Car Insurance in Austin Texas – 7 Discounts You Might be Missing

Finding lower rates for Austin car insurance can seem to be nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. People have so many options available that it can turn into a big hassle to find the cheapest car insurance in Austin.

Smart consumers take time to get comparison quotes every six months because rates go up and down regularly. Just because you had the lowest rates last year you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out how to quote online to find great coverage at a great price.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use this information to cut your premiums and still get good coverage. The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. Texas drivers just need to understand the proper methods to compare rates on the web.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Good Student – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Senior Citizens – Mature drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose companies offering car insurance discounts in Austin, follow this link.

Misconceptions in car insurance advertisements

Texas drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate and Progressive. They all say the same thing of big savings if you move to their company.

But how can every company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver they prefer to insure. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile will be quoted more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This emphasizes why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

When should I talk to an agent?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you might need an agent’s assistance.

• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
• Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Who is covered by my policy?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Car insurance coverages 101

Having a good grasp of car insurance can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as vandalism, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird and hitting a deer. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as prosthetic devices, surgery and pain medications. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision – Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage provides protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (Texas limits are 30/60/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.

Liability coverages – This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have values of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims like emergency aid, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Texas requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.

Additional Texas car insurance resources

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find disaster information, learn about specific coverages, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Quote often and quote early

You just read many ideas to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier.

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as policy cancellation, delays in paying claims, denial of a claim or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is actually quite simple.

As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.