Are you a victim of high-priced car insurance? Believe me when I say many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.
Many auto insurance companies vie to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute best rates possible.
It’s a good idea to compare rates occasionally because insurance rates change frequently. Even if you got the best deal a couple years back there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate how to quote online to get good coverage at a lower rate.
These discounts can slash car insurance rates
Companies that sell car insurance don’t list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find car insurance savings.
- Accident Free – Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
- New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- Memberships – Being a member of a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance.
- Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accident claims.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
- Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of 20% or more.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Wylie, click here.
Make smart decisions and save
It’s important that you understand the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
Shown below are some of the items used by your company to calculate prices.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Insurance for personal injury protection, towing coverage and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
- Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models generally receive the lowest base rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
- Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Occupations such as lawyers, executives and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average because of high stress levels and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations such as pilots, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates.
- Bump up deductibles to save – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Insurance agents can help
When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Texas?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Your insurance agent down the street
Some people would rather sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.
By using this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to companies in Wylie who will give you bids to get your business. You don’t have to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Selecting an insurer requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
Independent or Captive: It’s your choice
When researching local Wylie agents, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Agencies in Wylie can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Agency Captives
These agents write business for a single company such as State Farm or Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage.
Listed below is a list of captive agents in Wylie willing to provide rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 122 N Ballard Ave – Wylie, TX 75098 – (972) 442-7521
State Farm Insurance – 600 E Brown St – Wylie, TX 75098 – (972) 442-2246
Farmers Insurance Group – 105 S Ballard Ave – Wylie, TX 75098 – (972) 429-4256
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.
Below are independent agencies in Wylie who can help you get rate quotes.
Nationwide Insurance – 2610 W Fm 544 – Wylie, TX 75098 – (972) 461-9919
Tipps Insurance – 2610 W Fm 544 – Wylie, TX 75098 – (972) 429-8263
For a complete listing of Wylie insurance agents, visit this link.
Once you have satisfactory answers to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.
Do drivers who switch really save?
Companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you move to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, owns a home, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.
Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Even more information is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and discover disciplinary actions.
Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this page where you can also get Wylie car insurance quotes.
Quote more, save more
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and GEICO.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
The cheapest car insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Wylie agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.