No one likes paying for car insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high.
Many auto insurance companies vie to insure your vehicles, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurers and get the definite lowest rate
Car Insurance Comparison Rates in Texas
Effectively comparing car insurance prices can take hours if you don’t know the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you can utilize online quoting to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.
Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit their information once, and each participating company returns a competitive quote based on the submitted data. This eliminates the need for form submissions to each individual car insurance company. To compare rates using this form now click here to open in new window.
The single downside to using this type of system is that you can’t choose which carriers to receive prices from. If you prefer to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Texas. Click here to view list.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but double check that you are using identical quote information for every quote you compare. If you have mixed coverages you will not be able to determine the best price for your Kia Rio. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Just remember that getting more free quotes helps locate the best rates.
Is there truth in advertising?
Car insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you switch to them. How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.
Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.
Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be charged higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently state the savings. That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.
- Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
- Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Drivers Education – Have your child take driver’s ed class in school.
- Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
- Senior Citizens – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums on Rio insurance.
Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To choose insurers with the best car insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.
Are insurance agents obsolete?
Certain consumers would rather buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
Upon completion of this simple form, your coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your coverage. You don’t have to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. You can find better rates and work with a local agent.
Deciding on an provider requires more thought than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
The type of car insurance agent you choose is important
When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Texas are either independent or captive.
Agency Captives
This type of agents write business for a single company like Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.
To view a complete directory of car insurance agents in Texas, click here.
Upon getting positive responses to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles. But remember, consumers can cancel a policy at any time so don’t assume you are locked into a policy for the full term.
More tips and info about car insurance is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read industry bulletins, and learn about insurance regulations.
Coverages available on your policy
Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
This coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Kia Rio.
Due to the fact that many Texas drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Texas limits are 30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.
Coverage for medical expenses
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like X-ray expenses, doctor visits and nursing services. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims like falling objects, damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed and vandalism. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Auto liability
Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against claims like emergency aid, legal defense fees, loss of income, bail bonds and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Texas state minimum liability requirements are 30,000/60,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
And the best car insurance company is…
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to lower your Kia Rio insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Discount Kia Rio insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Texas agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.