How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Car Insurance in Brenham

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can drain your bank account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a great way to make sure you're not throwing money away. You have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons quite often because rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Buying car insurance in Brenham is quite easy. If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Texas drivers only need an understanding of the best way to get comparison quotes online.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't list every available discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're paying more than you need to.

Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
55 and Retired - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies permit an accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Sign Early and Save - A few companies offer discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
Anti-lock Brakes - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.

It's important to understand that some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of providers with the best car insurance discounts in Texas, click here.

How to Buy Brenham Car Insurance Online

Finding cheaper car insurance prices is a fairly straight forward process. Just spend a little time comparing rates from different insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for separate quotes for each company you want a rate for. One form will return price quotes instantly.
Another way to compare rate quotes consists of visiting each company website and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

To view a list of companies in Brenham, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to different Brenham agent offices. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and we'll talk about that later.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare identical deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the best price in Brenham.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Brenham

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

How's your driving record? - Good drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even a single citation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Sex matters - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving.
Your car's features help determine rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping auto theft.
Your credit rating is important - Your credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with poor credit. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Having a spouse can save you money - Being married actually saves money on car insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

How to know if you need help

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a best way to insure your cars. Everyone's needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Texas?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you can't answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers can't get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you move to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state "people who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. That is why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

In the end, you save

We just showed you a lot of ways to compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from an unexpected company. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like .

When shopping online for car insurance, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

More sites with car insurance information

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and find out industry alerts.