Paying for high-priced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to help make ends meet.
Because you have many insurance providers from which to choose, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the lowest price insurer.
Low Cost South Houston Auto Insurance
There are a lot of ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but there is one way that is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You could waste time discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in South Houston, or you could use online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.
Many companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to submit their information once, and at least one company returns a rated price determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quote requests for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.
The only drawback to using this type of form is that you can’t choose the providers to receive prices from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to receive pricing from, we have a listing of low cost auto insurance companies in Texas. View list of Texas insurance companies.
It’s up to you which method you use, but compare exactly the same quote information for each comparison quote. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in South Houston. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding a better price.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.
- Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- E-sign – Certain companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to frequent claim filers.
It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Texas, click here.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When choosing coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your situation may require specific advice.
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Do I qualify for additional discounts?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Understand what determines the rate you pay
Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.
Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.
- How’s your driving record? – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers with severe tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Marriage pays dividends – Getting married can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
- Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
- More claims means more premium – Insurance companies in Texas award better rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Smart consumers save more
You just read some good ideas how you can get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. Smaller companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
Budget-conscious auto insurance is attainable both online and with local South Houston insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.
Additional detailed information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can file complaints about a company, view a list of available companies, find disaster information, and read consumer alerts.