Tightwads Guide to Saving on Carrizo Springs Car Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can drain your personal savings, especially in this economy. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Because there are so many companies and agents to choose from, it can be impossible to locate the right company.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Carrizo Springs is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Texas drivers only need an understanding of how to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies don't always advertise all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find car insurance savings. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Own a Home - Owning a home in Carrizo Springs may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, companies don't profit that way.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • Higher deductibles cost less - Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Where you live is a factor - Residing in a rural area is a positive aspect when talking about car insurance. City drivers tend to have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates - Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one citation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with serious tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • One company can mean more discounts - Most companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Texas are statistically proven to get distracted easily when driving so car insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a teenage driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if you could use an agent's help.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Texas?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers in Texas get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing of big savings if you switch your coverage to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who do not match this ideal profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers should compare many company's rates. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on this page for Texas car insurance and this page for help finding agents in Carrizo Springs, TX.

Texas car insurance quotes

In the end, you save

Cost effective car insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Carrizo Springs, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just presented many ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .