No car owner rejoices having to buy insurance, in particular when they could find better rates elsewhere.
A recent study showed that over 70% of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for four years or more, and approximately 40% of consumers have never compared rates with other companies. Texas insurance shoppers could cut their rates by about $1,770 a year just by shopping around, but they don’t understand how simple it is to compare rate quotes online.
Companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive increase brand awareness with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the flashy ads and take the time to shop coverage around.
Smart consumers take time to compare premium rates as often as possible since rates are usually higher with each renewal. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rate on Dodge Avenger insurance in Houston a few years ago there may be better deals available now. Ignore everything you know about insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the only way to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you will surely be able to cut your premiums using these techniques. Finding the cheapest coverage in Houston is really not that difficult. But Texas vehicle owners must understand how big insurance companies calculate your policy premium because rates are impacted by many factors.
Score discounts on Houston auto insurance
Some providers don’t always advertise the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so the next list breaks down both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to bring down your rates.
- Driver Education Discount – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in school.
- Theft Deterrent – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10% off your Houston auto insurance quote.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers can get reduced rates.
- Defensive Driver – Taking a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Membership in Organizations – Joining qualifying employment or professional organizations could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you aren’t that lucky.
Companies that may offer policyholders most of the discounts above include:
Before buying, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts might not be offered on policies in your state. To choose insurers that offer the discounts shown above in Houston, follow this link.
When price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes will improve the odds of getting the best rates.
The companies shown below are ready to provide comparison quotes in Houston, TX. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you visit several of them in order to find the most competitive rates.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avenger Express | $206 | $486 | $486 | $28 | $146 | $1,352 | $113 |
Avenger R/T | $178 | $422 | $520 | $30 | $156 | $1,306 | $109 |
Avenger SXT | $318 | $684 | $440 | $26 | $132 | $1,600 | $133 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Information does not factor in specific location information which can raise or lower rates considerably.
How high should deductibles be?
A question often asked by Houston drivers is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The figures shown below approximate how much more rates are when you buy lower versus higher deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avenger Express | $328 | $698 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,635 | $136 |
Avenger R/T | $328 | $698 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,635 | $136 |
Avenger SXT | $328 | $698 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,635 | $136 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avenger Express | $182 | $368 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,134 | $95 |
Avenger R/T | $182 | $368 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,134 | $95 |
Avenger SXT | $182 | $368 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,134 | $95 |
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, claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and homeowner. Table data does not factor in garaging location in Houston which can affect insurance rates significantly.
Based on the figures above, using a $100 deductible costs roughly $41 more each month or $492 annually than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go more than 22 months between claims, you would save money going with the higher deductible. Below is how this calculation is made.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $136 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $95 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $41 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $41 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 22 months |
An important sidenote is that increasing deductibles to save money means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have to file a claim. That will require enough savings in the event you need to pay more for the deductible.
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
The illustration below shows how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders drive up Dodge Avenger premium costs for different ages of insureds. The data is based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Gender-based auto insurance rates by age
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Dodge Avenger annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no violations or claims, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
Do I need special coverages?
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different and your auto insurance should be unique as well.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you could use an agent’s help.
- Can I use my car for my catering business?
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
- Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
- Should I get collision insurance on every vehicle?
- Am I missing any policy discounts?
- How long can I keep a teen driver on my policy?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Neighborhood agents and auto insurance
Some consumers just want to talk to an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still buy from a local agent. Buying from and supporting local insurance agents is important especially in Houston.
Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your coverage information gets sent to insurance agents in Houston who want to provide quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to drive around since price quotes are sent to you directly. Get lower rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you have a need to get a rate quote from a specific company, you can always go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Pick the best car insurance agent in Houston for you
If you need to find a reputable agency, it helps to know the two different agency structures to choose from. Agents in Houston are considered either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that choose to be independent do not have single company limitations and that allows them to write policies with an assortment of companies and get you the best rates possible. If you want to switch companies, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparing rates, it’s recommended you compare prices from several independent insurance agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
The following is a partial list of independent insurance agents in Houston that may be able to give comparison quotes.
Memorial Insurance Agency, LLC
13624 Memorial Dr – Houston, TX 77079 – (713) 461-8272 – View Map
Oscar’s Insurance Agency
5921 S Gessner Rd – Houston, TX 77036 – (713) 271-8889 – View Map
Ken W Taylor Insurance Agency
9405 Huffmeister Rd #110 – Houston, TX 77095 – (281) 345-2580 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only quote rates from one company like Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. These agents are not able to provide rate quotes from other companies so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Houston willing to provide rate quotes.
Ricky Maique – State Farm Insurance Agent
8811 Westheimer Rd #205 – Houston, TX 77063 – (713) 781-6132 – View Map
Joy Knox State Farm Insurance Agency
1510 Eldridge Pkwy #108 – Houston, TX 77077 – (281) 759-4300 – View Map
Armando Valdez – State Farm Insurance Agent
12941 North Fwy #608 – Houston, TX 77060 – (281) 537-7890 – View Map
Deciding on a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Houston?
- Is there a local claims center in Houston?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Lower rates by being persistent
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Cheaper Dodge Avenger insurance in Houston can be found both online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not have internet price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
We just covered many tips how you can save on Dodge Avenger insurance in Houston. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as GEICO and State Farm.
More tips and info about auto insurance is located at these sites:
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How Much are Houston Car Insurance Rates for Lyft Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Used Cars in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21 in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Postal Workers in Houston? (FAQ)
- Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)
- Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)