Anyone knows that auto insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. People who compare rates annually will probably buy a different policy because there is a great chance of finding a lower-priced company. A recent auto insurance study revealed that consumers who shopped around saved over $70 a month as compared to drivers who never compared prices.
If finding the lowest rates on car insurance is your ultimate goal, then having some knowledge of how to shop and compare auto insurance can make the process less intimidating.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get discount car insurance rates is to regularly compare prices from companies in Corpus Christi.
- Spend some time learning about how insurance companies determine prices and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as traffic violations, accidents, and a not-so-good credit rating can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover more ideas to help reduce prices and find overlooked discounts.
- Compare rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple sources.
- Compare the price quotes to your existing policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a better price, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Give notification to your agent or company of your intent to cancel your existing policy and submit a completed policy application and payment for your new coverage. As soon as you can, safely store the certificate of insurance along with your vehicle registration.
A good piece of advice is to make sure you’re comparing the same level of coverage on every price quote and and to look at all possible companies. This guarantees an accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.
Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage in Corpus Christi is quite easy. If you have coverage now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay without reducing protection. Shoppers just have to learn the best way to shop from many different companies.
Lower Your Corpus Christi Insurance Premiums
Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, but others are less obvious such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.
Listed below are most of the major factors used by insurance companies to determine your premiums.
Never let your insurance policy expire – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and any future policy may cost more because you let your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage may result in fines and jail time.
Miles driven impacts rates – Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how much you drive. Cars used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than cars that get driven a lot. Verify your insurance coverage is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money. Having the wrong rating on your Rio may be wasting your money.
Your employer and insurance rates – Do you have a high-stress occupation? Occupations such as military generals, airline pilots, and stock brokers have higher rates than the rest of us attributed to intense work situations and lots of time spent away from family. Other jobs such as farmers, students and retirees have lower than average premiums.
Single drivers take more risk – Being married can actually save you money on your insurance policy. Marriage may mean you are more mature than a single person and insurance companies like that being married results in fewer claims.
Kia Rio insurance loss statistics – Insurers analyze historical claim data in order to profitably underwrite each model. Models that historically have high amounts or severity of claims will cost more for specific coverages.
The next table illustrates the historical loss data for Kia Rio vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles as a whole is equal to 100. Values below 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate frequent claims or a tendency for claims to be larger.
Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kia Rio | 90 | 109 | 81 | 141 | 158 | 127 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Free Corpus Christi Kia Rio insurance rate quotes
The companies shown below have been selected to offer price comparisons in Texas. To locate the best cheap car insurance in TX, we suggest you click on several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
Insurance coverage analysis
The coverage table shown below outlines detailed analysis of prices for Kia Rio models. Knowing how insurance policy rates are determined helps drivers make decisions on the best policy coverages.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rio | $162 | $340 | $414 | $24 | $124 | $1,064 | $89 |
Rio LX | $162 | $340 | $414 | $24 | $124 | $1,064 | $89 |
Rio SX | $186 | $400 | $414 | $24 | $124 | $1,148 | $96 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in vehicle location which can modify insurance rates greatly.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
One common question asked by Corpus Christi drivers is at what level do you set your deductibles. The premium rates below approximate the costs and benefits of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rio | $256 | $496 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,361 | $113 |
Rio LX | $256 | $496 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,361 | $113 |
Rio SX | $294 | $584 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,487 | $124 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rio | $208 | $400 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,192 | $99 |
Rio LX | $208 | $400 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,192 | $99 |
Rio SX | $240 | $472 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,296 | $108 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Table data does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter auto insurance rates noticeably.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs roughly $15 more each month or $180 annually than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 17 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you elect the higher deductible.
How to calculate if higher deductibles make sense
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $117 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $102 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $15 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $15 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 17 months |
An important thing to remember is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to pay more of your own money at claim time. You need to make sure you have enough money in the bank in order to pay the deductible to have repairs made.
The example below illustrates how your deductible choice and can increase or decrease Kia Rio insurance premiums for different age groups. The premiums are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Impact of careless driving on insurance rates
The example below shows how speeding tickets and accidents can increase Kia Rio insurance costs for each different age category. The data is based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Yearly insurance costs for men versus women
The information below compares Kia Rio insurance costs for male and female drivers. The information is based on no accidents or driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Insurance is not optional but you don’t have to overpay
Despite the high insurance cost for a Kia Rio in Corpus Christi, buying insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
First, the majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability insurance coverage if you want to drive 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.
