There isn’t anyone who gets a kick out of paying for insurance, especially when they are paying too much.
Inconceivable but true, a large majority of consumers have been with the same company for well over three years, and about 40% of consumers have never even compared rates from other companies. Many drivers in Houston could save themselves 70% a year just by shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the large savings they would see if they changed companies. With consumers having so many different company options, it can be diffult for drivers to pick the right company.
It’s important to compare prices yearly because rates are usually higher with each renewal. If you had the lowest premium rates on Saab 9-3 insurance in Houston at your last renewal you can probably find a better price now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about insurance because you’re about to learn the best methods to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.
All the larger auto insurance companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO give prices on their websites. Obtaining pricing for Saab 9-3 insurance in Houston is pretty painless as you simply type in your required coverages as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their rating system automatically retrieves your credit score and driving record and generates pricing information. The ability to get online rates for Saab 9-3 insurance in Houston makes comparing rates easy, and it’s also necessary to do this if you are searching for lower-cost prices.
To save time and find out if lower rates are available, take a look at the companies shown below. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you type in the coverage information just like they are on your policy. This ensures you will have rate comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.
The companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in Texas. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you get rates from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9-3 2.0T 4-Dr Sedan | $356 | $788 | $422 | $24 | $126 | $1,716 | $143 |
9-3 2.0T Station Wagon | $198 | $416 | $422 | $24 | $126 | $1,186 | $99 |
9-3 2.0T XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $264 | $542 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,340 | $112 |
9-3 Aero 4-Dr Sedan | $422 | $672 | $424 | $26 | $128 | $1,672 | $139 |
9-3 2.0T 2-Dr Convertible | $176 | $352 | $358 | $22 | $108 | $1,016 | $85 |
9-3 2.0T XWD Station Wagon | $322 | $682 | $310 | $18 | $94 | $1,426 | $119 |
9-3 Aero Station Wagon | $258 | $560 | $366 | $22 | $110 | $1,316 | $110 |
9-3 Aero XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $220 | $478 | $422 | $24 | $126 | $1,270 | $106 |
9-3 Aero 2-Dr Convertible | $322 | $602 | $388 | $24 | $116 | $1,452 | $121 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can alter auto insurance rates considerably.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only in Houston
The information below illustrates the difference between Saab 9-3 car insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Texas. The premiums are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, married male driver, and no discounts are factored in.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no exact formula of when to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your Saab 9-3 replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $300 annually to have full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some cases where removing full coverage is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage.
Policy deductible comparison
When comparing auto insurance rates, the most common question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The rates shown below may aid in understanding the rate difference between high and low physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9-3 2.0T 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,381 | $115 |
9-3 2.0T Station Wagon | $332 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,381 | $115 |
9-3 2.0T XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,381 | $115 |
9-3 Aero 4-Dr Sedan | $370 | $672 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,507 | $126 |
9-3 2.0T 2-Dr Convertible | $370 | $672 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,585 | $132 |
9-3 2.0T XWD Station Wagon | $370 | $672 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,507 | $126 |
9-3 Aero Station Wagon | $370 | $672 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,507 | $126 |
9-3 Aero XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $370 | $672 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,507 | $126 |
9-3 Aero 2-Dr Convertible | $408 | $762 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,713 | $143 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9-3 2.0T 4-Dr Sedan | $270 | $472 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,182 | $99 |
9-3 2.0T Station Wagon | $270 | $472 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,182 | $99 |
9-3 2.0T XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $270 | $472 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,182 | $99 |
9-3 Aero 4-Dr Sedan | $300 | $542 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,282 | $107 |
9-3 2.0T 2-Dr Convertible | $300 | $542 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,360 | $113 |
9-3 2.0T XWD Station Wagon | $300 | $542 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,282 | $107 |
9-3 Aero Station Wagon | $300 | $542 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,282 | $107 |
9-3 Aero XWD 4-Dr Sedan | $300 | $542 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,282 | $107 |
9-3 Aero 2-Dr Convertible | $332 | $614 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,464 | $122 |
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 safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can increase or decrease prices considerably.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $18 more each month or $216 every year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average more than 14 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you elect the higher deductible.
How to determine if higher deductibles are a good idea
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $125 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $107 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $18 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $18 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 14 months |
One thing to be aware of is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have a claim. That will force you to have some extra savings in order to pay the higher deductible.
Policy deductibles
The example below shows how different deductible levels and can raise or lower Saab 9-3 premium costs for different ages of insureds. The premiums are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Choosing the best Saab 9-3 insurance in Texas is an important decision
Even though Houston 9-3 insurance rates can get expensive, maintaining insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car legally. 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 you have a loan on your Saab, almost all lenders will require you to have insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Saab at a more expensive rate and require you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards not only your car but also your financial assets. It also can pay for many types of medical costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is overpaying more than $700 annually so compare quotes from several companies every year to make sure the price is not too high.
