Proven Tricks for Buying Mesquite Car Insurance at a Discount

Have you fallen victim to overpriced car insurance? Believe me, you’re not the only one. Since consumers have many choices of insurance companies, it can be impossible to locate the most affordable insurer.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Cost in Mesquite, TX

Shopping for lower car insurance rates can take time and effort if you don’t know the most efficient way to do it. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with agents in Mesquite, or you can utilize online quotes to quickly compare rates.

The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to submit one quote, and each participating company can give them a price for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests for each company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of system is buyers cannot specifically choose the providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have a page of car insurance companies in Texas. Click here to view list.

Whichever method you choose, double check that you are using exactly the same coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Mesquite.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Texas consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance by Allstate and Progressive. They all say the same thing that you can save after switching to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has excellent credit. Any driver who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to the requirements will be charged a higher premium and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why you absolutely need to get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Why you might pay higher rates in Mesquite

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.Mesquite Texas auto insurance

  • Small claims can cost you – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance companies in Texas award discounts to people who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive – The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your car insurance will be.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job – Occupations such as lawyers, architects and financial analysts have higher average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. Conversely, occupations like actors, engineers and retirees get better rates.
  • Where you live can impact rates – Being located in a rural area can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind – The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Drive less and save money – The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rate. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your car insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Your spouse saves you money – Getting married can get you a discount on car insurance. It means you’re more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.

More discounts equal less premium

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Early Switch Discount – Select companies give a discount for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Own a Home – Owning a house in Mesquite can help you save on car insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Paperless Signup – Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy online.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
  • Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Club Memberships – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose companies offering car insurance discounts in Texas, click here to view.

Do I need special coverages?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might help in determining if you might need professional guidance.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
  • Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.

Neighborhood agents for car insurance

Certain consumers prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Good agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local businesses is important particularly in Mesquite.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When looking for a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Mesquite are categorized either independent or captive. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can impact your selection of an agent.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Mesquite that can give you competitive price quotes.

Direct General Ins Agency – 2411 N Galloway Ave # 114 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 681-0720
Cole Insurance Inc – 202 S Walker St – Mesquite, TX 75149 – (972) 285-5451
Tomlinson Agency – 1900 Oates Dr – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 698-6948
Dennis Drain Insurance – 3330 N Galloway Ave # 308 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 270-3535

Agency Captives

These agents write business for a single company and examples are Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. They receive extensive training in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Mesquite willing to provide price quote information.

Mesquite Texas auto insurance

State Farm Insurance – 3939 E Highway 80 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 682-6011
Farmers Insurance Group – 3220 Gus Thomasson Rd # 355 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 686-6803
Allstate Insurance – 3300 Gus Thomasson Rd # 245 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 613-1387
Shelter Insurance – 3600 Gus Thomasson Rd # 143 – Mesquite, TX 75150 – (972) 681-2736

For a full directory of captive agencies in Mesquite, please view this page.

Choosing an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

  • Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
  • If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
  • Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Texas?
  • Does the agency support the community they serve?
  • If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?

Once you have answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly service your car insurance policy.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Cost effective car insurance is available online and with local Mesquite insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. They may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Progressive or GEICO.

Additional car insurance links

Much more information about car insurance in Texas can be read on the website for the Texas Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Texas consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find a variety of consumer forms, and view agent and company licensing information.

The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in Mesquite