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Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin offers more than 200 live music venues for residents and visitors to enjoy. It’s a vibrant city with Texas-sized culture and diversity. And thankfully, there are just as many car insurance providers in the capital city of Texas! Austin is home to many major auto insurance companies and countless others.
So what does this mean for you if you live in Austin, Texas? It means you’re more likely to secure cheap car insurance rates. Here are some tips to lower your car insurance in Austin.
Do Your Research
Research Austin providers carefully before securing a policy. As mentioned, Austin has many dependable companies, giving the city a competitive edge that residents need for better rates. One way to research your options is to use an online car insurance comparison site. You can easily compare rates based on the criteria you enter among 15 to 50 providers at a time.
This gives you a broad spectrum of quotes so you can find which companies are friendly to your personal needs. Online rate comparison is free and can be done in moments from your home computer.
Keep in mind that certain risk factors are taken into consideration when companies give a rate quote. These may include your driving history, age, where you live, type of car driven, daily commute time to work each day, etc.
But not all Austin insurers are created equal. You’ll find that some companies cater to certain types of drivers. Some specialize in helping high risk drivers while others prefer to insure those drivers who are less of a risk.
Some providers cater to young people. While one company might give you an astronomical rate quote for your teen driver, another might welcome you with open arms and offer an affordable rate.
Coverage Provided by Austin Car Insurance Companies
The types of coverage may vary in deductibles, amount of coverage offered, etc. but there are some basic coverage options that are common across the board.
The state of Texas requires a minimum of $25,000/$50,000 in Bodily Injury Liability coverage and $25,000 in Property Damage Liability. These requirements will act as your springboard when comparing auto insurance rates.
You can add certain types of coverage such as collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, towing, car rental and medical payments to increase the value of your policy.
But remember that with more coverage comes a higher premium no matter which provider you choose. Compare rates with a higher deductible and with various policy options to weigh the options.
Austin Statistics Can Be Helpful
If you live in Austin, there are certain statistics that pertain to you when applying for car insurance. For example, the average commute to work by residents in Austin is 22.4 minutes. The number of auto thefts in Austin in 2007 was 2,961.
Austin had 58 deadly automobile crashes in 2007. These statistics and others help insurance providers determine their general rates.
Providers will also consider the type of car you own and whether it is a high theft risk. There are certain cars that get stolen more than others.
In Austin, these include the 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup, 1996 Honda Accord, 1997 Ford F-150 Series, 1994 Chevy Full Size 1500 Pickup, 2000 Honda Civic, 1997 Ford Taurus and several others.
Even if you own one of these vehicles, your insurance company may offer lower rates if you can show proof of anti-theft devices or if you park your car in a secure area instead of on the open street.
As you compare insurance rates, keep in mind that car insurance pricing can fluctuate even after you’ve been a policy holder for quite some time.
Austin providers will re-examine your policy every time it renews, and base your rates on your driving history, changes in location or automobile, etc. Consider these tips as you seek to lower your car insurance in Austin, Texas!
Multiple low cost auto insurance quotes from a large variety of insurance providers can be obtained in a matter of minutes by using internet based comparison sites.
Question: Is car insurance mandatory in most states? Answer: Yes, however the minimum liability mandated by law may differ from state to state. Also, keep in mind that you may want to consider purchasing coverage beyond the minimum liability. If your insurance coverage does not cover all of the expenses related to an accident, you may be responsible for the difference.
Question: Should I get full coverage or just minimum liability coverage? Answer: Use your own judgment, but make sure to make a balance between the money you save now and the expenses and risks you could be minimizing in the future. Again, whatever the insurance company does not cover will have to be paid for directly by you, so you may want to think about purchasing coverage beyond the minimum liability insurance protection. Minimum liability may not be enough money to cover a major accident involving injuries or property damage. On the other hand, if there is a loan on your vehicle, the lender will most probably require you to maintain full coverage insurance for the duration of the loan. If the vehicle is paid for, you could decide to purchase minimum liability at your own risk.
