Tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than most other car owners in Texas. Since consumers have many options, it is hard for the average consumer to find the best company.
It’s important to price shop coverage every six months because rates go up and down regularly. Just because you found the best deal six months ago there may be better deals available now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
- Club Memberships – Belonging to a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on your policy.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.
Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Rosenberg, Texas
Lowering your auto insurance rates is surprisingly easy. You just have to spend a little time comparing price quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
- One of the simplest ways to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company. A single form gets you coverage quotes from several companies.
- A harder way to find lower rates requires a trip to each company’s website and request a quote. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from State Farm, Liberty Mutual and Travelers. To get each rate you have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.
To view a list of companies in Rosenberg, click here.
- The least efficient way of getting rate comparisons is to spend your day driving to and from local Rosenberg insurance agencies. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, compare online quotes but buy from a local insurance agent. We’ll cover that shortly.
Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use identical coverages for each comparison quote. If you are comparing mixed coverages you can’t possibly decipher which rate is best in Rosenberg.
Make smart decisions and save
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.
Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.
- Teen drivers pay high rates – Older insureds tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers tend to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Increase deductibles and save – The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
- Being married is a good thing – Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. Marriage translates into being more responsible and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.
- Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
- Do you have enough liability coverage? – The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Men are more aggressive – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
- Your location affects your rates – Living in a small town has it’s advantages when talking about auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
- Never allow your policy to lapse – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a sure-fire way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage can result in a steep fine or even jail time.
Which insurance is the “right” coverage?
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- What is the minimum liability in Texas?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
But I want to work with a local agent
A small number of people just want to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Rosenberg who will give you bids for your business. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. Now that’s easy!
Picking a company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Independent or Captive: It’s your choice
When researching a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agencies in Rosenberg are classified as either captive or independent. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know the difference between them since it can impact the type of agent you choose
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.
Listed below are captive insurance agents in Rosenberg who may provide you with price quote information.
Farm Bureau Insurance – 5253 Highway 36 S – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 342-4626
State Farm Insurance – 3310 1st St – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 762-9515
Allstate Insurance – 2914 Avenue I – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 232-0073
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparing rates, it’s recommended you include multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Listed below are independent agencies in Rosenberg that can give you comparison quotes.
K D Insurance Agency – 1021 7th St – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 342-0232
Cooper Richard Insurance – 1711 Av H – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 342-7848
Brown and Assoc Insurance Agency – 2515 Av H – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 341-8400
Southwestern Insurance Ctr – 3516 Avenue I – Rosenberg, TX 77471 – (281) 342-0444
To view a complete directory of Rosenberg insurance agents, view this link.
After receiving satisfactory answers and an acceptable price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.
Do drivers who switch really save $483 a year?
Texas drivers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save after switching your coverage to them.
How does each company say the same thing?
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the requirements will be charged a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do. That is why you need to compare many company’s rates. It’s impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.
More quotes mean more savings
Discount auto insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Rosenberg agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
We covered many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, someone dropped physical damage coverage and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
Even more information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and find disaster information.