Things You Must Know Before Purchasing Austin, TX Auto Insurance Online

Have you fallen victim to an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say you’re not alone.

Many auto insurance companies vie to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest rate

It’s smart to check auto insurance prices occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates trend upward over time. If you had the lowest price a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the fastest and easiest way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using these tips. Finding affordable coverage in Austin is easy if you know what you’re doing. But Texas consumers benefit from understanding how the larger insurance companies compete online and apply this information to your search.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

• More than one policy can earn a discount – Some insurance companies give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
• Bump up deductibles to save – Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. The more expense you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with lower credit ratings. Therefore, if your credit score is low, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire will be a sure-fire way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.

Austin Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

Most companies give insurance quotes directly from their websites. Getting online rates is quite simple as you simply type in the coverage amounts you desire into the quote form. After you complete the form, their system obtains your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information determined by many factors. Quoting online helps simplify price comparisons, but the time it takes to visit each company’s website and repetitively complete many quote forms gets old quite quickly. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible in order to get a lower rate.

Quote rates the easy way

The easiest way to lower your rates uses one form that analyzes rates from a bunch of companies at once. This type of form saves time, eliminates form submissions, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated and you are able to buy any or none of the quote results.

If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. This process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

To quickly compare rates now, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you enter the insurance coverages identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you are getting a price comparison based on similar coverages.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but a few need to be specifically requested before they will apply.

• Senior Citizens – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
• Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child complete a driver education course in school.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• E-sign – Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Texas, click this link.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance through this link. Texas drivers can learn about specific coverages, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and download brochures.

More quotes mean more savings

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Austin insurance agent, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.