Tightwads Tips for Saving on Grapevine Car Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings, especially in this economy. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates quite often since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price a year ago you may be paying too much now. There is a lot of bad information regarding car insurance on the internet, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your car insurance rates.

Shopping for affordable coverage in Grapevine is easy if you know what you're doing. Basically, anyone who is required by state law to have car insurance will be able to lower their premiums. But Texas consumers do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Low Cost Grapevine Car Insurance

There are several ways to get quotes from local Grapevine car insurance companies. The recommended way to compare insurance prices is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method keeps you from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company. One form will return quotes from multiple companies.

A more time consuming way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to each company website and complete a new quote form. For example, we'll assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To find out each rate you need to visit each site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Grapevine, click here.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare identical coverages and limits on every quote. If you have different deductibles you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Grapevine. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate a lower rate.

Texas car insurance

Grapevine Rates are Influenced by These Factors

It's important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

  • Poor driving leads to higher costs - Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Older drivers save more - Youthful drivers in Texas are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. Having to add a teen driver to your car insurance policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Your spouse saves you money - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money when buying car insurance. Marriage means you're more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are many add-on coverages you can purchase when buying car insurance. Coverages for roadside assistance, better glass coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Occupations like judges, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and homemakers receive lower rates.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but a few must be specifically requested before they will apply.

  • Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
  • Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Resident Student - Children who are attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
  • E-sign - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Defensive Driver - Taking part in a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

For a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Every insured's situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation may require specific advice.

  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Texas?
  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Grapevine?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Much more information about car insurance in Texas is located on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, and discover disciplinary actions.

Grapevine car insurance comparison

Final considerations

We just covered a lot of tips how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

While you're price shopping online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Discount car insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Grapevine agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.