Tested Methods for the Cheapest Houma, LA Auto Insurance

Finding the most affordable Houma auto insurance on the internet may be rather challenging for consumers new to comparison shopping online. With such a large number of online companies, how can anyone even start to compare them all to find the lowest rates?

It is always a good idea to compare rates once or twice a year because prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the best price on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to learn the quickest way to lower your annual insurance bill.

The purpose of this post is to teach you the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Louisiana consumers only need an understanding of how to shop their coverage around online.

Compare Quotes for Houma Auto Insurance

Most major insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive quote insurance quotes on the web. Obtaining pricing doesn’t take a lot of time as you simply type in as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, their rating system will order reports for credit and driving violations and returns a price.

This streamlines rate comparisons, but the work required to visit multiple sites and complete many quote forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s very important to do this in order to find the best price possible.

The quickest way to compare auto insurance pricing requires only one form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. This type of form saves time, reduces the work, and makes online price comparison much more efficient. Immediately after submitting the form, it gets priced and you can choose any one of the quotes that you receive.

If you find a better price you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. It can be completed in a matter of minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here to open in a new tab and submit your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you replicate the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. Using the same limits helps guarantee you’re receiving rate quotes for similar coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but a few must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

• Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
• Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
• Accident Waiver – Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, follow this link.

Many Things Influence your Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• Your stress level may be raising your rates – Careers like lawyers, executives and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates due to high stress levels and long work hours. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
• Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart auto theft.
• Adjust deductibles and save – Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
• More than one policy can earn a discount – Some auto insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Drive less and save money – Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars left parked in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
• Careful drivers pay lower rates – Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to keep their license.

Comparing rates from local agents

A small number of people would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Houma.

After completing this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to local insurance agents in Houma who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to leave your house as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!

Choose the right insurance agent

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agencies in Houma are either independent or captive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know the difference between them since it may influence your selection of an agent.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include multiple independent agents for the best price selection.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.

Listed below are Houma independent insurance agents that are able to give comparison quotes.

• Griffin Agency – 664 Corporate Dr – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 876-0194
• Rosenthal Agency Inc – 7 Professional Dr – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 868-0051
• Ledet Insurance – 209 Goode St # 101 – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 872-4577
• Prudential Insurance Co – 6897 W Main St – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 868-7317
• Direct General Ins Agency – 6168 W Park Ave – Houma, LA 70364 – (985) 868-1000

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents write business for a single company like State Farm or Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below are captive insurance agents in Houma that are able to give price quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 427 W Tunnel Blvd – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 873-8000
• State Farm Insurance – 209 Bayou Gardens Blvd # G – Houma, LA 70364 – (985) 851-2554
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 282 Corporate Dr – Houma, LA 70360 – (985) 876-2876

To view a full list of captive agents in Houma, visit this site.

Selecting an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the price. These questions are important to ask:

• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?
• How are claims handled?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?

Once you have received good answers and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, download brochures, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and discover disciplinary actions.

In the end, you save

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in responding to claim requests and even high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

Discount auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Houma agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.