Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on South Houston Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can drain your savings account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparison shopping is a smart way to cut your insurance bill.

Multiple compete for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare and uncover the absolute lowest price

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in South Houston is not that difficult. Although Texas vehicle owners do need to know how companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

  • Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Memberships - Affiliation with certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared with bad drivers.
  • Paperless Signup - A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
  • Accident Waiver - A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven't had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in South Houston, follow this link.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in South Houston, TX

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, and some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance companies in South Houston, or you could use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and each company returns a rated price for coverage. This eliminates the need for form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which carriers you want pricing from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Texas. Click to view list.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use the exact same information for every quote you compare. If you use higher or lower deductibles you can't possibly determine the best price in South Houston. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find the best price.

South Houston Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

  • Higher deductibles cost less - Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Where you reside plays a part - Residing in less populated areas is a positive aspect when buying auto insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents. City drivers tend to have more traffic problems and longer commute times. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
  • Please use or commuting - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
  • Don't skimp on liability - Liability coverage is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as lawyers, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average due to high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, jobs such as pilots, athletes and performers receive lower rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. All the companies say the same thing about savings after switching to their company. How do they all say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. This illustrates why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Shop smart and save

The cheapest auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood South Houston agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Texas auto insurance quotes

Learn more about auto insurance in Texas

Even more information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas drivers can report car insurance fraud, view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints.