American Family has savings for early bird, accident-free, TimeAway discount, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, good driver, and air bags.
- Nationwide offers discounts for Farm Bureau membership, business or organization, good student, easy pay, anti-theft, defensive driving, and family plan.
- Progressive may offer discounts for continuous coverage, good student, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, and homeowner.
Before you buy a policy, ask every company how many discounts you can get. A few discounts may not apply to policyholders in Houston.
Local Houston auto insurance agents and auto insurance
Many drivers still like to visit with an insurance agent and often times that is recommended The best thing about getting free rate quotes online is the fact that you can find the best rates and still buy from a local agent. And supporting local insurance agents is especially important in Houston.
After filling out this short form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Houston that provide to get your business. There is no reason to search for any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered to you. You’ll get the best rates without a big time investment. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, you just need to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
How to choose the best auto insurance agent in Houston
If you would like to find a reliable insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different agency structures and how they can service your needs differently. Auto insurance agencies can either be independent or captive.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
These agents do not write with just one company so as a result can place your coverage with lots of companies and get the cheapest rates. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move your policy to a different company and you can keep the same agent.
If you need cheaper auto insurance rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a couple of independent agencies to have the best price comparison.
Captive Auto Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents work for only one company and examples are Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. Captives cannot compare rates from other companies so you might not find the best rates. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Deciding on an insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price quote. Get answers to these questions too.
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- How often do they review coverages?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- How long has their agency been open in Houston?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
What insurance coverages do I need?
When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Who is covered when they drive my Jeep Liberty?
- Is my Jeep Liberty covered for flood damage?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
For more information
Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, view a list of available companies, learn about specific coverages, and find disaster information.
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Quote often and quote early
The cheapest Jeep Liberty insurance is possible on the web and from local agencies, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some companies don’t offer rate quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. Your objective should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
We covered a lot of information how to save on Jeep Liberty insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest prices come from the smaller companies. They may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like Allstate or State Farm.