Second, if your car has a lienholder, most banks will require that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank will be required to insure your Kia at a significantly higher premium and make you pay the higher price.
Third, insurance preserves your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical transport and hospital expenses that are the result of an accident. Liability insurance also covers legal expenses in the event you are sued. If you have damage to your Kia as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $850 per year so smart consumers compare quotes each time the policy renews to ensure rates are inline.
Lower-cost Kia Rio insurance quotes in Corpus Christi
Some insurers do not list all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so below is a list some of the more common and also the more inconspicuous credits available to bring down your rates.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Insurance carriers who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% since newer models have better safety ratings.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Forcing all vehicle occupants to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off the medical payments premium.
- Responsible Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates compared to accident prone drivers.
- Senior Citizen Rates – If you’re over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
- Claim Free – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay much less as opposed to policyholders that have many claims.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can receive discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on car insurance.
- Early Switch Discount – A few car insurance companies give discounts for switching companies prior to your current Rio insurance policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Just owning your own home can save you money because owning a home shows financial diligence.
As is typical with insurance, some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride. But any discount should help lower your policy premiums.
The information below illustrates the comparison of Kia Rio car insurance costs with and without discounts. Data assumes a female driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Texas state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A few of the larger companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for safe vehicle, good student, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, defensive driving training, and accident-free.
- Farmers Insurance has savings for business and professional, youthful driver, bundle discounts, electronic funds transfer, and mature driver.
- GEICO has discounts for defensive driver, seat belt use, air bags, multi-vehicle, anti-theft, military active duty, and good student.
- American Family discounts include TimeAway discount, good driver, early bird, mySafetyValet, and good student.
- Nationwide policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driving, anti-theft, accident-free, business or organization, easy pay, multi-policy, and good student.
- Progressive includes discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, homeowner, and online quote discount.
Check with all the companies which discounts they offer. Discounts may not apply to policies in Corpus Christi. For a list of car insurance companies that offer discounts in Corpus Christi, click this link.
Independent versus exclusive insurance agents
Some consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Experienced insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get lower rates and still have a local agent.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to insurance agents in Corpus Christi that can provide free Corpus Christi car insurance quotes to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to search for any insurance agencies because prices are sent to your email. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific car insurance provider, just visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
Choosing an provider should depend on more than just a low price. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Where are claims handled?
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in Corpus Christi?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Do the agents have professional certifications like CPCU or CIC?
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
Best car insurance agent in Corpus Christi
When looking for a good insurance agency, there are a couple of types of insurance agents and how they are slightly different. Car insurance agents in Corpus Christi can either be independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either type can insure your vehicles properly, but it is a good idea to know how they are different since it may influence the kind of agent you use.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive work for only one company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so you need to shop around if the rates are high. They are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
The following are Corpus Christi exclusive insurance agencies that can give you price quotes.
Farmers Insurance – Richard Peetz
3038 S Alameda St – Corpus Christi, TX 78404 – (361) 887-7801 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Donald Morrison
4535 S Padre Island Dr Ste 37 – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 854-2383 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Stephanie Waterman
5433 S Staples St, Ste P3 – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 906-9400 – View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agencies
Agents in the independent channel can sell policies from many different companies and that enables them to quote your coverage with an assortment of companies and find the cheapest car insurance rates. If they quote lower rates, your policy is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. If you are comparing car insurance prices, we recommend you compare prices from at a minimum one independent agency so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Listed below are Corpus Christi independent insurance agents willing to provide price quote information.
Annaville Insurance
14602 Compass St a – Corpus Christi, TX 78418 – (361) 949-6787 – View Map
Lancaster and Bay Insurance Agency
3124 S Alameda St – Corpus Christi, TX 78404 – (361) 853-0405 – View Map
Alba Insurance Inc
5022 Holly Rd #108 – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 854-6551 – View Map
One last thing about your coverage
Lower-priced Kia Rio insurance in Corpus Christi is possible on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not have the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
In this article, we covered quite a bit of information on how to compare Kia Rio insurance premium rates in Corpus Christi. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get prices for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest premium rates are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
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