Finding lower premiums on Desoto car insurance can be hard for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. Drivers have so many choices that it can easily become a real challenge to find the best price in Desoto.
Smart consumers take time to price shop coverage periodically because insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you had the best rates two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to find out how to quote online to get good coverage at a lower rate.
Finding affordable coverage in Desoto is not that difficult. Just about anyone who shops for car insurance will most likely be able to save money. But Texas drivers do need to learn the way insurance companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.
Comprehensive Desoto Car Insurance Comparison
The are a couple different ways of comparing rates from different in Desoto, Texasinsurance companies. The quickest method to find competitive insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.
- One of the simplest ways to get quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing multiple quote forms for every car insurance company. One quote request will get you rate comparisons from all major companies. It’s definitely the quickest method.
- Another way to shop for car insurance online requires visiting the website of each company and request a quote. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want rates from USAA, 21st Century and GEICO. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to insurance companies in Desoto, click here.
- The least recommended way to compare rates is to waste gas driving to and from local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the trained guidance only provided by licensed agents. You can, however, compare online quotes but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll cover that in a bit.
Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If your comparisons have different liability limits it’s not possible to determine the best price in Desoto. Having just a slight variation in limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.
Verify you’re getting all your discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts to reduce the price significantly. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but some must be manually applied before being credited.
- Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can save you money because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
- New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.
Are insurance agents obsolete?
Some people just want to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local agencies is especially important in Desoto.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is transmitted to insurance agents in Desoto who will compete for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates AND a local agent.
Do you need an independent or captive insurance agency?
When researching a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Desoto are classified as either captive or independent.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.
Below are independent insurance agents in Desoto that may be able to provide price quote information.
- Gail Douglas Agency – 718 N Hampton Rd – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 230-0880
- Charles Steiner Agency – 900 N Polk St # 116 – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 228-0880
- A-Affordable Insurance – 1001 N Beckley Ave # 106a – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 228-8300
- Pattillo Insurance – 636 Creek Tree Dr – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 230-7077
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents work for only one company such as State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are well schooled on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers frequently purchase coverage from captives primarily because of high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
The following is a list of captive agencies in Desoto that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 1229 E Pleasant Run Rd # 123 – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 224-4027
- Farmers Insurance Group – 217 E Belt Line Rd – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 223-6199
- State Farm Insurance – 204 W Pleasant Run Rd – Desoto, TX 75115 – (972) 223-3618
To view a full list of captive agents in Desoto, please go to this site.
Deciding on an insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
Upon getting positive responses to your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy. Keep in mind consumers can cancel coverage at any point so never assume that you are obligated to the car insurance policy with no way out.
Will just any policy work for me?
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
These are some specific questions might help in determining if you may require specific advice.
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.
Car insurance coverages explained
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Coverage for liability
Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers claims such as medical services, court costs and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible. Texas requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for hospital visits, dental work, surgery and funeral costs. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle, rolling your car and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive car insurance
This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like rock chips in glass, damage from flooding, theft, a broken windshield and fire damage. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
One last thing
Low-cost car insurance can be found from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Desoto, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
Drivers switch companies for many reasons like high prices, denial of a claim, poor customer service or even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is easier than you think.
When buying insurance coverage, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, drivers have reduced full coverage only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
More information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website found here. Texas consumers can read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, and find a variety of consumer forms.
Also read more on Wikipedia and this page where you can also get Desoto car insurance quotes.