Getting a Car Insurance Quote in Texas
If you are looking for auto insurance coverage in Texas, it is important to start pricing the cost of insurance with several different insurance companies. Comparison shopping is perhaps the most effective way for current policyholders to save money and for new residents of Texas to find competitively priced auto insurance policies.
By taking the time to shop around before you buy, you can feel confident in the car insurance purchase that you make. Use our FREE search tool above!
There are a number of different ways that you can get car insurance quotes in Texas, and the method that you choose will depend upon your own level of comfort and preferences. Before you start your mission to find the best auto insurance policy, you should be aware of the pros and cons of each method of quoting.
Once you choose a preferred method, it will be time to gather the information that you need to get the most accurate quotes possible. Read this guide to getting a car insurance quote in Texas, and make buying protection and peace of mind easier than ever before.
How to Get Your Texas Car Insurance Quotes
Years ago, the only way individuals could retrieve auto insurance quotes in Texas was to visit a local agent in their office. As time passed, insurance companies recognized that Texas residents where looking for more convenient ways to buy policies and service these policies.
While visiting a local agency is the only way to get the face-to-face traditional service that some people crave in today's modern world, it is not the most convenient option for people with children or employees who work long hours.
If you value your time and being face-to-face with your agent is not important to you, you can also pick up the phone and receive quotes directly with a Texas auto insurance company by calling a 1-800 number that is typically open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You will speak with a live agent that is licensed in the state of Texas as a producer who can sell auto insurance products. While this option is convenient, waiting on hold can be frustrating if you call during peak times. It can be especially frustrating because you must call multiple companies to get quotations from each company direct. This may take time you do not have to dedicate to buying insurance.
Because there are dozens or even hundreds of insurance companies that do business in the state of Texas, the increasingly popular option is to use an online rate comparison tool to shop for insurance. By using these advanced modern tools, consumers can actually enter their information a single time and then gain access to the rates that are available through the most reputable Texas auto insurance companies.
This is the best option because the base rates through their own unique rating system that is approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. Using a reputable rate comparison tool is the best way to shop smart.
Tips to Help You Shop for Coverage in Texas
Now that you know exactly where you can start to shop for coverage, the next step is prepping yourself for the shopping endeavor. No matter which method that you choose, you will be asked most of the same generic questions so that underwriters can assess how much risk you present and how likely you are to file a claim.
Your premiums are based on more than just a base rate and the coverage options that you select, they are also based on the answers that you give to questions on your application. Here are tips so that you answer quoting questions as accurately as possible:
What information do you need to provide?
Your agent or the quoting system that you use will ask you about you, your passengers, your driving histories, your vehicle and other details to give you a quotation. If you do not have the information that is required to estimate the cost of your policy, it can delay the quoting process and affect your premiums once the policy is issued.
If you would like to make sure your quoting efforts go as smoothly as possible, here is the information you should have available when you sit down:
- Car information: VIN, year, make, model, ownership status, primary use, anti-theft device, and estimated annual mileage
- Driver information: legal name, gender, marital status, date of birth, age first licensed, Texas license number, previous license number, previous insurer
- Driving record and claims history: the date of any moving violations in the last 3 years or accidents in the last 7 years. Serious moving violations can be considered for 10 years.
- Address where vehicle is parked
- Profession, if employed
- Coverage options you would like to carry
- Discounts you qualify for: good Student, affiliation, mature driver courses, driver education courses, and more
Why is it important to provide accurate information?
All too often, people who decide to get Texas car insurance quotes on a whim fail to provide accurate answers to the questions they are asked. If this happens, it is possible for premiums to go up from what what quotes initially during the underwriting phase before the policy is issued.
Contrary to popular belief, a quote is not a set price. If anything is not correct on your application and the underwriter discovers this, the company does have the right to charge more than quoted. These are referred to misquotes caused by giving misinformation.
The only time that you cannot be charged more than you were quoted is if the agent misrepresented pricing intentionally to get your business. If this happens, you have the right to file a complaint for misrepresentation through the Texas Department of Insurance so that you can help other consumers before they fall victim to an agent's immoral acts.
This does not happen often, but it is something to be aware of as a smart and knowledgeable consumer.
Know What Coverage You Want to Buy and Be Flexible
If you already have Texas auto insurance coverage, the easiest way to get the most accurate quotes when you are comparison shopping is to have your declarations page available. You will go down the line of your coverage types of limits and select the same exact limits to see if any of the companies that you are shopping with are competitive.
Once you have quoted apples to apples coverage, you can be a bit more flexible and request quotations for higher limits or additional cover.
In some cases, when you are not paying a competitive price for your current coverage, you may be able to add coverage and still keep your premiums low. You are only required to carry liability cover in Texas to avoid fines, but that does not mean that you do not have the option to buy more protection for yourself and your family when you are behind the wheel.
What can you do before you have your information?
If you are just curious about current premiums or you would like to do some leg work before you start the quoting process, there are some steps you can take before you call an agent, visit an agency or use an online comparison tool. Here are some things to get out of the way before you give your information.
Get Sample Rates Through the Department
The Department of Insurance in Texas is the regulating body for the industry. This means that the department not only oversees companies, they also approve rate filings. While rates vary from company to company, the department has created a sample rate tool where you can enter your driver information and get an estimate.
These sample rates are strictly for educational purposes, but if you are curious and you do not have all of the information that you need to start quoting, this is a great step to take.
Find Financially Secure Licensed Insurers in Texas
You should not trust just any Texas insurer to provide you with coverage on the road. It is extremely important to find a company that is committed to financial security and that follows the licensing standards in Texas. The easiest way to find out if a company is financially stable and has an active licensing status is to visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.
By entering the name of the company you want to research, you will be directed to a company profile that shows you licensing information, financial information and the number of closed complaints for that specific company. This helps you equip yourself with information you need to make a well-researched decision.
Getting a car insurance quote in Texas can be easy if you take the time to equip yourself with the knowledge and the information that you need. Be sure to consider the tips above when you are shopping for coverage so that you can find an affordable auto insurance policy. Use the FREE tool below to compare policies today!