Save Money on Car Insurance in El Paso

Trying to find low-cost auto insurance rates in El Paso, TX? I doubt anyone looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially when they know the cost is way too high.

Unbelievably, most auto insurance policyholders have purchased from the same company for well over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never shopped around. With the average premium in Texas being $2,680, drivers could save almost $1,800 every year by just comparing rate quotes, but they don’t believe the large savings they would see if they moved their coverage to a different company.

People have multiple insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to find the best rates.

Finding affordable insurance coverage in El Paso seems hard but is not really that difficult. If you currently have insurance, you will definitely be able to shop for the lowest rates using the ideas presented in this article. Although Texas consumers must know how the larger insurance companies determine what you pay because it varies considerably.

Cost estimates assume single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in specific El Paso garaging location which can affect coverage rates greatly.

Take advantage of every insurance discount

Car insurance companies do not list all possible discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the next list breaks down both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden insurance savings.

• Discounts for Government Workers – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction depending on your insurance provider.
• Active Service Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could trigger a small discount.
• Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are less likely to be stolen and earn discounts up to 10% off your El Paso auto insurance quote.
• Early Payment Discounts – By paying your entire bill at once as opposed to paying monthly you may have a lower total premium amount.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Drivers over the age of 55 may receive better insurance rates.
• Safe Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents could pay up to 40% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
• One Accident Forgiven – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like GEICO, Progressive, and Allstate will turn a blind eye to one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Memberships – Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your next renewal.
• Driver Safety – Taking part in a driver safety class can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Sign Online – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive simply for signing on the internet.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, nobody gets a free ride.

Large insurance companies and some of the discounts include:

• State Farm offers discounts including accident-free, defensive driving training, driver’s education, multiple policy, multiple autos, and safe vehicle.
• Progressive offers premium reductions for online quote discount, homeowner, continuous coverage, online signing, good student, and multi-vehicle.
• Progressive has discounts for multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, online signing, good student, and online quote discount.
• MetLife offers discounts for multi-policy, claim-free, good driver, accident-free, and defensive driver.
• Farm Bureau has savings for 55 and retired, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, good student, driver training, and safe driver.
• GEICO may offer discounts for military active duty, defensive driver, good student, daytime running lights, membership and employees, anti-lock brakes, and anti-theft.
• SAFECO policyholders can earn discounts including anti-lock brakes, safe driver, anti-theft, multi-car, drive less, bundle discounts, and teen safety rewards.

Before buying, ask every insurance company the best way to save money. Depending on the company, some discounts may not be offered in El Paso. To choose companies with the best insurance discounts in Texas, click here.

Auto insurance coverage information

Knowing the specifics of insurance helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the normal coverages available from insurance companies.

Liability

This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. It protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 30/60/25 which stand for a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a total of $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as legal defense fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, emergency aid and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Texas state minimum liability requirements are 30/60/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

The next chart shows why buying low liability limits may not be enough coverage.

Collision protection

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims like hitting a mailbox, damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses such as doctor visits, chiropractic care, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses and ambulance fees. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, theft, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Best and worst vehicle claim statistics

Which are the best vehicles for low claims? The following statistics show the best and worst cars and trucks for likelihood of having to file claims organized by coverage.

Auto insurance savings summarized

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big error on their part. The goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to get a better price on auto insurance in El Paso. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the best car insurance rates are with a small local company. These companies often have lower premium rates on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

How to save on car insurance in El Paso

To save the most money, the best way to get affordable auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in El Paso. This can be done by completing these steps.

1. Try to comprehend how car insurance works and the measures you can take to lower rates. Many factors that cause rate increases such as accidents, traffic violations, and a substandard credit score can be rectified by paying attention to minor details.
2. Get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can give you price quotes from multiple companies.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get rate quotes from every company you can. This guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and a thorough price selection.

Additional information can be read at these links:

• How to Avoid Buying a Flooded Car (Insurance Information Institute)
• What to do at the Scene of an Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
• Your Car has been Stolen: Now What? (Allstate)
• Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
• Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)