Sick and tired of not being able to afford to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are no different than millions of other consumers. Insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with ads and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.
If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you is not that difficult. Texas drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to shop on the web.
These factors can influence what you pay for Honda Odyssey insurance
Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.
- You might want pay the small claims yourself – Companies in Texas provide lower rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Better credit scores mean better rates – A driver’s credit rating is a large factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with lower ratings. So if your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your Honda Odyssey by spending a little time repairing your credit.
- Lower rates come with age – Older drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers are known to get distracted easily behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Careful drivers pay lower rates – Even a single citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
- Increase deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your Honda from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be on Odyssey coverage.
- Marriage pays dividends – Being married can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
- Never go without insurance – Driving with no insurance can get your license suspended and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.
- Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are quite a few additional coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and membership fees may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment at first, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
Save big with these discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but a few must be inquired about prior to getting the savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Good Student – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
- Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Paperless Signup – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on their website.
- Resident Student – Children living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance on Odyssey coverage.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
- Homeowners Discount – Owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
- Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates on Odyssey coverage.
A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will help reduce your premiums.
Do auto insurance companies bend the truth?
Consumers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all say the same thing that you’ll save big if you change to them.
But how can every company make the same claim? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.
Potential customers who don’t meet the requirements will have to pay more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can make those claims.
Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
But I don’t know anything about car insurance
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions could help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Is my Honda Odyssey covered for smoke damage?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
For more Texas auto insurance information
Much more information about auto insurance in Texas can be found on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance found here. Consumers can get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and discover disciplinary actions.
In conclusion
Cheap Honda Odyssey insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Texas, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.