Best Way to Find Cheaper Wichita Falls Auto Insurance

Shopping for the most affordable Wichita Falls auto insurance on the web may be intimidating for beginners to comparing rates online. Since there are so many online companies, how can consumers even start to compare every one to find the lowest rates?

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this post is to help educate you on the most effective way to quote insurance. Texas vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to compare company rates on the web.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Pay Now and Pay Less - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Student Driver Training - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class if offered at their school.
Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn't make money that way.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are some of the items that factor into prices.

Theft deterrents lower rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
Being married can save on auto insurance - Getting married helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature than a single person and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Careers like real estate brokers, executives and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average because of stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations like pilots, athletes and retirees pay the least.
One company can mean more discounts - Some auto insurance companies provide better rates to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

Is there truth in advertising?

Texas consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all make the same claim that you'll save big if you change your policy.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

For more Texas auto insurance information

More detailed Texas auto insurance information can be read at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Texas consumers can view a list of available companies, get help finding coverage, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

A tidy conclusion

Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium and even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Wichita Falls insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.