Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance choices in La Porte? Many other drivers are as well. Consumers have so many options available that it can turn into a real challenge to find the best price.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Sign Online – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
- Multi-car Discount – Having more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
- Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
- Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in La Porte, click here.
Tips to Get Lower La Porte Rates
Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.
- Drive less and save money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- Do you have a high stress job? – Occupations like lawyers, executives and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. Other professions such as pilots, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates.
- High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates.
- Being married is a good thing – Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. Having a significant other means you’re more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
- Liability coverage is cheap – The liability section of your policy provides coverage when you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
There’s no such thing as the perfect policy
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- What are Texas no-fault laws?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Texas?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
Shop online but buy locally
A small number of people would rather buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
Once you complete this simple form, your coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in La Porte who will compete for your business. There is no reason to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy!
Picking an insurance company requires more thought than just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Not all insurance agents are the same
When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of agencies that you can select. Insurance agencies in La Porte are classified as either captive or independent. While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they differ because it can influence the selection process.
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are trained well on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some consumers prefer to choose to use a captive agent primarily because of high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in La Porte that are able to give rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 9623 Spencer Hwy – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 478-6500
- Farmers Insurance Group – 1200 Highway 146 S # 152 – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 471-0481
- American Family Solutions – 517 N 12th St – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 867-1220
Independent Agents
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with different regional companies which may provide better rates.
Shown below is a list of independent agencies in La Porte who can help you get price quotes.
- Bayshore Insurance Agency – 1001 Highway 146 S – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 471-2111
- Joe Hambrick Insurance – 9606 Spencer Hwy # F – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 479-8059
- David Brady Insurance Group – 1013 S 3rd St – La Porte, TX 77571 – (281) 471-5433
To view a complete directory of La Porte insurance agents, please view this page.
Upon getting reasonable responses to all your questions and an acceptable price quote, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.
Can you really save that much by switching?
Texas drivers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies make an identical promise about savings after switching to their company.
How does each company say the same thing?
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential customers who don’t measure up to these standards will be charged more money which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Additional detailed information can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can view agent and company licensing information, find disaster information, and read consumer alerts.
Smart consumers save more
As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Cost effective auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood La Porte agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
We just covered many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from the smaller companies.