Houston Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

If you are a novice to online auto insurance shopping, you can be overwhelmed by the large number of auto insurance companies all offering big savings in Houston.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to find better prices while maintaining coverages. Pricing the lowest cost coverage in Houston is quite easy. Missouri drivers only need an understanding of the best way to find the lowest price online.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Paperless Signup - A few companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.
  • Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Good Student - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your premiums.

auto insurance in Houston

Houston Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Insurance for personal injury protection, accidental death and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Performance level impacts rates - The type of car you are insuring makes a huge difference in your rates. Low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - A driver's credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations such as lawyers, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates because of job stress and long work days. Other jobs such as scientists, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Consumers in Missouri get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you switch to their company.

How can each company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements must pay higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

This illustrates why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional Missouri consumer information

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Missouri Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, learn about specific coverages, and find out industry alerts.

Missouri auto insurance

In the end, you save

Low-cost auto insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Houston agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We covered some good ideas how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company.

Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as questionable increases in premium, high prices, poor customer service and even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.