It’s well known that car insurance companies don’t want you to compare rates. Drivers who compare other rates will most likely switch car insurance companies because there is a great chance of finding a more affordable policy. A study discovered that drivers who routinely shopped around saved about $70 a month compared to people who never compared prices.
If saving the most money on insurance is the reason for your visit, then having a grasp of how to quote and compare insurance rates can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.
If you want to save money, the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates is to compare prices at least once a year from different companies who provide car insurance in Dallas. This can be done by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the factors you can control to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates like at-fault accidents and a low credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Continue reading for more information to get cheaper rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to your existing coverage to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and switch companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a completed application and payment for the new policy. Once the paperwork is finalized, store the proof of insurance certificate with the vehicle registration.
One thing to remember is to make sure you enter the same level of coverage on every quote and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. This ensures a level playing field and a complete price analysis.
Car insurance providers offering cheap rates in Texas
The car insurance companies shown below offer free rate quotes in Dallas, TX. If several companies are displayed, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them in order to find the most competitive rates.
Cheaper rates by applying discounts
Car insurance is not inexpensive, but there could be significant discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some discounts will apply at quote time, but some must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.
- Early Signing – Some car insurance companies provide a discount for switching to them before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower premium rates.
- Driver’s Ed – Teen drivers should enroll and complete driver’s education in school.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow driving data submission to track driving manner by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if they show good driving skills.
- Full Payment Discount – By paying your entire bill at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
- Memberships – Belonging to a professional or civic organization could earn you a nice discount on your next renewal.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you could get a free car insurance policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
Some companies who may offer these benefits are:
Before purchasing a policy, check with every prospective company to give you their best rates. Savings might not be offered everywhere.
Save Money with These Tips
Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that are used to determine the rates you pay for car insurance. If you have a feel for what impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that could help you find cheaper rates.
- Gaps in coverage mean higher car insurance rates – Driving your car without having proper coverage is illegal and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance lapse. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you a steep fine or even jail time. You could then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Texas department of motor vehicles.
- Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most larger insurers will award discounts to people who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you qualify for this discount already, drivers will still want to get quotes from other companies to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
- Your vocation is a factor – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as fire fighters, business owners, and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates because of job stress and lots of time spent away from family. On the other hand, professions such as professors, athletes and the unemployed pay lower than average rates.
- Car features that cut prices – Choosing to buy a car with advanced anti-theft systems can earn a premium discount. Systems that thwart thieves like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all aid in stopping car theft and help bring rates down.
- Know your vehicle’s IIHS safety rating – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have lower insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower rates of occupant injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
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Loss probability for a Nissan Quest – Insurers use past loss statistics for each vehicle as a way to help calculate a profitable premium price. Models that the data shows to have high amounts or severity of claims will have a higher premium rate. The table below shows the actual insurance loss data for Nissan Quest vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles compiled together equals 100. Percentages below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while values that are above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or a tendency for claims to be larger.
Nissan Quest Insurance Claim Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Nissan Quest 96 103 94 120 115 98 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
When to contact a local insurance agent
Many drivers still prefer to go talk to an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Agents are highly skilled in risk management and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of getting free rate quotes online is that you can obtain cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Buying insurance from neighborhood agents is definitely important in Dallas.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to leave your house as quotes are delivered instantly to you. If you need to get a comparison quote from a specific company, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
Listed below are Dallas auto insurance companies that may be able to provide price quotes for Nissan Quest insurance in Dallas.
- Insurance One
14180 Dallas Pkwy #900 – Dallas, TX 75254 – (972) 267-8000 – View Map - The Phoenix Insurance
11615 Forest Central Dr #103 – Dallas, TX 75243 – (214) 253-0570 – View Map - Ann Nguyen – State Farm Insurance Agent
12655 N Central Expy #310 – Dallas, TX 75243 – (214) 692-0900 – View Map - State Farm: Brent Cooper
5232 Forest Ln #111 – Dallas, TX 75244 – (214) 987-1995 – View Map
Choosing the best provider should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. The following questions are important to ask.
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
One last note
More affordable insurance in Dallas is available online and also from your neighborhood Dallas agents, so get free Dallas car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not provide rate quotes online and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.
As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your objective should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest cost and still be able to protect your assets.
Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as policy cancellation, extreme rates for teen drivers, poor customer service or not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.
Helpful information
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Young Drivers in Dallas? (FAQ)
- How Much is Dallas Auto Insurance for a GMC Sierra? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for a 20 Year Old Male in Dallas? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Dallas Auto Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Elantra? (FAQ)
- Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)