Are you overwhelmed by the number of car insurance options in Bedford? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many choices that it can easily become a big hassle to find lower rates.
How much can you save with discounts?
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but a few need to be asked about in order for you to get them.
- Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
- College Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared to frequent claim filers.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.
For a list of companies with discount car insurance rates in Texas, click here to view.
What determines how much you pay?
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that go into determining car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.
Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine premiums.
- Being married can save on car insurance – Being married can get you a discount on car insurance. Marriage translates into being more responsible and it’s statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
- High deductibles save money – Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and burglary. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
- Your job and insurance rates – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and accountants have higher rates than average due to job stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations such as farmers, athletes and homemakers get better rates.
- Credit scores impact car insurance rates – A driver’s credit rating is a big factor in calculating your car insurance rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
- Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent car theft.
- Liability coverage protects you – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
What happened to insurance agents?
Certain consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to. And providing support for local businesses is definitely important in Bedford.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your information gets sent to participating agents in Bedford who will return price quotes to get your business. You won’t need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
If you wish to contact a specific insurance agent in Bedford, view this link.
Selecting a company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- How are claims handled?
- How long has their agency been open in Bedford?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
Upon receiving reasonable responses to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an provider that can service your policy.
Save $388 a year. For real?
Companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings if you move to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer they prefer to insure. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s the way companies can state the savings.
This illustrates why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Additional Texas consumer information
More information is available on the Texas Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find disaster information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
People switch companies for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, high rates after DUI convictions, delays in responding to claim requests or an unsatisfactory settlement offer. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is easier than you think.
The cheapest car insurance is possible online and with local Bedford insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.