Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Bellaire Auto Insurance

No one cherishes buying auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof. Lots of contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest price

It's important to shop coverage around periodically because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Accident Forgiveness - A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
  • Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if you qualify.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent's help.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Texas consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. A driver who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional Texas consumer information

Even more information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Texas auto insurance

Best coverage at the best price

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents in Bellaire, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small local company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as .