No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof. With consumers having so many insurance providers from which to choose, it can be challenging to pick the lowest cost provider.
Smart consumers take time to shop coverage around once or twice a year since rates tend to go up over time. Even if you got the lowest rates on Soul coverage a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the best methods to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
The purpose of this post is to teach you the best way to quote coverages. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using these methods. Texas vehicle owners just need to learn the most effective way to find the lowest price online.
Compare Texas Auto Insurance Costs
There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, but some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can waste a lot of time discussing policy coverages with agents in your area, or you could save time and use the internet to get pricing more quickly.
Most major companies enroll in a system where prospective buyers submit their information once, and each participating company then returns a price quote. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for every auto insurance company.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to doing it this way is you can’t choose which companies to get pricing from. If you would rather choose individual companies to compare rates, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in Texas. View list of Texas insurance companies.
Which method you use is up to you, but compare identical coverage information on every quote. If you enter differing limits then you won’t be able to determine which rate is truly the best.
Don’t be fooled by advertising claims
Texas drivers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you change to their company.
How does each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who do not match the requirements will be charged more money which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the savings.
That is why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
Why your Kia Soul insurance rates may be high
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.
The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.
- Drive less and save money – Driving more miles every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage. Incorrect usage on your Soul can cost quite a bit.
- You might want pay the small claims yourself – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies in Texas give discounts to people who are claim-free. Your insurance policy is intended for the large, substantial claims.
- Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Some companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare rates to ensure the best deal.
- Your age impacts your rates – Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers are known to get distracted easily in a vehicle therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Where you reside plays a part – Living in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers tend to have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. Longer commute distances means more change of being in an accident.
- A clean driving record saves money – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one citation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. If you have severe violations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Lower rates by qualifying for discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
- Student in College – Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less on Soul coverage than drivers with accident claims.
- Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.
To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Texas, click here.
Shop smart and save
You just read a lot of ways to save on Kia Soul insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Cheaper Kia Soul insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Texas insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
Much more information about auto insurance in Texas can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance located here. Texas drivers can learn about insurance regulations, learn about specific coverages, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints.