Feel like you’re a prisoner to an expensive car insurance policy? Trust us, you’re not alone.
A recent car insurance study revealed that the vast majority of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least four years, and just short of a majority have never quoted car insurance rates at all. Houston drivers could save an average of almost 70% each year just by shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the amount of money they would save if they bought a different policy.
There are many insurers to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates for GMC Sierra insurance in Houston.
Discounts for affordable insurance quotes
Some companies do not list every policy discount very clearly, so the following list contains both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts you could be receiving when you buy Houston auto insurance online.
- Distant Student – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle could get you a discount.
- Use Seat Belts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to use a seat belt may be able to save a few bucks off the personal injury premium cost.
- Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Online Discount – Some of the larger companies provide a small discount simply for signing on the web.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount for every vehicle.
- Life Insurance Discount – Select companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
- Professional Organizations – Having an affiliation with a civic or occupational organization in Houston could qualify you for a break when getting a Houston auto insurance quote.
As is typical with insurance, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.
Popular insurance companies and their offered discounts can be found below.
- State Farm may include discounts for multiple policy, multiple autos, student away at school, anti-theft, and good driver.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include new vehicle discount, multi-car, teen driver discount, newly married, multi-policy, and newly retired.
- American Family offers discounts for Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, early bird, defensive driver, and accident-free.
- Progressive may offer discounts for online quote discount, online signing, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including youthful driver, electronic funds transfer, alternative fuel, multi-car, and distant student.
- Auto-Owners Insurance may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, group or association, student away at school, mature driver, good student, and air bags.
- SAFECO has discounts for teen safe driver, bundle discounts, anti-lock brakes, homeowner, accident prevention training, teen safety rewards, and multi-car.
If you need cheaper Houston auto insurance quotes, ask each company the best way to save money. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders in Houston. To see insurers who offer free GMC Sierra insurance quotes in Texas, click this link.
Ways to get GMC Sierra insurance rate quotes in Houston, TX
To find low cost Houston auto insurance quotes, there are several ways to get quotes from companies that offer auto insurance in Texas. The fastest way to lower the rate you pay for GMC Sierra insurance is to get quotes online.
It’s so easy to compare rates online that it makes it a waste of time to actually drive to insurance agencies in your area. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the extra assistance of a licensed agent. Some companies do allow you to find lower rates online but have a local agent actually write the policy.
When comparison shopping, comparing a large number of companies helps increase your odds of locating better pricing. Some smaller insurers do not give online price quotes, so you should also compare prices from them as well.
The companies shown below provide comparison quotes in Houston, TX. If more than one company is shown, we recommend you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $282 | $580 | $400 | $24 | $120 | $1,406 | $117 |
Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $254 | $486 | $400 | $24 | $120 | $1,284 | $107 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $186 | $340 | $366 | $22 | $110 | $1,024 | $85 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $318 | $684 | $400 | $24 | $120 | $1,546 | $129 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $284 | $580 | $358 | $22 | $108 | $1,352 | $113 |
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $318 | $718 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,620 | $135 |
Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $370 | $698 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,586 | $132 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $210 | $400 | $366 | $22 | $110 | $1,108 | $92 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $160 | $312 | $366 | $22 | $110 | $970 | $81 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $246 | $434 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,214 | $101 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $356 | $788 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,818 | $152 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $410 | $858 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,966 | $164 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $224 | $486 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,338 | $112 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $318 | $660 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,562 | $130 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $412 | $804 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,734 | $145 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location which can change premium rates greatly.
Comparison of auto insurance rates by gender
The information below compares GMC Sierra auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The costs are based on no violations or claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Can higher deductibles save money?
The hardest decision when buying coverage is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The rates below may help to conceptualize the costs and benefits between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $370 | $672 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,585 | $132 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $370 | $672 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,585 | $132 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $370 | $672 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,585 | $132 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $228 | $424 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,170 | $98 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $228 | $424 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,170 | $98 |
Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $228 | $424 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,170 | $98 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in your specific Houston location which can increase or decrease prices considerably.
Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $31 more each month or $372 each year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have more than 24 months between claims, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible.
Calculation for raising deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $122 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $91 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $31 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $31 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 24 months |
One important caveat is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates results in more money out-of-pocket when you have to file a claim. You need some savings in the bank in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage
The information below shows the difference between GMC Sierra insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the Texas minimum liability coverage. Data assumes no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, married male driver, and no additional discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no clear-cut formula for phasing out full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your GMC Sierra settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If premium cost is more than $800 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
How Your Sierra Insurance Rates are Determined
Many factors are used when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are more transparent like your vehicle usage or how financially stable you are. A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing some of the factors that go into determining car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better car insurance rates.
