Are you a victim of high-priced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are a lot of people in Texas just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. Popular companies such as GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads and it is difficult to see through the deception and take the time to shop coverage around.
How to Buy Texas Auto Insurance Online
Cutting your auto insurance rates is actually quite simple. Drivers just need to spend a little time to compare rate quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.
The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for boring form submissions for each company you want a rate for. One simple form will return quotes .
A harder way to compare prices consists of visiting the website for every company you want to comare to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Nationwide, Progressive and Farmers. To get each rate you have to visit each site to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
The least recommended method of comparing rate quotes to insurance agents’ offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you want the professional advice of a licensed agent. However, consumers can get prices online but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverage information with each company. If each company quotes different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to decipher which rate is best.
Don’t miss these discounts
Companies don’t list every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Government Employees – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off for CC coverage with a few auto insurance companies.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
- Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle with the same company qualifies for this discount.
- Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
- Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application online.
- Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates for CC coverage.
- Homeowners Discount – Owning a house may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less for CC coverage than drivers with accident claims.
- Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
Neighborhood insurance agents
A small number of people just want to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After completing this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to insurance agents who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How’s that for easy!
Choosing an provider requires more thought than just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:
- How are they compensated?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Are they full-time agents?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
The type of insurance agent you choose is important
When looking for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents from which to choose. Texas agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Both do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning how they are different since it may influence buying decisions.
Captive Agents
Captive insurance agents work for only one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.
When shopping rates, you should always contact at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Texas, view this site.
Upon getting reasonable responses and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.
When might I need the advice of an agent?
When buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Texas?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Elements that influence Volkswagen CC rates
It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.
The following are some of the items companies use to determine premiums.
- Being married can save on auto insurance – Being married actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
- Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you. If your Volkswagen CC is rated at least four stars on Safercar.gov it is probably cheaper to insure.
- More miles equals more premium – Driving more miles in a year’s time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. An improperly rated CC may be wasting your money. Make sure your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
- Rates may be lower depending on your job – Occupations such as lawyers, architects and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, jobs such as farmers, students and retirees receive lower rates for CC coverage.
- Do men or women drive better? – Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. They both are in accidents in similar percentages, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.
- Where you live can impact rates – Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident.
- Cautious drivers pay less – Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Only having one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. If you have serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Don’t listen to company ads
Consumers in Texas can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you switch your policy.
How do they all claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.
Consumers who fall outside the requirements must pay a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This illustrates why it is so important to compare many company’s rates. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.
A little work can save a LOT of money
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to save on Volkswagen CC insurance. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with a small local company. Smaller companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like Progressive or GEICO.
When you buy insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Cheap Volkswagen CC insurance can be found both online as well as from independent agents in Texas, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Find out more about auto insurance
Additional detailed information is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, view agent and company licensing information, and report car insurance fraud.
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