Have you finally had enough of wondering where the money will come from to pay high car insurance rates every month? You are no different than many other Texas drivers. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a insurance company and uncover the absolute cheapest price
Consumers need to compare prices yearly since insurance prices are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best price for Maxima insurance on your last policy you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the best ways to lower your annual insurance bill.
If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Austin is quite easy. Texas drivers just need to understand the proper way to compare rates on the web.
Decisions You Make Can Impact Your Insurance Rates
It’s important that you understand some of the factors that aid in calculating car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that may result in much lower annual insurance costs.
- Pay lower costs after the wedding – Your spouse actually saves money on your car insurance policy. Marriage translates into being more mature than a single person and statistics prove married couples file fewer claims.
- Vehicle features that cut car insurance rates – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all help stop your vehicle from being stolen.
- Stay claim-free and lower car insurance rates – If you file a lot of claims don’t be surprised to see higher rates. Car insurance companies in Texas generally give cheaper rates to drivers that do not abuse their auto insurance. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
- Teenagers are high risk – Young drivers in Texas are statistically shown to be more careless when driving with friends so car insurance rates are higher. Having to add a young driver onto your car insurance can increase premiums substantially. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
- Gaps in coverage mean higher prices – Driving without insurance is not a good idea and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, the inability to provide proof of insurance will get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
- What type of car, truck or SUV do you drive? – The performance level of the car or truck you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a significant difference in your premium level. Since the Nissan Maxima is considered a sedan, insurance will be about the same when compared to the average rates in Austin. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
- Better rates on safer cars – Vehicles with high crash test scores cost less to insure. These vehicles reduce occupant injuries and lower injury rates means less claims paid and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Earn discounts to get lower-cost Austin car insurance rates
Some providers don’t always list the entire discount list in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below details both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden car insurance savings.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Good Student Discount – Being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
- Paperwork-free – A few insurance companies provide a small discount just for signing your application online.
- Sign Early and Save – A few larger companies allow discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- Distant Student Discount – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Driver Education Discount – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of more than 20%.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.
Some of the larger companies who might offer these discounts may include but are not limited to:
When getting , it’s a good idea to every prospective company to give you their best rates. All car insurance discounts may not be available in your state. To locate companies that offer some of these discounts in Texas, click this link.
Shop online but buy locally
Many people just prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that is a personal choice. Experienced insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the benefits of comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower prices but also keep your business local. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is important especially in Austin.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your information is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your car insurance coverage. You don’t have to search for an agent because prices are sent directly to you. If you wish to get a comparison quote from a specific car insurance provider, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
If you would like to find a local insurance agency, you should know the different types of agents and how they work. Agents in Austin may be either captive or independent. Both sell and service car insurance coverage, but it’s good to learn the subtle differences since it may influence your agent selection.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents in the independent channel are not locked into one company so they can quote policies with multiple insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If your agent finds better pricing, your policy is moved internally and the insured can keep the same agent. When searching for an agent, you definitely need to get insurance quotes from a couple of independent agencies for the best price selection.
Captive Agents
These agents can only provide pricing for a single company like American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. They are unable to provide other company’s prices so you might not find the best rates. Captive insurance agents receive extensive training on the products they sell and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Picking an auto insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. Here are some questions you should ask.
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- Does the company have a local claim office in Austin?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Austin?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
If you get positive feedback to all your questions as well as an affordable premium quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found a car insurance agent that can be relied on to insure your vehicles.
Do drivers who switch really save $429 a year?
Texas consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price car insurance by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies convey the message that people will save if you switch your car insurance policy to them.
How do they all lower your rates? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies have an ideal profile for a prospective insured that will be a good risk. An example of a driver they prefer may be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and drives a lower-performance vehicle. Any customer that matches those criteria will get low auto insurance rates and most likely will save money with a new company.
Consumers who fall outside the ideal profile must pay higher premiums which results in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The trick companies use is to say “customers that switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that kind of money. That’s the way insurance companies can lure you into getting a quote.
This really drives home the point why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the best auto insurance rates.
There’s no such thing as the perfect car insurance policy
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you might need professional guidance.
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Nissan Maxima is totaled?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
For more reading
Additional car insurance information can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, view agent and company licensing information, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about specific coverages.
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More effort can pay off
In this article, we presented some good ideas how you can lower your Nissan Maxima insurance prices. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of getting . Drivers may discover the lowest prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best possible price while still protecting your assets.