Are you a victim of overpriced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you you’re not alone.
Companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the flashy ads and take the time to shop coverage around.
You need to price shop coverage on a regular basis because insurance rates change frequently. If you had the lowest price last year you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the only way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
Fast and Easy Port Arthur Car Insurance Quotes
The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from local in Port Arthur, Texascar insurance companies. The simplest method to compare insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.
- Probably the best way to get quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for each company you want a rate for. One simple form compares rates from many national carriers.
- Another way to shop for car insurance online requires a visit to each company’s website and request a quote. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Nationwide, Progressive and Liberty Mutual. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
To view a list of companies in Port Arthur, click here.
- The least efficient method to get comparison rates is driving to different agent offices. Shopping for car insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll talk about that later.
Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using identical coverages and limits on every quote. If you have differing limits it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Port Arthur. Just a small difference in limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding better pricing.
Companies offer discounts so take them!
Companies offering auto insurance don’t list all their discounts very well, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known car insurance savings.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
- Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can help you save on car insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- E-sign – Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
- Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating car insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
- A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Letting your insurance expire is a guaranteed way to bump up your car insurance costs. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.You may need to file a SR-22 with the Texas motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file claims often, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies in Texas award better rates to drivers who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for larger claims.
- Your job and insurance rates – Occupations like lawyers, architects and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average because of high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, professions such as farmers, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates.
- Car features impact rates – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
- Where you live is a factor – Choosing to live in less populated areas can be a good thing when buying car insurance. Drivers in populated areas tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents.
- Marriage brings a discount – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your car insurance policy. Marriage is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Protect yourself with liability coverage – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Choose a safe vehicle and save – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Compare online but buy from a local Port Arthur agent
Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates but also keep your business local.
After filling out this short form, the quote information is transmitted to companies in Port Arthur who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Picking an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- How long has their agency been in business in Port Arthur?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
Two different types of insurance agents
When looking for a good Port Arthur insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Port Arthur are either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents can only place business with one company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are trained well in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
Below are captive insurance agents in Port Arthur who may provide you with price quote information.
Farmers Insurance Group – 4219 32nd St – Port Arthur, TX 77642 – (409) 962-0088
Allstate Insurance – 8787 9th Ave – Port Arthur, TX 77642 – (409) 727-4020
State Farm Insurance – 2300 Highway 365 – Port Arthur, TX 77640 – (409) 723-5400
Farm Bureau Ins – Jefferson – 3501 Turtle Creek Dr – Port Arthur, TX 77642 – (409) 729-9400
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.
Shown below are Port Arthur independent insurance agents that are able to give price quote information.
Terry Cauthen Insurance – 8700 9th Ave # 105 – Port Arthur, TX 77642 – (409) 729-2000
Unistar Auto Insurance – 3811 N Twin City Hwy – Port Arthur, TX 77642 – (409) 962-0777
To view a full list of Port Arthur insurance agents, please click here.
After receiving reasonable responses to your questions as well as a affordable price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that can provide car insurance coverage.
Even more information is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about specific coverages, and read state legal mandates and laws.
How can 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?
Car insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you move your coverage to them. How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.
Potential customers who don’t measure up to these standards must pay higher premiums which leads to business not being written. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
Final considerations
Cheaper car insurance is definitely available on the web and also from your neighborhood Port Arthur agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
We’ve covered a lot of ways to save on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the most savings is with a small local company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.