- Small claims can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you should expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Texas award cheaper rates to people that do not abuse their auto insurance. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- How many coverages with the same company – Some companies provide a discount to customers that buy multiple policies. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be ten percent or more. If you currently are using one company, consumers should still compare GMC Sierra rates in Houston to verify if the discount is saving money.
- Eliminate extra coverages – Policies have additional coverages you can purchase but may not be useful. Insurance for things like replacement cost coverage, better glass coverage, and motor club memberships are examples of these. They may seem good when deciding what coverages you need, but your needs may have changed so think about removing them and cutting costs.
- Can a thief steal your car? – Owning a car with advanced anti-theft systems can help lower your premiums. Anti-theft features such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems help track and prevent auto theft.
- Being married can lower prices – Being married can get you a discount on your car insurance bill. It usually means you are more financially stable and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
- Cheaper premiums for prior coverage – Driving with no insurance is a big no-no and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. And not only will insurance be more expensive, not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time.
- Performance affects insurance rates – The performance of the vehicle you need to insure makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. The lowest premiums are for small economy passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost. Since the GMC Sierra is classified as a pickup truck, insuring your vehicle will cost similar in price compared to average rates in Houston.
- Driver age impacts premiums – Teen drivers in Texas are statistically shown to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher. Having to add a teenage driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and usually have better credit.
- GMC Sierra claim statistics – Companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when they calculate premium costs for each model. Vehicles that the data determines to have increased losses will cost more for specific coverages. The data below shows the insurance loss data for GMC Sierra vehicles.
For each insurance policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, as an average, is set at 100. Percentages below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers that are greater than 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
Insurance Loss Ratings for GMC Sierra Vehicles
Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury GMC Sierra 1500 2WD 89 122 106 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD 97 86 79 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 2WD 87 99 132 69 69 89 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 4WD 89 102 114 52 51 73 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 2WD 98 109 96 70 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4WD 78 85 89 65 56 94 GMC Sierra 2500 4WD 70 56 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 2WD 63 101 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD 91 118 105 43 50 90 GMC Sierra 2500 Ext Cab 4WD 67 108 85 40 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab 4WD 85 128 121 35 Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
When do I need an agent’s advice?
When quoting and comparing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are unique to you and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
- Can I get a multi-policy discount?
- Are my friends covered when driving my GMC Sierra?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Is a fancy paint job covered?
- What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Local insurance agents
Some consumers prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that can be a smart move One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is definitely important in Houston.
Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Houston that can give you free Houston auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to find an agent because quoted prices will be sent immediately to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates AND a local agent. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific insurance company, just go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
What types of auto insurance agents are in Houston?
When narrowing the list to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agents can be classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Independent Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be independent are normally appointed by many insurers so as a result can place your coverage through lots of different companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent.
If you need cheaper insurance rates, you will want to get several quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to maximize your price options.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Houston that may be able to give you rate quotes.
Champions Insurance Agency
15327 Gulf Fwy b – Houston, TX 77034 – (281) 484-4870 – View Map
Texas Prime Insurance Agency, LLC
6750 West Loop S #430 – Bellaire, TX 77401 – (713) 750-9000 – View Map
Texas General Insurance Agency
2500 West Loop S #210 – Houston, TX 77027 – (713) 622-5977 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel have only one company to place business with such as State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. These agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. They are well trained on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive agents in Houston willing to provide price quote information.
Joy Knox State Farm Insurance Agency
1510 Eldridge Pkwy #108 – Houston, TX 77077 – (281) 759-4300 – View Map
Tammy Pham – State Farm Insurance Agent
13618 Bellaire Blvd, Ste E5 – Houston, TX 77083 – (281) 498-6800 – View Map
Brandon Herndon – State Farm Insurance Agent
10103 Fondren Rd #150 – Houston, TX 77096 – (832) 431-4222 – View Map
Picking the best insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Houston?
- How are claims handled?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
Choosing the best Sierra insurance in Texas is an important decision
Despite the fact that insurance is not cheap in Houston, insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
- Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific level of liability in order to be legal. 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.
- If your Sierra has a lien holder, it’s most likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you carry insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If the policy lapses, the bank may insure your GMC at a much higher rate and force you to pay for it.
- Insurance safeguards both your vehicle and your assets. It also can pay for hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of having insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying over $700 annually so compare rate quotes at least once a year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Affordable insurance is out there
We just covered a lot of techniques to find affordable GMC Sierra insurance in Houston. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Houston auto insurance, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Houston auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with a small mutual company. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agencies. The cheapest GMC Sierra insurance in Houston is definitely available both online and from local insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection.
Additional information can be found on the following sites:
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Car Insurance for Good Drivers in Houston? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Business Use in Houston? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)