How to Find Low-Cost Athens Auto Insurance

Finding lower rates for Athens auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. There are so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a lot of work to find lower rates in Athens.

It's important to do rate comparisons once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Buying the lowest cost protection in Athens is simple if you know the tricks. In a nutshell, every vehicle owner who is required by state law to have auto insurance should be able to reduce their rates. But Texas drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Athens

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Pay less if you're married - Being married can get you a discount on your policy. It is viewed as being more mature than a single person and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder car theft.
Your location affects your rates - Being located in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if you don't need them remove them from your policy.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Many insurers will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Texas award discounts to people who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Athens

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can take time and effort if you don't understand the most efficient way to do it. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance agencies in Athens, or you could use online quoting for quick rates.

Most of the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and each participating company then gives them pricing for coverage. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which providers you want pricing from. So if you want to select individual companies to request quotes from, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Texas. Click to view list.

It's up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using apples-to-apples information on every quote you get. If you use higher or lower deductibles then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Athens. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. It's important to know that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best price.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before you get the savings.

Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Athens can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags can receive discounts of more than 20%.
Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Accident Free - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
One Accident Forgiven - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Texas, click here to view.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about auto insurance in Texas is available on the Texas Department of Insurance website found here. Texas consumers can get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this page for Texas auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Athens, TX.

Shop smart and save

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased online and with local Athens insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices, policy non-renewal or even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price.