The recommended way to find better pricing on car insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers who sell auto insurance in Corpus Christi. Rates can be compared by following these steps.
First, gain an understanding of how insurance works and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many risk factors that result in higher prices such as accidents, traffic tickets, and bad credit can be rectified by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Second, obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple companies. Compare rates
Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
The critical component of shopping around is to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and and to get price estimates from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this guarantees a fair price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
Sadly, a large majority of auto insurance policyholders in Texas kept buying from the same company for at least four years, and just under half have never compared rate quotes at all. American insurance shoppers could pocket about $859 a year just by shopping around, but they just assume it’s a time-consuming process to find cheaper auto insurance rates.
Lower Your Corpus Christi Insurance Prices
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance. When you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in lower rates. Lots of things are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, although some other factors are less obvious like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.
The items below are a few of the things used by companies to determine prices.
- Improve your credit score – An insured’s credit rating is a large factor in determining premium rates. If your credit rating could use some work, you may save money insuring your Buick LaCrosse by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims than those with lower credit ratings.
- Your location is important – Having an address in a rural area is a good thing when buying insurance. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates. Drivers who live in large Texas cities have more traffic problems and more severe claims. More time behind the wheel can result in more accidents.
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Your gender affects rates – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Females and males tend to get into auto accidents in similar numbers, but men tend to have higher claims. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
The chart below shows the difference between Buick LaCrosse annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no violations or claims, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.
- The more you drive the more you pay – Driving more miles in a year the more it will cost to insure it. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. An incorrectly rated LaCrosse can result in significantly higher rates. It’s always a good idea to double check that your insurance policy reflects annual mileage.
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The type of car, truck or SUV you drive affects your costs – The performance level of the car you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for the lowest performance passenger models, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
The following chart is based on a married male driver age 40, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Buick LaCrosse car insurance rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of risk factors.
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Teenagers vs. experienced drivers – Older, more experienced drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims, and get fewer tickets. Youthful drivers are proven to get distracted easily when driving therefore insurance rates are much higher.
The chart below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
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Driving citations will cost you – Your driving citation history influences premium rates substantially. Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates than bad drivers. Even a single citation could increase your next policy renewal to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have received careless violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may face state-mandated requirements to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
The example below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can influence Buick LaCrosse insurance premiums for different categories of driver ages. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
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Buick LaCrosse claim probability – Auto insurance companies study historical loss data to calculate a rate that will offset losses. Vehicles that historically have high amounts or severity of claims will have a higher premium rate. The table shown below demonstrates the historical insurance loss data for Buick LaCrosse vehicles.
For each policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together equals 100. Values that are 100 or less suggest losses that are better than average, while percentage values above 100 show a trend for more claims or statistically larger losses.
Buick LaCrosse Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Buick LaCrosse 2WD 96 85 93 100 109 92 Buick LaCrosse 4WD 101 92 113 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Buick LaCrosse insurance rate analysis
The coverage information below covers different insurance prices for Buick LaCrosse models. Understanding how policy premiums are figured is important for drivers to make informed decisions when comparing rates.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Lacrosse CX | $210 | $340 | $310 | $18 | $94 | $972 | $81 |
Lacrosse CXL | $210 | $400 | $310 | $18 | $94 | $1,032 | $86 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $210 | $400 | $310 | $18 | $94 | $1,032 | $86 |
Lacrosse CXS | $234 | $400 | $310 | $18 | $94 | $1,056 | $88 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in Corpus Christi location which can raise or lower rates greatly.
Deductible comparison
One frequently asked question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The tables below can help you understand the rate difference when you choose different policy deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Lacrosse CX | $332 | $496 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,293 | $108 |
Lacrosse CXL | $332 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,381 | $115 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $332 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,381 | $115 |
Lacrosse CXS | $370 | $584 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,419 | $118 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Lacrosse CX | $206 | $312 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $958 | $80 |
Lacrosse CXL | $206 | $368 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,014 | $85 |
Lacrosse CXL AWD | $206 | $368 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,014 | $85 |
Lacrosse CXS | $228 | $368 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,036 | $86 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can lower or raise auto insurance rates substantially.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible costs an average of $30 more each month or $360 each year averaged for all LaCrosse models than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at a minimum 25 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off if you choose the higher deductible. Here is an example of how this determination is made.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $114 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $84 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $30 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 25 months |
Cost comparison with and without full coverage
The example below visualizes the comparison of Buick LaCrosse annual premium costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data is based on no claims or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to drop full coverage
There isn’t a written rule to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Buick LaCrosse claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premiums are more than $600 a year for full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some situations where buying only liability insurance is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Discounts mean cheaper rates for Buick LaCrosse insurance in Corpus Christi
Companies do not advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the list below details both well-publicized and the harder-to-find credits available to you.
- Membership in Organizations – Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when getting a Corpus Christi car insurance quote.
- Student in College – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
- Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- No Claim Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay less as opposed to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Driver Safety – Participating in a course teaching driver safety skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Active or former government employment can save as much as 8% with a few insurance companies.
- Onboard Data Collection – People who choose to allow their company to track vehicle usage by using a telematic data system such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system might see lower rates as long as the data is positive.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed in the military could qualify you for better prices.
- Save with More Vehicles Insured – Buying a policy with several vehicles with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
You should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free insurance policy, it’s just not the way it works.
The information below shows the difference between Buick LaCrosse insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. The costs are based on a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, Texas state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.
Car insurance companies that may offer policyholders most of these discounts include:
Double check with every prospective company what discounts are available to you. Discounts may not apply to policies in Corpus Christi. To locate insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in Corpus Christi, follow this link.
Cheap auto insurance premiums are possible
Budget-conscious Buick LaCrosse insurance is available on the web and with local Corpus Christi insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies may not have rates over the internet and these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim, poor customer service and extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a great new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
We’ve covered some good ideas how to get a better price on Buick LaCrosse insurance in Corpus Christi. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding cheaper Corpus Christi car insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a small local company.
For more information, take a look at the articles below:
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for State Employees in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- What is the Best Cheap Car Insurance in Corpus Christi, TX? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Corpus Christi Auto Insurance for a Nissan Altima? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Corpus Christi Car Insurance Quotes for a Kia Optima? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Nurses in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Corpus Christi Auto Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a Ford Fusion in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- Prom Night Tips for Teen Drivers (State Farm)
- Higher speed limits cause more fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)