New Strategies for Paying Less for on Palestine, TX Auto Insurance

If shopping for auto insurance online is new to you, you can be overwhelmed because of the huge number of companies all offering big savings in Palestine.

It’s a great practice to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Just because you found the lowest price a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the things you must know in order to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Many Things Influence your Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • High numbers of claims are not good – Car insurance companies in Texas award lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
  • Being married can save on auto insurance – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates – Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even one ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. If you have flagrant violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based on their usage. Vehicles that are left in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Higher deductibles cost less – Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Safer occupants lowers premiums – Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
  • Where you live is a factor – Residing in less populated areas has it’s advantages when buying auto insurance. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents. City drivers tend to have congested traffic and much longer commute distances. Longer commute distances can result in more accidents.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Palestine

Comparing auto insurance rates can be a lot of work if you aren’t aware of the easiest way. You could waste time talking to local insurance agents in Palestine, or you could save time and use the internet for quick rates.

The majority of car insurance companies take part in a program that enables customers to complete one form, and each company then gives them pricing based on that data. This eliminates the need for form submissions for every auto insurance company.

To find out how much you can save on auto insurance click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to doing it this way is that you can’t choose the companies to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to receive pricing from, we have a listing of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Texas. Click here for list of insurance companies in Texas.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If you have different liability limits you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Palestine.

Don’t be fooled by advertising claims

Texas drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you change to them.

How do they all say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.insurance quote Palestine Texas

Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Accident Forgiveness – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Texas, click this link.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you may find better rates and still choose a local agent.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), the quote information is submitted to insurance agents in Palestine who will return price quotes for your business. There is no need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. Now that’s easy!

Picking an provider requires more thought than just the price. These questions are important to ask:

  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
  • Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
  • Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
  • Is assistance available after office hours?
  • Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?

Choose the right insurance agency

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Palestine can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them since it may influence your agent selection.

Agency Captives

These agents can only place business with one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

The following is a short list of captive insurance agents in Palestine who can help you get price quote information.

  • Farmers Insurance Group – 3507 W Oak St – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 729-2792
  • Farm Bureau Insurance – 6000 N Loop 256 – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 729-3183
  • State Farm Insurance – 501 E Murchison St – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 723-7291
  • Allstate Insurance – 716 N Church St – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 727-0558
Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from. Most have the option of insuring with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Palestine willing to provide price quote information.

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  • Don Bell Insurance – 905 W Palestine Ave – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 729-6734
  • Kenderdine Agency Inc – 103 E Oak St – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 729-2225
  • Farm Bureau Insurance – 6000 N Loop 256 – Palestine, TX 75801 – (903) 729-3183

To view a full list of insurance agents in Palestine, go to this page.

After receiving positive responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.

Additional detailed information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, download brochures, view a list of available companies, and learn about specific coverages.

Final considerations

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Palestine insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just presented some good ideas how you can shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the best prices are with an unexpected company.