Paying for high-priced Mazda 3 insurance can drain your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is a smart way to lower your monthly bill.
There is such a variety of insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, having more insurers makes it harder to find a good deal.
It’s a good habit to price shop coverage periodically because rates are usually higher with each renewal. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price for 3 coverage a year ago you may be paying too much now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the best methods to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.
The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Nevertheless, Texas consumers must understand how insurance companies determine prices.
Save money by taking advantage of these discounts
Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but some must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.
- Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on the same car insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
- Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less for 3 coverage than their less cautious counterparts.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will cut your premiums.
To choose providers with the best car insurance discounts in Texas, click this link.
Why your Mazda 3 insurance rates may be high
It’s important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.
The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.
- Males pay more for insurance – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
- Don’t skimp on liability – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
- Being married is a good thing – Being married can get you a discount on car insurance. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and responsible and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – The majority of insurers give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Tailor your coverage to you
When choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you may require specific advice.
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Who is covered by my policy?
- When should I drop full coverage on my Mazda 3?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Price shop online but buy from a local Texas agent
A small number of people would rather buy from a licensed agent. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you may find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is important especially in small towns and cities.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your information is instantly submitted to companies who will return price quotes to get your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Types of car insurance agents in Texas
When researching a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Texas are either captive or independent.
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When searching for an agent, you should always get quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
Agency Captives
These agents work for only one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are well schooled in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
For a full directory of Texas agents, click here.
Deciding on an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Who are their largest clients?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
After receiving acceptable answers to all your questions and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.
Advertising myths
Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you change your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims?
Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.
Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile must pay higher rates which leads to business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do.
This illustrates why you absolutely need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Learn more about Texas car insurance
Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, and download brochures.
Final thoughts
Cheaper Mazda 3 insurance is attainable on the web as well as from independent agents in Texas, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
When you buy insurance online, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an insured cut full coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
We covered some good ideas how to save on Mazda 3 insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.