Are you overwhelmed by the number of auto insurance company choices in Flower Mound? You’re not alone. People have so many options that it can easily become a real challenge to find lower rates.
Consumers should take time to do rate comparisons occasionally because insurance rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal on your last policy there may be better deals available now. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some excellent ideas to stop overpaying for insurance.
Buying car insurance in Flower Mound is quite easy. Essentially everyone who carries auto insurance will be able to lower their premiums. But Texas drivers do need to understand how insurance companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.
Take discounts and save
Auto insurance companies don’t always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance.
- Federal Government Employee – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
- Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.
To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Flower Mound, follow this link.
How your Flower Mound rates are determined
It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.
- More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rate. Most companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
- Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Drivers in populated Texas areas have to deal with more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
- Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
- A clean driving record saves money – Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Only having one citation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get severe violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Poor credit can mean higher rates – Your credit history is a large factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. If your credit history is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
- Older drivers pay less – Older insureds are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers are known to get distracted easily when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
It’s not one size fits all
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is unique.
For example, these questions could help you determine if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Should I buy only the required Texas minimum liability coverage?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
- When should I not file a claim?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Comparing rates from local agents
A small number of people would prefer to talk to a local agent. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the coverage information is immediately sent to participating agents in Flower Mound who will compete for your coverage. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You’ll get the best rates and work with a local agent.
Selecting an provider needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Who are their largest clients?
- What insurance companies do they work with?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
What types of auto insurance agents are in Flower Mound?
When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Flower Mound agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Captive Agents
Captive insurance agents can only write with one company and examples are American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. Captives cannot place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes buy from captive agents partially due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
The following are Flower Mound captive insurance agencies who may provide you with comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 2980 Long Prairie Rd # A – Flower Mound, TX 75022 – (972) 539-7162
- Farmers Insurance Group – 2612 Timberhaven Dr – Flower Mound, TX 75028 – (972) 539-9186
- State Farm Insurance – 2001 Cross Timbers Rd # 106 – Flower Mound, TX 75028 – (972) 874-8801
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.
Below are independent agents in Flower Mound willing to provide price quote information.
- All American Insurance – 3204 Long Prairie Rd # B – Flower Mound, TX 75022 – (972) 691-5678
- Commonwealth Insurance – 3508 Heather Glen Dr – Flower Mound, TX 75028 – (972) 355-6212
- Duke Agency Inc – 2980 Long Prairie Rd # D – Flower Mound, TX 75022 – (972) 355-3355
For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Flower Mound, visit this site.
After getting positive responses to your questions and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
Ads can be misleading
Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the companies make the same claim that you’ll save big if you change to them. How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.
Consumers who do not match these standards will be charged higher premiums and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. That is why you absolutely need to compare many company’s rates. Because you never know which company will fit your personal profile best.
Even more information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and find a variety of consumer forms.
Also read more on this online resource for auto insurance quotes in Texas and this page where you can also get Flower Mound auto insurance quotes.
Better coverage you can count on
You just learned some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Affordable auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Flower Mound, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an insured cut liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.