Have you had enough of not being able to afford to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are in the same boat as millions of other consumers. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Farmers Insurance, GEICO and Allstate all claim big savings with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the promise of big savings and take the time to shop coverage around.
It’s a good idea to do rate comparisons periodically since rates change quite often. Even if you got the lowest rates six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online but with this article, you’re going to get some tested techniques to slash your auto insurance rates.
Where Can I Get Cheap Horizon City Auto Insurance?
Most major insurance companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm quote prices for coverage on the web. Getting online rates is fairly simple as you just enter your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. After you complete the form, their system automatically orders your driving record and credit report and generates pricing information determined by many factors. Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit a lot of sites and type in the same information can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. But it’s absolutely necessary to perform this step if you are searching for a lower rate.
The preferred way to compare rates makes use of a single form that gets prices from a bunch of companies at once. It saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes quoting online much more enjoyable. After your information is entered, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick your choice of the price quotes you receive. If a lower price is quoted, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and could lower your rates considerably.
If you want to find out what other companies charge, click here to open in a new tab and submit the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you complete the form with exactly as shown on your declarations page. This way, you are getting an apples-to-apples comparison for similar coverage.
Discounts are great for lower rates
Auto insurance companies don’t always list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are throwing money away.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get reduced rates.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Larger companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
- Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.
To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Horizon City, click this link.
Local Horizon City agents and auto insurance
Some consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent. Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
After completing this quick form, the quote information is sent to companies in Horizon City who will give you bids for your coverage. You never need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!
Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- How long has their agency been open in Horizon City?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
The type of insurance agency you choose is important
When looking for a reliable agent, there are a couple of different agency structures from which to choose. Agents are classified as either captive or independent. Both insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they differ because it can influence the selection process.
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below are captive agencies in Horizon City who may provide you with comparison quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 14010 Horizon Blvd # D – Horizon City, TX 79928 – (915) 852-7070
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you contact several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Listed below is a list of independent agents in Horizon City willing to provide price quote information.
Allianz Insurance Co – 14350 Horizon Blvd – Horizon City, TX 79928 – (915) 852-0003
For a complete listing of insurance agents in Horizon City, please view this page.
Once you have received answers to your satisfaction to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.
What coverages do I need?
When choosing coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
- Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Smart Buyers can Save Money
It’s important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
The list below includes some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
- Rates may be lower depending on your job – Careers like doctors, social workers and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other professions such as farmers, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
- Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Driving your car without having proper coverage is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance expire. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
- More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Lower rates with optional equipment – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder auto theft.
- Extra coverages can waste money – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Things like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
- Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. It means you’re more mature and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
- Bundling policies can get discounts – Many auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Can switching companies really save?
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing that you can save if you change your coverage to them.
How can each company make the same claim?
Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could be over the age of 50, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential insureds who don’t qualify for these standards must pay higher rates which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Final thoughts
When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, an insured dropped full coverage only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cost effective auto insurance can be found online in addition to many Horizon City insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
Some additional reading
More detailed Texas auto insurance information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, find a variety of consumer forms, and find disaster information.