Houston Auto Insurance
It’s no secret that Texas is one of the most expensive states for auto insurance in the entire country. As the fourth largest city in America, Houston has more drivers per square mile than any other city in the “Lone Star” state. With this many people crowding our city streets; it’s no wonder the Houston area had over 70,000 auto accidents last year. This staggering statistics illustrate the importance of having a great Houston auto insurance policy to protect you from the unexpected.
If you feel you are paying too much for your current auto insurance policy then you are not alone. With an average rate increase of almost 10% in premiums in 2009, now is the perfect time to shop for lower Houston auto insurance price quotes. When comparing policy coverage, there are several important factors to consider other than just “price”. One important characteristic to review when comparing policy quotes to your current company is coverage. Houston auto insurance is not just one size fits all and consumers have many options to consider when securing coverage to protect themselves in the event of a claim. Several options you should discuss with a qualified, licensed insurance representative include liability limits, deductible options, accident forgiveness, towing and rental reimbursement, as well as medical coverage for you and your passengers.
- Liability Limits – The maximum your insurance company will pay towards an at-fault accident. If you cause injury or death to another person, you may be responsible for thousands of dollars in medical bills as well as property damage of that person’s vehicle. The state minimum in Texas is $25K bodily injury per person and $50 per accident. If you have just the minimum, that may be a gap in coverage that needs reconsideration to insure you are properly protected from a financial judgment.
- Deductible Options – Did you know the deductible on your policy generally has the greatest influence on your Houston auto insurance rate? The higher the deductible you choose, the lower your rate. Don’t let the insurance company pick your deductible, be sure and review what is best for you and your financial situation. You can save up to 40% on your policy if you are willing to self insure more of your vehicle in the event of a claim. As vehicles get more expensive, we now have the availability of $600, $750, or even $1250 deductibles to lower your total policy cost. Be sure to consider all available deductible options when reviewing your policy quote.
- Accident Forgiveness – This valuable policy option became available a few years ago to protect against the financial impact of a rate increase due to an accident. Although it cost a few dollars more per month, your rate won’t increase due to an at fault claim on your driving record. One wrong move could result in a loss of good driving discounts and the addition of an accident surcharge. If you have been claims free for at least 3 years, you may want to add this important option to your Houston auto insurance price quote.
- Towing and Rental Car Reimbursement – For about $7.00 per month (per vehicle) you can recover the cost of having your vehicle towed as well as renting a car in the event of an accident. If you vehicle goes to the shop, a rental car can cost an average of $900 for just 30 days of use. A small investment that goes a long way to help cover cost during the event of an accident.
- Medical Coverage – Two types of medical coverage are currently available for Texas policy holders: “Personal Injury Protection” and “Medical Payments”. The difference between the two options is loss of income coverage payable to you or an occupant of your vehicle if an accident causes someone injured to miss work. Regardless of which policy option is selected, this coverage does have a specified limit that may be different from one policy to another. Be sure and consider whether or not you need the added cost of this option for your specific needs.
Now that you have an idea of the most common coverage options, let us help you determine if you are getting all the available discounts you deserve to lower your cost as much as possible. Simply fill out the form above and we will send you an instant Houston auto insurance price quote to your inbox in 10 minutes or less. Then if you like the rate, our licensed and experienced agents can review your quote by phone, discuss the coverage options and discounts, bind coverage, and even help you “break up” with your current company.