Free Guide to Paying Less for Bastrop Auto Insurance Online

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many people just like you. Companies like GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with ad campaigns and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare rates every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates last year you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

With age comes lower rates - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Most insurers will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
Never allow your policy to lapse - Letting your insurance expire is a fast way to increase your auto insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Texas award cheaper rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Where you live - Choosing to live in less populated areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents. Drivers in populated Texas areas tend to have much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. Longer commute distances means higher likelihood of an accident.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Bastrop, click here to view.

Is there truth in advertising?

Texas drivers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save if you switch to their company.

How can each company say the same thing?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about Texas auto insurance

Additional detailed information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, and find a variety of consumer forms.

In the end, you save

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Affordable auto insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Bastrop agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.