Auto Insurance in Irving – 7 Discounts to Lower Rates

Finding lower rates for Irving auto insurance is always nearly impossible for beginners to comparison shopping online. Drivers have so many options that it can quickly become a challenge to locate the lowest price in Irving.

It’s smart to do rate comparisons yearly because rates change frequently. Even if you think you had the best price two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some great ideas on how to save money.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Irving, Texas?

Most major insurance companies like Allstate and Progressive allow you to get prices online. Getting quotes is quite simple as you just enter your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, their system orders your credit score and driving record and generates a price.

Online price quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and fill out multiple forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it’s absolutely necessary to have as many quotes as possible in order to find a better rate.

There is an easier way!

An easier way to find cheaper rates uses one form to get prices from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes price shopping online a lot less work. As soon as you send your information, your coverage is rated and you can choose any or none of the returned quotes.

If you find a better price you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. The whole process only takes a few minutes and can result in significant savings.

To compare rates using this form now, click here and submit the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you input identical to your current policy. This guarantees you’re receiving comparison quotes based on identical coverages.

Pay less by taking advantage of these seven discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but a few must be asked for prior to receiving the credit.

• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
• College Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Irving can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Texas, follow this link.

Buying car insurance locally

A small number of people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Irving.

For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, the quote information is immediately sent to participating agents in Irving who will give you bids for your business. You won’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to your email. You’ll get the best rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Irving auto insurance agents come in two flavors

When looking for an insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Agents are either independent or captive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.Many can place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Irving that are able to give pricing information.

• David Mullis Agency – 4925 N O Connor Rd # 125 – Irving, TX 75062 – (972) 986-1100
• Insurance 4 Less – 1221 W Airport Fwy # 221 – Irving, TX 75062 – (972) 259-5377
• N C Agency – 2425 Salmon St – Irving, TX 75062 – (817) 538-8888
• Title Insurance Co Of America – 300 E Royal Ln # 117 – Irving, TX 75039 – (972) 401-0068
• Keith White Agency – 1912 Anna Dr – Irving, TX 75061 – (972) 721-1511

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents write business for a single company such as Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to choose to use a captive agent mainly due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Listed below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Irving who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 425 W Airport Fwy # 201 – Irving, TX 75062 – (972) 256-4000
• Farmers Insurance Group – 111 S Story Rd – Irving, TX 75060 – (972) 258-0922
• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 2100 W Walnut Hill Ln # 100 – Irving, TX 75038 – (972) 550-7899
• State Farm Insurance – 4425 W Airport Fwy # 470 – Irving, TX 75062 – (972) 594-0102

For a full directory of auto insurance agents in Irving, please click here.

Choosing an insurance agency requires more thought than just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?

Once you have reasonable responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that meets your needs to provide auto insurance coverage. Keep in mind you can always cancel your coverage whenever you wish so don’t assume you’re contractually obligated to a specific agent with no way to switch.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
• Should I buy only the required Texas minimum liability coverage?
• What is the minimum liability in Texas?
• When should I not file a claim?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

More information can be read on the Texas Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read consumer alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Other related articles:

• Smart Shoppers Guide to Finding the Best Insurance Agent in Irving

Drivers who switch save $411 a year? Really?

Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the companies have a common claim about savings if you change to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will be charged higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers should compare many company’s rates. It’s not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Specific coverages

Having a good grasp of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverages

Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hitting a bird, falling objects and a broken windshield. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision insurance

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers claims like backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability

This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against things such as legal defense fees, court costs and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Texas state law requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as pain medications, EMT expenses, dental work and X-ray expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Quote more, save more

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Irving agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, lack of trust in their agent and policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right auto insurance provider can be pretty painless.

As you restructure your insurance plan, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.