I can’t think of anyone who likes paying for auto insurance, especially when they are paying too much. Multiple car insurance companies compete to insure your vehicles, so it’s not easy to compare every provider to discover the definitive cheapest price
If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in Socorro is quite easy. Texas drivers only need to know the most efficient way to compare rates online.
Discounts can save BIG
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list all their discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.
- 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
To choose insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Socorro, click here.
Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Socorro
There are a lot of ways to shop for auto insurance, and some are more efficient than others. You can waste hours discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Socorro, or you can utilize the web to maximize your effort.
Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and at least one company returns a competitive quote for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for each company you want a rate for.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to start a free quote.
The single downside to doing it this way is that you can’t choose the providers to get quotes from. If you would rather choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we put together a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Texas. Click here for list of insurance companies in Texas.
However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare identical information for each comparison quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the lowest rate in Socorro.
Lower the Price of Insurance with These Tips
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.
The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine prices.
- More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven every year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
- Bump up deductibles to save – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
- Type of vehicle determines base rates – The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger vehicles generally receive the lowest base rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
- Occupation reflects on rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like doctors, executives and accountants have higher rates than average in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations like farmers, athletes and performers get better rates.
- Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
What if I want to buy from a local Socorro agent?
Some consumers just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After completing this simple form, the quote information is sent to companies in Socorro who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!
Picking an provider shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Captive and independent Socorro insurance agents
When searching for local Socorro agents, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Socorro are classified as either independent or captive. Either one can do a good job, but it’s important to know the differences since it can impact your selection of an agent.
Captive Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Listed below are captive agencies in Socorro that can give you rate quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 10610 N Loop Dr – Socorro, TX 79927 – (915) 790-2592
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.
Below is a short list of independent agents in Socorro willing to provide price quotes.
Fred Loya Insurance – 10750 North Loop Dr # A4 – Socorro, TX 79927 – (915) 858-7000
Colonial Insurance – 10600 North Loop Dr # G4 – Socorro, TX 79927 – (915) 790-2600
To view a full list of Socorro insurance agents, please view this page.
Upon getting positive feedback to any questions you have and a good coverage price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that can service your policy.
Can you really save $398 a year?
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing that you can save after switching your policy.
How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.
All companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who fits that profile will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for the requirements will be quoted higher prices which leads to business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
A tidy conclusion
We just presented a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
The cheapest auto insurance can be found on the web and with local Socorro insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
Additional reading for auto insurance information
More detailed Texas auto insurance information is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, discover disciplinary actions, and find out industry alerts.
Additional helpful sites include this resource for Texas auto insurance prices and this link where you can get more info about Socorro auto insurance.