Insider Tricks for Cheap Lubbock, TX Car Insurance

Confused by the number of car insurance companies in Lubbock? You have a lot of company. People have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a big hassle to find the lowest price.

It’s smart to do rate comparisons yearly because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re going to learn the only way to find lower rates on car insurance.

If you have a current car insurance policy or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this post is to introduce you to how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. Texas drivers just need to understand the most efficient way to get comparison rates over the internet.

Comparison of Car Insurance in Lubbock

All major car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm allow you to get insurance quotes on the web. The process is fairly straightforward as you simply enter into the quote form. Behind the scenes, the company’s rating system automatically retrieves your driving record and credit report and provides a quote based on these and other factors.

Online quotes makes comparing rates easy, but the process of having to visit a lot of sites and fill out multiple forms is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get a lower rate.

An easier way to find cheaper rates uses one form to return rates from a lot of companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes online quotes a little more enjoyable. After your information is entered, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the price quotes you receive.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. The whole process just takes a couple of minutes and can result in significant savings.

In order to find out how much you can save on car insurance, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend that you enter the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. This helps ensure you will get an apples-to-apples comparison using the exact same coverages.

How insurance companies determine rates

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

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

  • Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Occupations such as real estate brokers, architects and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. Other occupations such as pilots, historians and performers pay the least.
  • Pay less if you’re married – Being married can get you a discount on your car insurance policy. Having a significant other means you’re more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Older drivers pay less – Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Young drivers are known to be more careless in a vehicle therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
  • Where you reside plays a part – Residing in a small town can save you money when insuring your vehicles. City drivers tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that are left in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your car insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Allowing your car insurance policy to lapse will be a fast way to increase your car insurance rates. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.Then you may be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Texas DMV.
  • High numbers of claims are not good – Insurance companies in Texas give better rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Save money with special equipment – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

These discounts can slash car insurance rates

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but some must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.car insurance image

  • Driver Safety – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Own a Home – Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
  • Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get reduced rates.
  • Student in College – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

Your insurance agent down the street

Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting small agencies is important especially in Lubbock.

By using this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to companies in Lubbock who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent to your email. Now that’s easy!

Do you need an independent or captive insurance agent?

When looking for a good Lubbock insurance agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn how they differ because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.

Below are Lubbock independent agents that may be able to provide rate quotes.

  • Trina Ehlers Insurance – 10309 Indiana Ave – Lubbock, TX 79423 – (806) 794-5526
  • Thomas Agency – 4412 74th St # C102 – Lubbock, TX 79424 – (806) 797-1961
  • Insurance Consultants Agency – 508 N Granby Ave – Lubbock, TX 79416 – (806) 797-3152
  • Joe Blacklock Insurance Agency – 6603 Utica Ave – Lubbock, TX 79414 – (806) 793-8698
  • Cliff W Jones Insurance Co – 8212 Ithaca Ave # E7c – Lubbock, TX 79423 – (806) 792-9881
Captive Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company such as American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. They are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent mainly due to the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.

Shown below are Lubbock captive agencies willing to provide price quotes.

  • Farmers Insurance Group – 3820 50th St – Lubbock, TX 79413 – (806) 795-2095
  • State Farm Insurance – 6217 Slide Rd – Lubbock, TX 79414 – (806) 792-3331
  • Southern Farm Bureau – 5601 Avenue Q South Dr – Lubbock, TX 79412 – (806) 747-1639
  • Allstate Insurance – 4214 50th St # D – Lubbock, TX 79413 – (806) 796-3711

To view a full list of captive insurance agencies in Lubbock, please go to this site.

Choosing an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

Lubbock TX insurance comparisons

  • Do they assist clients in filing claims?
  • What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
  • Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
  • Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
  • Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
  • Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Texas?

Upon receiving good answers to these questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that can properly service your car insurance policy.

One last thing

We just covered quite a bit of information on how to lower your car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies.

As you prepare to switch companies, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions and policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

Additional information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Texas consumers can read industry bulletins, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about specific coverages, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

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