Usually, you think of most businesses, especially in retail or travel services as having the same prices generally, or you at least would associate certain brands as having cheaper prices than ever. But when it comes to auto insurance companies, they don’t quite work the same way. The price you pay for auto insurance will vary greatly from state to state and region to region because each state has their own traffic laws, and safety and accident statistics will also vary from state to state. So if you’re planning on or have recently moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you should get multiple quotes from auto insurance companies in Dallas because staying with your current insurance company could be more expensive than what you should be paying. So how can you get better auto insurance rates?
Use An Online Quote Service
Gone are the days where you have to pull out the yellow page phone book and call up every local insurance company trying to find out their rates. There are so many online quote services you can use where you can get side by side quotes based on driver information you enter. You might be surprised at what you find in the quote listings, though the prices you see may not take into account other discounts you might qualify for.
Keep On Top Of Your Own Driving And Credit History
Of all the discounts that you can get, safe driving and having a number of drivers on your policy usually trumps every other discount. So making sure you avoid traffic tickets and pay them off quickly when you get them, driving defensively and owning a vehicle with a high safety rating are usually the best ways to bring your rates down. But keeping your credit score up can also give you a lower rate because insurance companies want to know that you’re reliable for paying your premium. Also, you should consider paying your premium once every six months or once every year because that too can lower your total rates.
Make Sure You’re Not Buying A Policy You Don’t Need
One thing you would be wise to do your homework on is the kind of policy you’re considering, and all the add-ons that come with it. There’s a lot of insurance companies that will have different prepackaged plans out there, and sometimes these plans are great deals if they bundle auto with homeowners or renters insurance. But you shouldn’t just go with these plans because they may have the coverage you don’t need. For example, if you have an older vehicle that would cost more to repair than it’s worth if it’s totaled, then you probably shouldn’t have collision insurance on it. And even if you do need collision coverage on your policy, you should make sure you have a deductible figured into the coverage if you have an amount in savings that you can use to pay the repair bill instead of having a more expensive premium by not doing this. Depending on your circumstances, you may also wish to forego bonuses such as roadside assistance or other fancy add-ons, because if you end up not using them, that’s just more money unwisely spent.
Ultimately, it’ll take some inquiries on your part as well as an understanding of the auto insurance market before you decide to go with a certain insurance company. You should also pay a visit to the one you’re interested in and get a feel for what their agent is like and if they understand your particular insurance needs. But you’re always better off walking in with full knowledge of what you’re looking for so that you’re not overpaying.