Tightwads Guide for Saving on Port Lavaca Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me when I say many Port Lavaca consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to do rate comparisons every six months because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates six months ago you may be paying too much now. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance on the internet, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Finding the best rates in Port Lavaca is not that difficult. Although Texas drivers do need to know the way insurance companies market insurance on the web.

How to Compare Auto Insurance in Port Lavaca, Texas

Most major insurance companies provide pricing on the web. Getting online rates is pretty easy as you simply 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 returns a price quote based on many factors. Online quotes makes comparing rates easy, but the process of having to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms can be a bit repetitive. But it's very important to get many rate quotes if you want to find better auto insurance pricing.

Quote rates the easy way

A less time-consuming method to lower your rates uses one simple form to return rates from multiple companies. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes online quotes much more enjoyable. Once the form is submitted, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick your choice of the returned quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. The whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To save time and find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you complete the form with the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will have comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Port Lavaca

It's important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Some insurers give discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Don't skimp on liability - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage in the event that 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. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Occupations like real estate brokers, business owners and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates in part from high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations such as actors, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are quite a few extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Your credit rating is important - Your credit score is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with lower credit ratings. If your credit history is low, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score.

These discounts can lower your rates

Auto insurance companies do not advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Club Memberships - Participating in a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Accident Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Port Lavaca, click here to view.

Even more information can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable online and with local Port Lavaca insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.