Free Guide to Cutting Costs on San Antonio Auto Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is free and is an excellent way to make sure you're not throwing money away. Popular companies such as GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to compare rates quite often because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to find out how to quote online to find better coverage at a better price.

If you have a policy now or need a new policy, you can learn to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in San Antonio is quite easy. Texas drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to shop for auto insurance on the web.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't always list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

Texas auto insurance quotes

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Where you live is a factor - Residing in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents. City drivers regularly have much more traffic to deal with and a longer drive to work. Higher commute times can result in more accidents.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. Both sexes are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Better crash test results mean better rates - Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as lawyers, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to job stress and long work days. Other occupations such as pilots, historians and retirees receive lower rates.
  • Increase deductibles and save - 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. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help you determine whether you would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

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 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.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Texas consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you change to their company.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More sites with auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.

San Antonio auto insurance comparison

Best coverage at the best price

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood San Antonio agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.