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Austin Auto Insurance Costs- Don’t get Overcharged!Auto insurance rates vary incredibly from the company you use to the coverage you want to the kind of car you drive along with your past driving record. There are however, some things you can do to lower your auto insurance costs yourself. Watch this video to learn ways you can save money on car insurance, then read on.
Do your homework. Call several companies for quotes because charges could be dramatically different from one company to the next. Consult friends and family, the yellow pages, Texas state insurance department, consumer guides and web sites that will locate and compare different brokers. You want to find a company not only based on price but also customer service. You certainly wouldn’t want to get in an accident and have no one to call due to limited hours of operation or long waiting times. Ask the agent what they can do to lower your cost. Check financial ratings of the companies researched. Find an agent that you feel completely comfortable talking with- there are some things like past driving record that can be very personal to discuss with a stranger. Find out what your deductible will be . The higher the deductible, the lower your costs will be. For instance, if you were to increase your deductible from $200 to $500, you could potentially reduce your collision cost by 15% to 30%. Keep in mind, however, that the deductible is your responsibility to pay whenever a collision occurs or a repair is needed. Say that you get into an accident. You have a $300 deductible. You pay the first $300 and your insurance company will pay the remainder. If you have an older vehicle, it may not be a good idea to have collision or comprehensive insurance. This is also true if you own a car that is valued at less than $1000. Typically, most claims that would be made would not substantially exceed the annual cost of insurance and/or the cost of the deductible. You don’t necessarily need to sign up for personal injury protection. If you have health insurance, you may be duplicating your coverage if your insurance company covers medical expenses in the case of an auto accident. If you are in the market for a new car, look first at auto insurance prices. Any car that has a high repair cost or is a target for theft will be more expensive to insure. Auto insurance somewhat depends on location. If you live in a rural area, rates tend to be less than if you live in the downtown of a major metropolitan area. Ask the company if they offer a discount for people who drive less than the predetermined amount/year. Companies can make estimates regarding the mileage in accordance with usage. If your car is used as your primary vehicle your rates may be higher than if it is used only for commuting to your place of employment. Insurance companies can offer discounts. There may also be discounts offered if your vehicle has automatic seat belts and/or air bags. Some insurance companies will offer a discount if you need to insure more than one vehicle, if you haven’t recently had an accident, if your car has anti lock brakes, and if you’re a student with good grades. In addition, they can offer a discount if you use the same company for your car insurance as well as your home owners insurance. So next time your in the market for a new car, or even just a new insurance policy, don’t get overcharged. If you know all the tricks of the trade, you could be saving quite a bit of money on car insurance. Back to Business Services Main Page What do you think? Our goal is to get more and better information out to Austin residents everyday. We can't improve without your help....Please let us know what you like, dislike and what we could be doing better. Email at feedback@austinsmartconsumer.com |
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