Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies and uncover the absolute best rates possible.
If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Eagle Pass is easy if you know what you’re doing. Texas vehicle owners only need to know the tricks to buy auto insurance online.
How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost in Eagle Pass, Texas
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can be a lot of work if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could spend the better part of a day driving to insurance agencies in Eagle Pass, or you could use online quoting for quick rates.
Many companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and each participating company then gives them pricing for coverage. This saves time by eliminating form submissions for each company.
To compare pricing click to open in new window.
One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you don’t know exactly which carriers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to receive pricing from, we have assembled a list of companies who write auto insurance in Texas. View list of Texas insurance companies.
Which method you use is up to you, but compare the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter different deductibles then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison in Eagle Pass.
Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss
Car insurance companies do not list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
- Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
- Club Memberships – Belonging to a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
Save Money with These Tips
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.
- Special features that cut premiums – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder auto theft.
- Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive in a year’s time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
- Policy add-ons can waste money – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Things like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.
- Big city or small town – Residing in a rural area can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
- Battle of the sexes – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but men cause more damage. Men also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
- Poor credit can mean higher rates – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with poor credit.
- Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Most companies will give a discount to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Price shop online but buy from a local Eagle Pass agent
Certain consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your information gets sent to companies in Eagle Pass who will compete for your business. There is no need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent to your email. How’s that for easy!
Choosing an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
The difference between Eagle Pass insurance agencies
If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Eagle Pass agents are categorized either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can influence your selection of an agent.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are trained well on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below is a list of captive insurance agents in Eagle Pass that are able to give comparison quotes.
Farmers Insurance Group – 1000 Crownridge – Eagle Pass, TX 78852 – (830) 752-4120
State Farm Insurance – 1320 E Garrison St – Eagle Pass, TX 78852 – (830) 773-9588
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
The following are independent insurance agents in Eagle Pass who can help you get price quote information.
Gomez Insurance – 437 Quarry St – Eagle Pass, TX 78852 – (830) 773-5312
American National Insurance Co – 315 N Ceylon St – Eagle Pass, TX 78852 – (830) 773-1036
For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Eagle Pass, please click here.
After getting answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.
Tailor your coverage to you
When choosing coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Texas?
- Should I buy only the required Texas minimum liability coverage?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Additional detailed information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, get help finding coverage, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about a company.
Also read more on these car insurance answers and this list of insurance agents in Eagle Pass.
Do drivers who switch really save?
Consumers in Texas can’t get away from ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you move to them.
But how can every company claim to save you money?
Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s the way companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
One last thing
You just read many tips how you can get a better price on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company. They may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
Budget-conscious auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Eagle Pass agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, an insured cut collision coverage only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.