Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say many Fort Worth consumers are in the same pinch. Due to the large number of different company options, it is very difficult to choose the lowest price auto insurance company.
How to get free auto insurance quotes online
There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but some are more efficient than others. You can waste hours driving to agents in Fort Worth, or you can utilize the internet to get pricing more quickly.
All the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and at least one company returns a rated price determined by their information. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.
To participate in this free quote system, click to open in new window.
The only drawback to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which companies to get quotes from. So if you want to select individual companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in Texas. View list of Texas insurance companies.
Whichever way you use, be sure you’re using the exact same coverage information on every quote you get. If you compare different coverage information it will be impossible to find the best deal for your Mazda 3 in Fort Worth.
Auto insurance discounts help lower rates
Some providers don’t always publicize every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the below list has some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts that you may qualify for.
- No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents have much lower rates as compared to policyholders that have many claims.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars with ABS and/or traction control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could qualify you for better premium rates.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking a course in safe driver could cut 5% off your bill and make you a better driver.
You should keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will positively reduce the cost of your policy.
Large auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.
- State Farm has discounts for passive restraint, driver’s education, accident-free, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and multiple policy.
- Esurance may have discounts that include good driver, online shopper, multi-policy, renters, defensive driver, and multi-car.
- Progressive offers discounts including homeowner, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, good student, online signing, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.
- Liberty Mutual offers premium reductions for exclusive group savings, new graduate, preferred payment discount, newly married, teen driver discount, safety features, and hybrid vehicle.
- Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for air bags, teen driver, anti-lock brakes, paid in full, anti-theft, paperless, and multi-policy.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including air bags, daytime running lights, good student, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, five-year accident-free, and anti-theft.
Check with each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts might not be available to policyholders in Fort Worth. If you would like to choose from a list of providers that offer the discounts shown above in Texas, click here.
Choices You Make Can Impact Your Insurance Premiums
It’s important that you understand some of the factors that are used to determine your auto insurance rates. When you understand what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower rates. Lots of factors are used when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, but other criteria are not quite as obvious such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility.
- Safety ratings are a factor – Safer cars cost less to insure. These vehicles reduce injuries and fewer serious injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums. If your Mazda 3 earned at least four stars on Safercar.gov it is probably cheaper to insure.
- Lower premiums for being claim-free – Car insurance companies in Texas provide the lowest premiums to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you file a lot of claims you can expect much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is intended for more catestrophic claims.
- Single drivers take more risk – Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your auto insurance bill. Marriage is viewed as being more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
- Low credit history equals high costs – Credit score will be a significant factor in determining what you pay. Consumers who have very high credit ratings tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit rating could use some work, you could pay less to insure your Mazda 3 by repairing your credit.
Additional information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website through this link. Texas drivers can read industry bulletins, find disaster information, view agent and company licensing information, and find a variety of consumer forms.
The following information may also be useful.
- Proven Strategies for Low-Cost Fort Worth, TX Auto Insurance
- Consumers Guide to Searching Online for a Fort Worth Insurance Agent
Switch companies and save? Really?
Texas drivers can’t escape the ads for cheaper auto insurance from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads have a common claim that people will save if you get a free and switch your coverage.
How is it possible that every company can cost less than your current company? It’s all in the wording.
Many companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of this type of risk profile could possibly be over the age of 35, owns their home, and insures a new vehicle. Any driver that fits those parameters will get the preferred premium rates and will most likely save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who are not a match for this stringent profile may be required to pay higher premiums and this results in the prospect going elsewhere. The trick companies use is to say “drivers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims.
Because of these techniques, you really need to compare many company’s prices. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.
Find cheaper rates by being thorough
Cheaper auto insurance can be found both online and from local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional carriers sell through independent insurance agencies.
As you shop your coverage around, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.