Wish you could get out of high-priced auto insurance? Don’t feel bad because many San Antonio consumers are in the same pinch. Vehicle owners have multiple insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and although it’s nice to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to find the lowest rates.
How to buy auto insurance in San Antonio, TX
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rates from different companies. The best method to do a complete rate comparison is to get quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
- The fastest way consumers can analyze rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This type of form keeps you from doing separate quotes for each company. Filling out one form gets coverage cost estimates instantly.
- A different way to compare rate quotes is going to each individual company website and fill out a new quote form. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare USAA, 21st Century and GEICO. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which explains why we recommend starting with the first method. For a handy list of car insurance company links in San Antonio, click here.
- The most time-consuming method to shop rates is to spend time driving to different San Antonio agent offices. Doing it all online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you require the advice and guidance only provided by licensed San Antonio agents. You can, however, get the lowest quotes online but buy from a local insurance agent.
It’s up to you which method you use, but do your best to enter equivalent quote information on every quote you get. If the quotes have different data you can’t possibly determine the best price for your Nissan Altima in San Antonio. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when comparison shopping, making a lot of price comparisons helps increase your odds of locating a better price. Some companies don’t provide rate quotes online, so you also need to get price quotes from those companies as well.
Verify you’re receiving every discount
Companies don’t always publicize every possible discount very clearly, so the following list contains both the well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts you could be receiving when you . If you do not double check each discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% for Altima insurance with a few auto insurance companies.
- E-sign Discounts
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
- Own a Home – Owning a house in San Antonio can earn you a little savings because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
- Senior Citizens – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens can get a small discount on rates for Altima insurance.
Don’t be shocked that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will help lower the amount you have to pay.
A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts are included below.
- AAA includes discounts for anti-theft, AAA membership discount, multi-car, education and occupation, multi-policy, and good driver.
- Progressive offers discounts including continuous coverage, online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, passive restraint, multiple policy, student away at school, good student, and multiple autos.
- Esurance has discounts for Switch & Save, online shopper, DriveSense, claim free, anti-theft, and anti-lock brakes.
- Nationwide offers premium reductions for good student, defensive driving, family plan, accident-free, and multi-policy.
If you want , ask all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policies in San Antonio. To view providers with discount rates in Texas, click this link.
You may require the services of a local insurance agent
A small number of people would rather visit with an insurance agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from and supporting local insurance agents is definitely important in San Antonio.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in San Antonio that provide and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t even need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to your email. Get lower rates without having to waste a lot of time. If you need to quote rates from a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
If you prefer to buy auto insurance from a local San Antonio insurance agency, it helps to know the two different types of agents and how they can quote your rates. Auto insurance agencies are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company and that is an advantage because they can write policies through many companies and get you the best rates possible. If your premiums go up, your policy is moved internally which makes it simple for you. When searching for an agent, we recommend you get rate quotes from independent agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
Captive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents work for only one company such as Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. These agents are not able to shop your coverage around so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Captive insurance agents are highly trained in insurance sales and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Finding the right insurance agency requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Does the company have a local claim office in San Antonio?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Is the agent properly licensed in Texas?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
If you receive positive feedback to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that meets the requirements to provide auto insurance coverage.
Will just any policy work for me?
When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Texas?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Smart Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance for Less
Many factors are considered when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other criteria are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your financial responsibility.
- Urban areas may pay more – Being located in less populated areas of the country may provide you with better prices when insuring your vehicles. Residents of big cities regularly have much more traffic and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers corresponds to lower accident rates.
- Premiums increase with policy add-ons – There are many extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Coverage for things like replacement cost coverage, accidental death, and extra equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good when buying your policy, but if you have no use for them get rid of them and save.
- Higher comp and collision deductibles are cheaper – The deductibles you choose state the amount of money you are required to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also called ‘full coverage’, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims are colliding with a stationary object, fire damage, and damage from wind. The more damage repair cost you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be for Altima insurance.
- What are good liability limits? – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever a jury decides you are liable for physical damage or personal injury to other. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
- How’s your driving record? – Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have multiple violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find that they have to to maintain a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
- Premiums are affected by your credit score – Credit history can be an important factor in determining what you pay. So if your credit could use some work, you could be paying less to insure your Nissan Altima if you improve your credit rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with lower credit scores.
- Prices can be impacted by your occupation – Occupations such as lawyerspolice officers and stock brokers are shown to have higher rates than the rest of us attributed to intense work situations and lots of time spent away from family. Other professions such as farmers, engineers and retirees have lower than average premiums for Altima insurance.
Don’t believe everything you hear
Companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all convey the message that people will save if you get a free and switch your auto insurance coverage to their company. How does every auto insurance company offer you a better deal? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies give the cheapest rates for a prospective insured that will not have excessive claims. For example, a desirable risk could possibly be a married male, has no driving citations, and insures a new vehicle. Anyone who fits those characteristics will probably get the lowest premium rates and most likely will save a lot if they switch.
Drivers who don’t qualify for these stringent criteria will probably have to pay a higher rate and the prospect going elsewhere. The wording the ads use say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s why companies can truthfully state the savings.
Because of these techniques, you absolutely need to get price quotes at each policy renewal. It is just not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit you best based on your risk profile.
Lower rates by being persistent
We covered many ideas to get a better price on Nissan Altima insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting . Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower prices than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.
As you , you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best cost, but do not skimp to save money.
Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Texas drivers can learn about specific coverages, report car insurance fraud, and download brochures.
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