Do you think you bought an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Don’t sweat it because many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies and uncover the absolute best rate
It is always a good idea to price shop coverage quite often because car insurance prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal for Civic insurance six months ago a different company probably has better rate quotes today. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance on the internet, but in a few minutes you can learn some tested techniques to save money.
If you have car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Buying car insurance in Houston is not rocket science. Nevertheless, Texas car owners benefit from understanding the methods companies use to price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.
The quickest method to compare rates is to understand car insurance companies provide online access to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide a little information including how much you drive, whether you have decent credit, how much school you completed, and how old drivers are. That rating data is automatically sent to multiple companies and you should receive rate quotes instantly to find the best rate.
If you wish to get multiple quotes for your car now, click here and find out if lower rates are available.
Double check you’re getting these six discounts
Buying car insurance is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that can help lower your rates. Many discounts should be triggered when you complete an application, but a few must be requested specifically before they will apply.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Homeowners Savings – Just being a homeowner may trigger a policy discount on car insurance since owning and maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
- Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you are able to get a small decrease in premiums for Civic insurance.
- No Accidents – Claim-free drivers are rewarded with significantly better rates on when compared with bad drivers.
- Discount for Multiple Policies – If you can bundle your auto and home insurance with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
- Early Switch Discount – Some larger companies provide a discount for signing up before your current coverage expires. It could save around 10% when you .
We need to note that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.
To view insurance companies with the best discounts in Texas, click here.
Independent or captive car insurance agents
Some people just prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that can be a great decision The best thing about getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get lower rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local insurance agents is definitely important in Houston.
After filling out this short form, your information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Houston who will give competitive quotes for your car insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to do any legwork because prices are sent immediately to your email address. You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent. In the event you want to get a price quote for a specific company, you can always visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.
If you want to use local Houston agents, it’s important to understand the types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent are not required to write business for one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with an assortment of companies and find the cheapest rate. If they find a cheaper price, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to switch agencies. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, we highly recommend that you get several quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Captive Agents
Agents in the captive channel have only one company to place business with such as Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. Captive agencies are unable to compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive insurance agents receive extensive training on sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.
Choosing an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Texas?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
Everyone needs different car insurance coverages
When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Are my friends covered when driving my Honda Civic?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Is my Honda Civic covered for flood damage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Additional car insurance information can be read on the Texas Department of Insurance website through this link. Texas consumers can download brochures, find disaster information, and read state legal mandates and laws.
The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in Houston
- Tricks for Effectively Comparing Houston Texas Car Insurance Rates
- How to Get the Best Price from Houston, TX Auto Insurance Providers
Car insurance policy coverages for a Honda Civic
Having a good grasp of car insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most car insurance policies.
Insurance for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like pain medications, chiropractic care, funeral costs, doctor visits and prosthetic devices. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for things like emergency aid, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs and bail bonds. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Texas state law requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as fire damage, hitting a bird and vandalism. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Honda Civic.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims such as colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch, hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Persistent drivers can save
Lower-priced car insurance is available online and from local insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not have price quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through local independent agencies.
As you shop your coverage around, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your objective should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price while still protecting your assets.