Shopping for low-cost San Antonio car insurance on the internet may be impossible for people who are new to online price comaprisons. With so many online companies available, how can you even start to compare every one to find the cheapest available price?
You should take the time to check car insurance prices on a regular basis since rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because it’s time to teach you how to quote online to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
Discounts are basically free money
Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you get the savings.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Drivers Education – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags can get savings of more than 20%.
- No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared to bad drivers.
- Good Student – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
- Student in College – Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.
Your coverage should be tailored to you
When choosing adequate coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
- Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent
A small number of people just want to buy from a local agent. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And providing support for small agencies is definitely important in San Antonio.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, the coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in San Antonio who will compete to get your business. You won’t need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. How cool is that?! You can find better rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Different types of San Antonio auto insurance agents
When finding a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. San Antonio agents are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, you should always get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
The following are San Antonio independent insurance agencies who can help you get price quote information.
- Pat O’Quinn Agency – 6222 Dezavala Rd – San Antonio, TX 78249 – (210) 558-3478
- Harvey Cox Insurance – 12300 Walthampton St – San Antonio, TX 78216 – (210) 826-0911
- Jill Diaz Agency – 19134 Stone Oak Pkwy # 101 – San Antonio, TX 78258 – (210) 481-7727
- Fred Loya Insurance – 1404 SW Military Dr – San Antonio, TX 78221 – (210) 922-8888
- Adrain Reyes Agency – – San Antonio, TX 78214 – (210) 393-2581
Captive Insurance Agents
This type of agents can only place business with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below is a list of captive agencies in San Antonio that can give you rate quotes.
- Farmers Insurance Group – 5047 Sherri Ann Rd – San Antonio, TX 78233 – (210) 653-0383
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 2391 NE Loop 410 – San Antonio, TX 78217 – (210) 656-2200
- State Farm Insurance – 3505 Wurzbach Rd # 101 – San Antonio, TX 78238 – (210) 681-2790
- Liberty Mutual Insurance – 13750 N Us Highway 281 – San Antonio, TX 78232 – (210) 490-4473
- Allstate Insurance – 11103 West Ave # 14 – San Antonio, TX 78213 – (210) 344-1818
To view a complete directory of car insurance agents in San Antonio, visit this site.
Choosing an insurance agent requires more thought than just the premium amount. These questions are important to ask:
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- How long has their agency been open in San Antonio?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Upon receiving positive feedback to all your questions as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that will service your policy.
The car insurance bait and switch
State Farm, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies have a common claim that you’ll save big if you change to them. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.
Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.
Drivers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.
That is why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
More information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Texas consumers can view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
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Keep this in mind
The cheapest car insurance is available on the web and with local San Antonio insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, unfair underwriting practices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies can be easier than you think.