I can’t think of a single person who anticipates paying for car insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high. Big companies like Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm persitently shower you with catchy ads and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.
If you have a current car insurance policy or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in San Antonio is not rocket science. Texas vehicle owners just need to understand the tricks to get comparison quotes on the web.
More discounts mean lower premiums
Car insurance can be pricey, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but occassionally some discounts must be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
- Senior Discount – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums on Challenger coverage.
- Membership in Organizations – Having an affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a simple method to lower premiums when getting a .
- Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles and place coverage with the same company you could save nearly 15% which can help you find .
- Sign Online – A few larger companies give back up to $50 on their website.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Good Student – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. You can use this discount normally until age 25.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- San Antonio Homeowners Discount – Owning your own home or condo may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it appears you can get free auto insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
Popular car insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be read below.
- American Family policyholders can earn discounts including good student, TimeAway discount, Steer into Savings, bundled insurance, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm includes discounts for passive restraint, student away at school, driver’s education, safe vehicle, multiple autos, and Drive Safe & Save.
- 21st Century has discounts for early bird, 55 and older, teen driver, anti-lock brakes, and air bags.
- Travelers offers premium reductions for multi-policy, IntelliDrive, multi-car, good student, continuous insurance, and payment discounts.
- GEICO offers discounts for military active duty, multi-vehicle, driver training, membership and employees, defensive driver, and air bags.
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies which credits you are entitled to. All car insurance discounts might not apply in your state. To see a list of providers that provide some of the discounts listed above in San Antonio, follow this link.
How Your Challenger Insurance Premiums are Determined
Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for car insurance. If you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.
- Bad credit hurts insurance premiums – A driver’s credit rating will be a significant factor in calculating your premium rate. People that have very good credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with poor credit scores. If your credit score can be improved, you could potentially save money when insuring your Dodge Challenger by spending a little time repairing your credit.
- Cheaper rates with high physical damage deductibles – Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers your vehicle from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and having your car stolen. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more of the claim you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be on Challenger coverage.
- Men pay more for insurance coverage – The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean females are better drivers. Males and females tend to get into fender benders at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage. Men also get more serious tickets like driving under the influence (DUI). Male teenagers have the highest risk to insure and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
- Avoid traffic tickets – Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than bad drivers. Even one chargable violation could increase your next policy renewal forty percent or more. Drivers with flagrant violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to prove financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
- Proper usage rating affects prices – The higher the miles on your Dodge each year the higher your rate. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. It’s a smart idea to ensure your car insurance declarations sheet correctly shows the correct driver usage. An incorrectly rated Challenger may be costing you higher rates.
- Stay claim-free and lower prices – Insurance companies in Texas give the lowest premiums to insureds who do not file claims often. If you file a lot of claims you can look forward to higher rates. Your car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Safer vehicles mean better rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and fewer serious injuries translates directly to fewer claims which can mean better rates for you.
- A lcar insurance policy lapse is a bad thing – Driving without insurance is a big no-no and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse for non-payment. Not only will you pay higher rates, getting caught without coverage could result in a revoked license or a big fine.
Your car insurance coverage should be tailored to you
When buying coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.
- Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in San Antonio?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Buying from car insurance agents
Many people still like to talk to an insurance agent and that is not a bad decision Good agents can help you build your policy and help file insurance claims. One of the benefits of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. And buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in San Antonio.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the quote information is immediately sent to insurance agents in San Antonio that give free quotes to get your business. You don’t have to do any legwork due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from one company in particular, you can always visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
If you prefer to view licensed agents in San Antonio, visit this full listing of insurance agencies in San Antonio.
Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:
- Is the agent properly licensed in Texas?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Advertising and car insurance
Consumers in Texas can’t avoid all the ads for the lowest price car insurance by State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to say the same thing that drivers will save a bundle if you just switch your car insurance policy to them.
How does every car insurance company charge you less for auto insurance? This is how they do it.
Different companies quote their best rates for the type of customer that will generate a profit. For instance, this type of risk profile should be over the age of 35, has never had a claim, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Someone who matches that profile gets the lowest auto insurance rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.
People who do not meet these stringent criteria will have to pay a more expensive rate with the end result being the customer not purchasing. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save money. That’s why companies can truthfully lure you into getting a quote.
Different companies use different criteria so you should compare as many as you can. You cannot predict the company that will fit you best based on your risk profile.
Some additional reading
Additional information is located on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and download brochures.
The following information may also be useful.
Online plus local equals savings
Affordable Dodge Challenger insurance can be found both online and from local insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies do not offer rate quotes online and these smaller companies sell through local independent agents.
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of techniques to get a better price on Dodge Challenger insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of getting . You may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small mutual company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.