The Saab 9-3 Insurance Price Equation
The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at some of the factors that aid in calculating your premiums. If you have some idea of what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find lower premium levels. Many different elements are considered when pricing auto insurance. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, although others are more obscure such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.
The itemized list below are just a few of the factors used by your company to calculate prices.
- Where you live – Being located in less populated areas of the country can be a good thing when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers on the road means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate. People who live in big cities tend to have traffic congestion and higher rates of accident claims. More time commuting means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
- Save money by having good credit – Credit rating is a large factor in determining your rates. People that have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit. Therefore, if your credit score leaves room for improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your Saab 9-3 by repairing your credit.
- Raise coverage deductibles and save – Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of some claims that would be covered could be collision with another vehicle, animal collisions, and damage caused by road hazards. The more of the claim you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the better rate you will receive.
- Buy a safe car and pay less – Safe vehicles tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates. If your Saab 9-3 is rated at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it is probably cheaper to insure.
- Compare rates if you bundle your policies – Lots of insurance companies allow a discount to people who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to check prices from other companies to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find lower rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but you may be missing some discounts that you may not even know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount. If you do not check that you are getting every discount possible, you may be paying too high a price.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit may lower your prices slightly.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems have a lower chance of being stolen and can earn a small discount on your policy.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles have fewer accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- E-sign Discounts – Some insurance companies will provide an incentive for buying your policy on the web.
- Life Insurance Discount – Not all insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a small discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky.
Some of the larger companies that may offer quotes with these benefits possibly include:
Check with every company which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts listed above may not be available in every state.
There’s no such thing as the perfect auto insurance policy
When it comes to insurance from an agent or online for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.
For example, these questions could help you determine if you may require specific advice.
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
- Are my friends covered when driving my car?
- Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Should I get collision insurance on every vehicle?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Saab 9-3 is totaled?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Shop online but buy locally
Certain consumers just prefer to buy from a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Most agents will help you protect your assets and give you someone to call. An additional benefit of comparing rate quotes online is that you can find better rates and still have a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is definitely important in Houston.
Upon completion of this short form, your information is emailed to insurance agents in Houston who can give free rate quotes for your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered to you instantly. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific company, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
Pick the best auto insurance agent in Houston for you
When researching a local Houston insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents and how they operate. Insurance agents in Houston are categorized either independent or exclusive. Both can insure your vehicles, but it is a good idea to know how they differ since it could factor into which type of agent you select.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents do not have single company limitations and that allows them to write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a lower price, they simply switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part. When comparison shopping, we highly recommend that you include multiple independent agents for the best price selection.
Featured below is a partial list of independent insurance agencies in Houston who may provide free price quotes.
Texas Prime Insurance Agency, LLC
6750 West Loop S #430 – Bellaire, TX 77401 – (713) 750-9000 – View Map
ProTECH Insurance Agency, Inc.
#100, 3120 SW Freeway Service Rd – Houston, TX 77098 – (713) 520-1090 – View Map
AA-USA-Insurance
702 W Sam Houston Pkwy S – Houston, TX 77042 – (713) 914-0354 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive agents can only place business with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They are unable to compare rates from other companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are trained well on their company’s products and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Shown below are exclusive insurance agencies in Houston that are able to give rate quotes.
Sean Wong – State Farm Insurance Agent
7035 Hwy 6 N – Houston, TX 77095 – (281) 550-0555 – View Map
Anna Santa Ana – State Farm Insurance Agent
7710 Cherry Park Dr d – Houston, TX 77095 – (281) 550-0333 – View Map
Armando Valdez – State Farm Insurance Agent
12941 North Fwy #608 – Houston, TX 77060 – (281) 537-7890 – View Map
Deciding on an insurance agency requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Don’t give up on cheaper rates
People change insurance companies for many reasons like high prices, delays in paying claims, questionable increases in premium and not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason, switching insurance companies can be easier than you think.
When you buy Houston car insurance online, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best possible price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Cost effective Saab 9-3 insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Houston, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller providers work with independent agents.
For more information, feel free to browse the following helpful articles:
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Teenagers in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Houston Auto Insurance Quotes for Real Estate Agents? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 25 in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Houston Car Insurance Rates for Young Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a GMC Sierra in Houston? (FAQ)
- Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)
- Learn About Car Insurance (GEICO)
- Shopping for a Safe Car (Insurance Information Institute)