Did budget coverage turn out to be an expensive car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are lots of San Antonio residents who feel the same. Big companies like GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all claim big savings with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using this strategy. Finding cheap Honda Accord insurance in San Antonio is quite easy. But Texas car owners do need to learn the methods companies use to compete online and use this information to your advantage.
Most companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm allow consumers to get prices for coverage directly from their websites. Comparing prices online is quite simple because it’s just a matter of typing in your coverage information into the form. After the form is submitted, the system pulls your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote based on the information you submitted. Online price estimates streamlines rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit different websites and fill out multiple forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it’s very important to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for better prices.
The preferred way to find cheaper rates uses one form that analyzes rates from a lot of companies. It saves time, reduces the work, and makes comparison shopping a little more enjoyable. After your information is entered, your coverage is rated and you can choose any of the pricing results. If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The whole process just takes a couple of minutes and can result in significant savings.
To quickly find out how much you can save on car insurance, click here and submit your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you enter just like they are on your policy. This ensures you will have a rate comparison based on identical coverages.
Be skeptical of car insurance ads
21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run television, radio, and online ads. They all convey the message that drivers can save some big amount just by switching your car insurance coverage to their company. How does each company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? This is how they do it.
Car insurance companies have specific characteristics for the type of insured that will be a good risk. One example of a desirable insured could be a married male, has no driving citations, and insures a new vehicle. A customer who fits that profile will most likely get cheap premium rates and will probably save when switching.
Consumers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will get higher rates which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can lure you into getting a quote. This really emphasizes why you need to do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It is just not possible to predict with any certainty which company will have the lowest rates.
Components of Your Honda Accord Insurance Rates
When buying car insurance it’s important to understand the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you understand what determines base rates, this enables informed choices that could help you find better car insurance rates.
The itemized list below are a partial list of the pieces used by companies to determine prices.
- Car insurance policy lapses increase premiums – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a quick way to increase your car insurance rates. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage could earn you a steep fine or even jail time. You may then have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Texas department of motor vehicles.
- Better car insurance rates with anti-theft devices – Owning a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Advanced theft deterrents such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all help prevent vehicle theft.
- Keep claims to a minimum – Auto insurance companies in Texas give the best rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your car insurance is designed for claims that pose a financial burden.
- Traffic violations hurt – Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than bad drivers. Having just one citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers unfortunate enough to have severe citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions might be required by their state to file a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
- Choose high safety ratings and save – Safe vehicles cost less to insure. Highly rated vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you. If your Honda Accord earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may pay a lower rate.
Double check you’re getting these discounts
Some providers do not list the entire discount list in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Insuring a new car may earn a small discount because newer vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Driver Education Discount – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers enroll and complete driver’s education as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Bundle and Save – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy and place coverage with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning a home in San Antonio can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
- Renewal Discounts – Some companies give discounts for switching policies early. It could save around 10% when you .
- Mature Driver Discount – Seniors may qualify for a slight reduction on a on Accord coverage.
- Seat Belts Save – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save a little on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
As is typical with insurance, some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, you aren’t that lucky.
Auto insurance companies that may include these benefits possibly include:
If you are trying to find , ask each company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply in your state.
When in doubt talk to an agent
When it comes to choosing coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.
- How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- Is my Honda Accord covered for smoke damage?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Texas?
- Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Local San Antonio auto insurance agents
Many people just want to sit down with an agent and we recommend doing that One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that drivers can save money and get cheap car insurance rates and still buy from a local agent.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to participating agents in San Antonio who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to contact any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered directly to your email. You can get cheaper car insurance rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. In the event you want to get a price quote from a particular provider, you would need to go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.
Finding the right company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap quote. These are valid questions to ask:
- Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
If you are wanting to find a reliable insurance agency, you should know the types of agencies and how they work. Car insurance agents in San Antonio may be either independent agents or captive agents.
Captive Car Insurance Agents
These agents are contracted to one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farm Bureau. Captive agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so you might not find the best rates. Captive agencies receive a lot of sales training on the products they sell and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents of this type are not employed by one company so they can insure your vehicles through many different car insurance companies and find you the best rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, your policy is moved internally which requires no work on your part.
If you are comparing car insurance prices, you absolutely need to check rates from multiple independent agents in order to compare the most rates.
Better coverage you can count on
When buying insurance coverage, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Lower-priced car insurance is possible online and from local agencies, so get from both of them in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not offer price quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find a variety of consumer forms, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in San Antonio