How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Car Insurance in Corpus Christi

Sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Texas consumers. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance companies don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we break down some of the more common as well as the least known car insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you're paying more than you need to.

Lower Rates for Military - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
New Car Discount - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.

It's important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To see a list of insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Corpus Christi, follow this link.

How to Compare Corpus Christi Car Insurance Rates

Most companies allow you to get coverage price quotes directly from their websites. The process is fairly simple as you just enter into the quote form. Once you submit the form, their rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price based on many factors. Online quotes streamlines rate comparisons, but having to visit different websites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible in order to find a lower rate.

The preferred way to lower your car insurance bill utilizes a single form that gets prices from multiple companies. It's a real time-saver, reduces the work, and makes rate comparisons a little more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, it is rated and you can select your choice of the price quotes you receive. If a lower price is quoted, it's easy to complete the application and purchase the new policy. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

If you want to find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and submit your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend that you enter coverages and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. This makes sure you will have an apples-to-apples comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Corpus Christi Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better car insurance rates.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate premiums.

Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Small claims can cost you - If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in Texas provide cheaper rates to drivers who do not file claims often. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Proper usage rating affects rates - Driving more miles every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Vehicles that are left in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your car insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
How's your driving record? - Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
One company can mean more discounts - Many companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you still need to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Your car's features help determine rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder your car from being stolen.
Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying car insurance. Having a spouse translates into being more mature and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Rural vs Urban Areas - Being located in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers who live in large Texas cities have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies say the same thing that you can save after switching your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer who fits that profile will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match the requirements must pay higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Best coverage at the best price

Lower-priced car insurance can be purchased from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Corpus Christi, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find disaster information, download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and file complaints about a company.