Has it been a year or more since you last compared quotes for cheaper car insurance rates in Houston, TX? Houston shoppers have options when shopping for affordable BMW 535i insurance. They can either waste time struggling with agents to get rate comparisons or leverage the internet to find the lowest rates. There are more efficient ways to buy car insurance and we’ll show you the best way to get price quotes for your BMW and get the best price possible from both online companies and Houston agents.
You should make it a habit to do price comparisons once or twice a year since insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. If you had the best rate on BMW 535i insurance in Houston two years ago you will most likely find a better price today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in how to use the internet to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
If you’re already insured or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates without reducing protection. This article’s goal is to teach you a little about how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. Shoppers just have to use the best way to compare prices from many different companies.
Smart Buyers Can Reduce Their Insurance Prices
Lots of factors are used when you quote your car insurance policy. Most are fairly basic like an MVR report, but others are less apparent like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is. A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing some of the things that help determine car insurance rates. When you understand what influences your rates, this enables you to make decisions that will entitle you to big savings.
The items below are most of the major factors used by companies to determine your rates.
- Gender and insurance coverage – Over time, data shows females are less aggressive when driving. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Males and females tend to get into at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Not only that, but men also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
- Car plus home equals more savings – Most insurers will award discounts to buyers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, it’s always a smart idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
- High premiums for teenage drivers – Young drivers in Texas are statistically proven to get distracted easily with other occupants in the car and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher. Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and are safer drivers.
- Never let your car insurance policy lapse – Driving with no insurance is against the law and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will your rates increase, the inability to provide proof of insurance may result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Texas department of motor vehicles.
Lowering your insurance rates is a great way to save money. All you need to do is invest a little time comparing rates from different insurance companies.
The companies shown below are ready to provide price comparisons in Texas. If the list has multiple companies, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to find the cheapest car insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $350 | $746 | $400 | $24 | $120 | $1,640 | $137 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $314 | $632 | $358 | $22 | $108 | $1,434 | $120 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,464 | $122 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $478 | $500 | $30 | $150 | $1,472 | $123 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in your specific Houston location which can revise price quotes substantially.
Auto insurance prices based on gender
The chart below compares BMW 535i premium costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Higher deductibles lower rates
One common question asked by Houston drivers is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The rates below lay out the costs and benefits between high and low deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $408 | $762 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,713 | $143 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $408 | $762 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,713 | $143 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $408 | $762 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,713 | $143 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $446 | $762 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,751 | $146 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535I 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,464 | $122 |
| 535I xDrive Station Wagon | $332 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,464 | $122 |
| 535I GT 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,464 | $122 |
| 535I xDrive 4-Dr Sedan | $362 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle location which can impact coverage prices greatly.
Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $21 more each month or $252 a year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at a minimum 12 months between claims, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible.
Car insurance myths debunked
Texas drivers can’t avoid all the ads for the lowest price car insurance from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all try to convey promises that people will save if you get a free Houston auto insurance quote and switch your coverage.
That’s great but how can every company claim to save you money? Here is the trick they use.
Companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of this type of insured could possibly be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get a cheap rate quote in Houston and will most likely save quite a bit of money when switching.
Drivers who may not quite match the requirements must pay a more expensive rate which translates to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The trick is to say “drivers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” can get the lowest rates when switching. This is how insurance companies can make claims like that. This really emphasizes why drivers must compare free Houston auto insurance quotes often. It’s impossible to know with any certainty which company will have better rates than you’re paying now.
Why you need insurance
Despite the high insurance cost for a BMW 535i in Houston, insurance is required for several reasons.
First, almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Texas these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a loan on your 535i, it’s most likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you have full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may insure your BMW for a lot more money and require you to fork over much more than you were paying before.
Third, insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. Insurance will also pay for many types of medical costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly for liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in Texas is wasting up to $700 annually so we recommend shopping around once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are inline.
Get cheaper BMW 535i insurance rates in Houston
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list all their discounts very well, so the next list breaks down some of the more common as well as some of the hidden ways to save on insurance.
- ABS Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Professional Memberships – Participating in a qualifying organization may earn a discount when getting a Houston auto insurance quote.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Theft Deterrent System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are less likely to be stolen and will qualify for a discount on a Houston auto insurance quote.
- Onboard Data Collection – People who choose to allow driving data collection to analyze their driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system might see lower rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Save over 55 – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens could receive reduced rates.
- College Student – Children living away from Houston attending college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though you would think adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
Some companies that may offer these money-saving discounts include:
Before buying, ask each company what discounts are available to you. Savings may not apply to policyholders in Houston. To view companies that offer some of these discounts in Texas, click here.
Do I need an insurance agency?
Some consumers just want to have an agent’s advice and that is a personal choice. Licensed agents will help you protect your assets and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get cheap rate quotes but also keep your business local.
Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to companies in Houston who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer because prices are sent to you. If you want to quote rates from one company in particular, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and give them your coverage information.
Finding the right company should depend on more than just a cheap quote. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- How much experience to they have in personal lines coverages?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Insurance agent types
When finding a reliable insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Houston agents are categorized either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either type can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning why they differ since it can affect buying decisions.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type can usually just insure with one company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive insurance agents are well trained on what they offer which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often use the same exclusive agent mainly due to the prominent brand name rather than having low rates.
Below are exclusive agencies in Houston that can give you price quotes.
- Anna Santa Ana – State Farm Insurance Agent
7710 Cherry Park Dr d – Houston, TX 77095 – (281) 550-0333 – View Map - Bob Goodwin – State Farm Insurance Agent
1616 Clear Lake City Blvd #107 – Houston, TX 77062 – (281) 486-9100 – View Map - James Banks – State Farm Insurance Agent
4809 Main St – Houston, TX 77002 – (713) 523-7100 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that choose to be independent are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles through lots of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If they quote lower rates, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to do anything.
When comparing rate quotes, it’s a good idea to check rates from several independent insurance agents in order to compare the most rates. Most also have access to less well-known companies that may have much lower rates than larger companies.
Listed below are Houston independent agencies willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Suzanne Brown Agency-Insurance
11999 Katy Fwy #635 – Houston, TX 77079 – (281) 558-2210 – View Map - Jason Jimenez Insurance Agency
8323 Southwest Fwy #390 – Houston, TX 77074 – (713) 270-0073 – View Map - Town and Country Insurance Agency – Houston, TX
10575 Katy Fwy # 150 – Houston, TX 77024 – (713) 461-8979 – View Map
One last thing to lower rates
People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, not issuing a premium refund, poor customer service and even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.
We just showed you a lot of ways to save on BMW 535i insurance in Houston. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with an unexpected company.
As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at the best cost.
More learning opportunities
- Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Houston Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Tacoma in Houston? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota Highlander in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for 18 Year Olds in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for High School Students in Houston? (FAQ)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)