Texas drivers have options when trying to find the best price on Jeep Patriot insurance. You can either waste hours contacting agents getting price quotes or leverage the internet to make rate comparisons.
There is a right way and a wrong way to buy car insurance and you need to know the quickest way to get price quotes for a new or used Jeep and get the cheapest rates.
It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates every six months due to the fact that insurance rates fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest price for Patriot insurance a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some great ideas on how to find cheap car insurance.
This information will let you in on the best way to quote coverages. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Although Texas consumers do need to understand how companies compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.
Comprehensive Texas Car Insurance Comparison Quotes
There are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. The best method to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
- The most efficient way consumers can analyze rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click here to open form in new window. This form keeps you from doing separate quote forms to each individual car insurance company. Completing one form compares rates from all major companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
- A less efficient way to obtain and compare quotes online is spending the time to visit the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Allstate, Esurance and Travelers. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
- The most time-consuming way to compare rates to insurance agents’ offices. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional advice of a local agent. It is possible to compare the best prices online and still use a local agent.
However you get your quotes, double check that you are using identical coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be impossible to make an equal comparison. Slightly different coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.
These six discounts can slash car insurance rates
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you get the savings.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Driver’s Ed – Have your child complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
- Paperwork-free – A few companies will give a small break just for signing your application over the internet.
- Memberships – Being a member of a qualifying organization may earn a discount on your policy for Patriot insurance.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
- Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.
To choose insurers offering car insurance discounts in Texas, click here to view.
Don’t I need to talk to an agent?
Some consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you may find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in small towns and cities.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Two types of insurance agents
When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Texas agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Agency Captives
This type of agents can only write with one company like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captives are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent primarily because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.
To view a complete directory of insurance agents in Texas, click here.
Choosing an insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- How long has their agency been in business?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
Once you have satisfactory answers to your questions and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that will properly service your car insurance policy.
Parts of your car insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Jeep Patriot.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (30/60/25 in Texas), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hail damage, theft and hitting a deer. The maximum payout your car insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Auto liability
This can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, emergency aid and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Texas requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more coverage.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage covers damage to your Patriot resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims such as hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle, damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses like EMT expenses, funeral costs and hospital visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
More information can be read on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
In the end, you save
We’ve covered some good ideas how to get a better price on Jeep Patriot insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from the smaller companies.
While you’re price shopping online, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut full coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
Drivers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.