Tightwads Tips for Saving on Lubbock Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a smart way to help make ends meet. You have multiple to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Lubbock, Texas?

Most major insurance companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive provide pricing on the web. This process is pretty easy as you just enter the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and quotes a price based on these factors. Quoting online makes comparing rates easy, but having to visit a lot of sites and enter the same data into a form gets old quite quickly. But it's very important to perform this step if you want to find the best price on auto insurance.

Quote rates the easy way

A less time-consuming method to find lower prices uses one form to get prices from more than one company. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes online price comparison a lot less work. After sending the form, it gets priced and you are able to buy any one of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, it's easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you'll know if lower rates are available.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you copy the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. This way, you're receiving a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Lubbock

It's important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.

  • Liability coverage protects you - The liability section of your policy is the protection if a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • High deductibles save money - Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. The more expense you're willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as real estate brokers, architects and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, occupations such as pilots, engineers and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
  • Your spouse saves you money - Getting married actually saves money when buying auto insurance. Having a spouse is viewed as being more responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to customers who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Own a Home - Owning a home in Lubbock may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less when compared with frequent claim filers.
  • Paperless Signup - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy over the internet.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.

Additional information can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance located here. Texas consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.

A tidy conclusion

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online and with local Lubbock insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.