How Much is Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Texas?

How Much is Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Texas?

The vehicle driven is one of the biggest factors when looking for cheap auto insurance for infrequent drivers in Texas. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor safety ratings, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost much more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The list below shows auto insurance costs for a handful of the more afforable vehicles to buy coverage for.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Infrequent Drivers in Texas
Insured Vehicle Estimated Cost for Full Coverage
Honda CR-V LX 2WD $1,024
Chevrolet Traverse LS 2WD $1,047
Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan $1,122
Ford Explorer XLT 4WD $1,145
Ford Escape XLT 4WD $1,188
Hyundai Santa Fe SE 2WD $1,211
Hyundai Tucson Limited 2WD $1,221
Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD $1,211
Subaru Outback 3.6R $1,233
Honda Odyssey EX-L $1,275
Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan $1,285
Subaru Forester X AWD $1,281
Toyota Prius $1,287
Kia Optima LX $1,297
Nissan Rogue SL 2WD $1,304
Kia Forte LX 4-Dr Sedan $1,304
Dodge Grand Caravan SE $1,314
Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon $1,320
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD $1,327
Ford Edge SE AWD $1,336
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Data variables include single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in specific Texas garaging location which can influence premium rates noticeably.

Looking at the numbers, we can infer that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Accord, Ford Explorer, and Ford Escape will definitely be the most economical vehicles to insure for low mileage drivers.

Locating cost effective insurance is not always easy, and determining which company has the most affordable auto insurance rates for infrequent drivers calls for even more diligence. Each auto insurance company has a proprietary formula for setting prices, so we’ll go over the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Texas.

Best Auto Insurance Prices in Texas

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Cheapest auto insurance in Texas ranked by cost per year
Rank Company Cost Per Year
1 Travelers $1,010
2 USAA $1,128
3 Texas Farm Bureau $1,235
4 Germania Mutual $1,256
5 Esurance $1,407
6 California Casualty $1,438
7 State Farm $1,465
8 Mercury $1,521
9 Safe Auto $1,549
10 Nationwide $1,600
11 Progressive $1,664
12 Amica $1,705
13 Allstate $1,718
14 GEICO $2,072
15 Home State $2,134
16 MetLife $2,227
17 Unitrin $2,264
18 Encompass $2,324
19 21st Century $2,421
20 Titan $2,672
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Travelers offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Texas at around $1,010 a year. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance also make the cut as some of the best Texas car insurance companies.

As depicted above, if you currently buy coverage from Esurance and switched to USAA, you might realize an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $279. Insureds with California Casualty might save as much as $310 a year, and State Farm insureds might cut rates by $337 a year.

Remember that these rates are averages across all drivers and vehicles and are not factoring in a rate discount for infrequent drivers. So the car insurance company that fits your situation best may not even be featured in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.

When shopping for auto insurance for low mileage drivers, one of the many things that auto insurance companies use when figuring a rate quote is where you call home in Texas. Areas with more people or higher crime rates like McAllen, Dallas, and Amarillo tend to have higher rates, whereas cities that are not as densely populated benefit from lower coverage costs.

The next table ranks the higher priced cities in Texas for infrequent drivers in which to buy car insurance.

How much does auto insurance cost in Texas?
Rank City Premium Per Year
1 McAllen $1,956
2 Brownsville $1,927
3 Dallas $1,911
4 Garland $1,850
5 Amarillo $1,840
6 Houston $1,835
7 Laredo $1,833
8 Mesquite $1,825
9 Beaumont $1,772
10 Pasadena $1,740
11 Grand Prairie $1,740
12 San Antonio $1,722
13 Irving $1,719
14 Austin $1,676
15 Lubbock $1,665
16 Carrollton $1,664
17 Arlington $1,642
18 El Paso $1,632
19 McKinney $1,609
20 Fort Worth $1,604
21 Plano $1,576
22 Corpus Christi $1,572
23 Abilene $1,561
24 Waco $1,537
25 Killeen $1,473
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Rates are estimated as the garaging address in Texas can alter prices noticeably.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

Finding cheap auto insurance for infrequent drivers in Texas is important to most people, and one of the best ways to pay lower rates for insurance is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below shows the difference between premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Texas. The costs are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.

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If the expense is averaged for all age categories, full coverage costs $2,000 per year more than insuring for liability only. That amount may make you wonder if it’s worth it to buy full coverage. There isn’t a steadfast formula to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s replacement cost is $9,500 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $8,500 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $850 a year to have full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

How to find budget-friendly auto insurance for infrequent drivers

The list below details some of the better thrifty ideas that can help drivers locate lower-cost coverage.

  • Do not get into accidents that are your fault
  • Higher credit scores can equal lower rates
  • Do not get traffic violations
  • Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
  • Raise your physical damage coverage deductibles
  • Look for cheaper rates once a year by shopping around

The last suggestion is especially vital, as we discussed in the article above. Rates in Texas can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t be afraid to change insurance companies if a more affordable rate is found.

Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but we do not recommend it if that loyalty ends up costing a lot of money every month. It only takes a couple minutes to shop around and find cheaper car insurance for infrequent drivers.