Tightwads Guide for Saving on Mission Auto Insurance

I can't think of a single person who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, particularly when they are paying too much. Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare prices periodically because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
Good Student - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application digitally online.

It's important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Men pay higher rates - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both are in accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Cautious drivers pay less - Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Jobs such as judges, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and performers receive lower rates.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Many auto insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you could use an agent's help.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Texas?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?

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, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers in Texas get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company.

How can each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional Texas consumer information

Additional detailed information is located at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, read industry bulletins, and read consumer alerts.

Best coverage at the best price

Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood Mission agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We covered many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as .

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.