Nobody looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially when the price is too high. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with catchy ads and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
If you have a current auto insurance policy or are just looking to switch companies, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay and still get good coverage. Buying car insurance is easy if you know what you’re doing. Texas drivers just need to learn the best way to get comparison quotes online.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Texas
Finding a lower price on Chevy Cruze insurance is actually quite simple. The only thing you need to do is take a couple of minutes to compare quotes provided by online insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
The easiest and least time consuming way consumers can analyze rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing separate quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company. One simple form will get you price quotes from multiple companies.
A slightly less efficient method to find lower rates consists of visiting the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Liberty Mutual, Farmers and GEICO. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
Whichever way you use, compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If you enter differing limits you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best.
Are you getting all your discounts?
Companies do not list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
- Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application digitally online.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
- Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get reduced rates for Cruze coverage.
Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.
For a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.
Tailor your coverage to you
When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if you would benefit from professional advice.
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Texas?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Should I buy only the required Texas minimum liability coverage?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- When should I remove comp and collision on my Chevy Cruze?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Car insurance coverage information
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from flooding, theft and hitting a deer. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for liability
Liability coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage pays for things like attorney fees, legal defense fees, emergency aid, pain and suffering and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Texas requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Auto collision coverage
This pays for damage to your Cruze resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for things like crashing into a ditch, colliding with a tree and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Chevy Cruze.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (30/60/25 in Texas), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for doctor visits, surgery and X-ray expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Learn more about auto insurance in Texas
More detailed Texas auto insurance information can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view agent and company licensing information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
Other informative sites include NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and the basics of car insurance at Yahoo.com.