Things You Must Know Before Buying Dallas Texas Auto Insurance Online

If you’ve never shopped for auto insurance online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the vast number of auto insurance companies selling insurance in Dallas.

Learn How to Lower your Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Pay less if you’re married – Having a spouse actually saves money when buying auto insurance. Having a spouse usually means you are more responsible it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
Discounts for multiple policies – Some companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Do you know you’re credit rating? – Credit history is a big factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with lower credit scores.
High numbers of claims are not good – Auto insurance companies in Texas give lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Mature drivers pay less – Youthful drivers in Texas are statistically proven to be less responsible behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Adding a youthful driver onto your auto insurance can break the bank. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability coverage is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.

You probably qualify for some discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked for prior to receiving the credit.

Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
Defensive Driving Course – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
Good Student – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Accident Forgiveness – A few companies permit an accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle with the same company qualifies for this discount.

Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Texas, click here to view.

Online quotes with a local Dallas insurance agent

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! The best thing about price shopping on the web is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting small agencies is important especially in Dallas.

Upon completion of this quick form, your information gets sent to insurance agents in Dallas who will battle to get your business. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates AND a local agent.

Compare rates from both independent and captive auto insurance agents

If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you contact at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

The following are Dallas independent insurance agencies who can help you get price quotes.

Insurance Pro’s Agency – 2515 Cedar Springs Rd – Dallas, TX 75201 – (214) 922-8804
Kendall Agency – 8410 Flower Meadow Dr – Dallas, TX 75243 – (214) 340-5032
Don Pelster Agency – 1401 Elm St – Dallas, TX 75202 – (214) 748-1109
Near North Insurance Brokerage – 13355 Noel Rd # 1010 – Dallas, TX 75240 – (972) 866-6900
Universal Insurance Exchange – 8100 John W Carpenter Fwy – Dallas, TX 75247 – (214) 905-9044

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents can only write with one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages. Car insurance in Dallas Texas

Shown below are captive insurance agents in Dallas who can help you get price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 4222 Trinity Mills Rd # 206 – Dallas, TX 75287 – (972) 931-0101
Texas Farm Bureau – 9560 Skillman St – Dallas, TX 75243 – (214) 340-8394
State Farm Insurance – 12989 Jupiter Rd # 205 – Dallas, TX 75238 – (214) 342-3494
Allstate Insurance – 16950 Dallas Pkwy # 101 – Dallas, TX 75248 – (972) 931-9868
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 9400 N Central Expy # 111 – Dallas, TX 75231 – (214) 987-2275

To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Dallas, please view this page.

Choosing an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
Who are their largest clients?

Once you have received reasonable responses and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.

Beware of misleading auto insurance ads

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. An example of a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t meet these standards must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you absolutely need to compare many company’s rates. Because you never know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.

Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

More information can be found on the Texas Department of Insurance website located here. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, learn about insurance regulations, and find out industry alerts.

The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Dallas

Dallas Car Insurance Buying Tips Every Consumer Should Know

One last thing

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Dallas agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.