Question: If I choose a higher deductible, will that help me save even more money if I want low cost auto insurance? Answer: Absolutely, again it is a judgment call on your part. You could pay more now, or save money and you could risk paying more out of your pocket later or facing a lawsuit in the event that you are at fault in an accident.
Question: Is there anything to protect me from an accident that is my fault? Answer: Some companies offer the option of “accident forgiveness policies”
Question: Should I definitely try to get an accident forgiveness policy if I consider myself to be accident prone? Answer: Your first accident may be fully covered by your insurance company, but in a second wreck, you will most likely be paying somewhere around 45% higher premiums. The bottom line is you need to drive carefully in order to qualify for a low cost auto insurance quote. If you cannot drive carefully or are really accident prone, you may want to consider using public transportation instead.
Question: Will bad credit make my insurance rates higher? Answer: Yes, bad credit, among other factors, will make your insurance rates higher.
Multiple low cost auto insurance quotes from a large variety of insurance providers can be obtained in a matter of minutes by using internet based comparison sites.
Question: Is car insurance mandatory in most states? Answer: Yes, however the minimum liability mandated by law may differ from state to state. Also, keep in mind that you may want to consider purchasing coverage beyond the minimum liability. If your insurance coverage does not cover all of the expenses related to an accident, you may be responsible for the difference.
Question: Should I get full coverage or just minimum liability coverage? Answer: Use your own judgment, but make sure to make a balance between the money you save now and the expenses and risks you could be minimizing in the future. Again, whatever the insurance company does not cover will have to be paid for directly by you, so you may want to think about purchasing coverage beyond the minimum liability insurance protection. Minimum liability may not be enough money to cover a major accident involving injuries or property damage. On the other hand, if there is a loan on your vehicle, the lender will most probably require you to maintain full coverage insurance for the duration of the loan. If the vehicle is paid for, you could decide to purchase minimum liability at your own risk.
Question: If I choose a higher deductible, will that help me save even more money if I want low cost auto insurance? Answer: Absolutely, again it is a judgment call on your part. You could pay more now, or save money and you could risk paying more out of your pocket later or facing a lawsuit in the event that you are at fault in an accident.
Question: Is there anything to protect me from an accident that is my fault? Answer: Some companies offer the option of “accident forgiveness policies”
Question: Should I definitely try to get an accident forgiveness policy if I consider myself to be accident prone? Answer: Your first accident may be fully covered by your insurance company, but in a second wreck, you will most likely be paying somewhere around 45% higher premiums. The bottom line is you need to drive carefully in order to qualify for a low cost auto insurance quote. If you cannot drive carefully or are really accident prone, you may want to consider using public transportation instead.
Question: Will bad credit make my insurance rates higher? Answer: Yes, bad credit, among other factors, will make your insurance rates higher.
Question: What if I have a parking or speeding ticket on my driving record? Answer: Depending on what kind of a ticket you have, you will have to pay higher rates for insurance. If you have a parking ticket or speeding ticket your insurance will go up. Keep in mind that if you let your insurance lapse you have to turn in your plates in advance, otherwise you will face hefty fines and it will be a very costly mistake.
Question: What if my partner and I share a car, but it is registered only in my name. Answer: Depending on your circumstances and your insurance company’s policy, you may be required to add your partner as a driver on your policy. If your partner also has a car of his own, you could insure both cars with the same company under a paying for a multi-car agreement and qualify for a discount.
Question: What if I have a parking or speeding ticket on my driving record? Answer: Depending on what kind of a ticket you have, you will have to pay higher rates for insurance. If you have a parking ticket or speeding ticket your insurance will go up. Keep in mind that if you let your insurance lapse you have to turn in your plates in advance, otherwise you will face hefty fines and it will be a very costly mistake.
Question: What if my partner and I share a car, but it is registered only in my name. Answer: Depending on your circumstances and your insurance company’s policy, you may be required to add your partner as a driver on your policy. If your partner also has a car of his own, you could insure both cars with the same company under a paying for a multi-car agreement and qualify for a discount.
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