No sane person likes having to buy car insurance, especially knowing the price is too high.
Inconceivable but true, the majority of drivers have purchased from the same company for more than four years, and almost 40% of drivers have never even compared rates from other companies. Texas drivers could save themselves roughly 70% a year, but they feel it’s too difficult to go online and compare rates. Online insurance companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive constantly blast consumers with advertising and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.
You should take the time to compare rates before your next renewal because car insurance rates change frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest premium rates on Nissan Leaf insurance in Houston on your last policy a different company probably has better prices today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re going to learn the quickest way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
If you are insured now or just want a better rate, use these tips to lower your rates without having to cut coverage. Locating the best insurance company for you in Houston is much easier if you know where to start. Vehicle owners just need to know the quickest method to quote multiple rates from many different companies online.
Cheapest companies for Nissan Leaf insurance in Texas
The companies in the list below provide comparison quotes in Houston, TX. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Houston insurance discounts for a Nissan Leaf
Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise the complete list of policy discounts very clearly, so the list below gives a summary of both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts that may be available.
- Paperless Signup – Some auto insurance companies give back up to $50 get Houston car insurance on your computer.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better auto insurance rates.
- Low Miles Discount – Maintaining low annual mileage may enable drivers to earn lower auto insurance rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child take driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Not all companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a small discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more on Leaf insurance in Houston.
We need to note that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it’s just not the way it works.
A partial list of companies who may offer some of the above discounts include:
When quoting, ask every prospective company which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts listed above may not apply in Houston. If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Texas, click this link.
Houston Insurance Costs are Influenced by These Factors
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, but other factors are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating.
The items below are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine rates.
Vehicle options that cut auto insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with advanced anti-theft systems can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder auto theft and help lower rates.
High insurance claims frequency drives up premiums – Car insurance companies in Texas provide cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for claims that pose a financial burden.
Premiums may be higher where you live – Being located in a rural area is a positive aspect when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers and short commutes means fewer accidents. Residents of big cities have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Spending more time driving statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
Getting married is a bonus – Having a spouse may earn you lower rates on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
Nissan Leaf insurance loss probability – Insurance companies use data from past claims in order to profitably underwrite each model. Models that the data shows to have higher loss trends will have higher rates. The next table shows the collected loss data for Nissan Leaf vehicles.
For each coverage category, the loss probability for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Numbers that are below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values that are 100 or greater point to more losses or tendency to have larger claims.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Nissan Leaf Vehicles
Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nissan Leaf Electric | 89 | 84 | 45 | 83 | 64 | 76 |
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insurance is unique, just like you
Always keep in mind that when comparing insurance from an agent or online, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Your situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if you would benefit from professional advice.
- When should I have rental car coverage?
- Why do I have to buy liability insurance?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
- Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Can I rent a car in Mexico?
- Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Compare rate quotes but buy from a local neighborhood Houston car insurance agent
Some consumers just want to visit with an insurance agent and doing that can be a smart decision Insurance agents are trained risk managers and help submit paperwork. A nice benefit of comparing rates online is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from neighborhood insurance agencies is still important in Houston.
After filling out this short form, your information is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Houston that can provide free Houston car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since rate quotes are delivered immediately to you. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific company, you just need to go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
If you are searching for local Houston agents, it’s important to understand the different agency structures and how they are distinctly different. Agencies in Houston can either be exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Both can properly insure your vehicles, but it is important to understand how they differ since it may influence which type of agent you select.
Independent Insurance Agencies
Agents in the independent channel do not work for one specific company so they can write business through many companies and find the cheapest insurance rates. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, you absolutely need to get insurance quotes from several independent agencies to have the best price comparison.
The following are Houston independent insurance agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.
Hotchkiss Insurance Agency
13430 Northwest Fwy #600 – Houston, TX 77040 – (713) 956-9800 – View Map
Hallmark Insurance Agency Inc
12337 Jones Rd – Houston, TX 77070 – (281) 894-8200 – View Map
Texas Insurance Agency
719 Shotwell St – Houston, TX 77026 – (713) 675-2626 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can only provide pricing for a single company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive insurance agents are well schooled on their company’s products which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.
The following are Houston exclusive insurance agencies that can give you price quote information.
Linda Tuck – State Farm Insurance Agent
2402 Bay Area Blvd g – Houston, TX 77058 – (281) 488-9050 – View Map
Brandon Herndon – State Farm Insurance Agent
10103 Fondren Rd #150 – Houston, TX 77096 – (832) 431-4222 – View Map
James Banks – State Farm Insurance Agent
4809 Main St – Houston, TX 77002 – (713) 523-7100 – View Map
Picking the best car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the quoted price. The following questions are important to ask.
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- How long has the business existed?
Tricks in car insurance advertising
Consumers in Texas can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings for switching from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. They all advertise the message about saving some big amount just by moving your car insurance policy to them.
It sounds good, but how can they all cost less than your current company? It’s all in the wording.
Many companies quote the lowest rates for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer may be a married male, has never had a policy lapse, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that fits those parameters will get low prices and will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who are not a match for the ideal profile will probably be forced to pay more expensive rates which results in the customer buying from a different company. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can lure you into getting a quote.
Different companies use different criteria so you absolutely need to get price quotes at each policy renewal. It’s not possible to predict which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Find cheap auto insurance rates by comparing often
Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim and not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
Cheaper auto insurance in Houston is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Houston, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies may not provide internet price quotes and many times these smaller providers sell through independent agents.
We just showed you a lot of ways to compare Nissan Leaf insurance premium rates in Houston. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company.
More detailed auto insurance information can be read by following these links:
- Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota RAV4 in Houston? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for High Risk Drivers in Houston? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Hyundai Elantra in Houston? (FAQ)
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- What is Full Coverage? (Allstate)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)