The most effective way to find the cheapest price for car insurance rates in Corpus Christi is to do an annual price comparison from different companies who sell insurance in Texas. You can compare rates by following these steps.
- Step 1: Try to understand how auto insurance works and the measures you can control to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that result in higher rates like getting speeding tickets and a low credit score can be amended by paying attention to minor details. Read the full article for the details to prevent expensive rate increases and find overlooked discounts.
- Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate quote and switch companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
An important note is to try to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and and to get rates from every insurance company. Doing this enables a fair price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
It’s an obvious conclusion that insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. Drivers who shop around at least once a year are inclined to buy a new policy because there is a great chance of finding a lower-cost company. A recent study showed that people who make a habit of shopping around saved on average $3,450 over four years as compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding the cheapest price for auto insurance in Corpus Christi is your objective, then having a good understanding how to get price quotes and compare coverage rates can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
Insurance Rate Influencing Factors
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the things that are used to determine your policy premiums. If you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
Listed below are some of the items used by insurance companies to determine premiums.
See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – Some companies apply a discount to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to guarantee you are still saving the most.There is a chance you can save money by splitting coverages up.
Performance influences prices – The performance of the car or truck you need to insure makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. The best insurance prices are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
The following data uses these assumptions: married female driver age 30, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Buick Enclave insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different performance risks.
High physical damage deductibles equal low rates – Protection for physical damage, aka comp and collision, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, hail damage, or theft. The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Men pay higher costs – Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both cause at-fault accidents at a similar rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also have more aggressive citations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Males from age 16 to 21 are the most expensive to insure so they pay the highest premiums.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Buick Enclave annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, full coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Certain vocations raise premiums – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupational choices like military personnel, airline pilots, and stock brokers are shown to have higher rates than the rest of us attributed to intense work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, careers such as scientists, engineers and performers have lower than average premiums.
Save money with good credit – A driver’s credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay. If your credit rating can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your Buick Enclave by taking the time to improve your credit score. Insureds with very high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have worse credit.
Decrease auto insurance rates by maintaining coverage – Having a lapse in insurance coverage will be a quick way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you a revoked license or a big fine. You will then be forced to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Texas DMV.
Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – Being a careful driver has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers get better prices than people who have multiple driving citations. Getting just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may be required to file a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The example below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault claims can raise Buick Enclave auto insurance costs for each different age category. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Buick Enclave historical loss data – Auto insurance companies take into consideration historical loss data for every vehicle when they calculate premium rates for each model. Vehicles that the statistics show to have higher loss trends will have higher rates. The table below demonstrates the collected loss data for Buick Enclave vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles compiled together is a value of 100. Values below 100 indicate better than average losses, while values that are 100 or greater indicate more frequent claims or an increased probability of a larger loss.
Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buick Enclave 4dr 2WD | 85 | 101 | 83 | 67 | 63 | 81 |
Buick Enclave 4dr 4WD | 93 | 110 | 92 | 64 | 62 | 84 |
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Analysis of coverages
The data table displayed next highlights different insurance prices for Buick Enclave models. Being more informed about how premiums are calculated can help guide drivers when making smart choices when comparing insurance rates.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $202 | $422 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,252 | $104 |
Enclave CX AWD | $202 | $422 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,252 | $104 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $202 | $422 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,252 | $104 |
Enclave XL AWD | $224 | $422 | $462 | $28 | $138 | $1,274 | $106 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in Corpus Christi location which can revise coverage prices noticeably.
Policy deductible comparison
One common question asked by Corpus Christi drivers is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The following insurance rates may aid in understanding the rate fluctuation between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Enclave CX AWD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Enclave XL AWD | $370 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,497 | $125 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enclave CX 2WD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Enclave CX AWD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Enclave XL 2WD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Enclave XL AWD | $300 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,290 | $108 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data 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, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Corpus Christi which can alter premiums substantially.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $17 more each month or $204 for a full year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at least 15 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.
Buick Enclave liability-only versus full coverage
The diagram below compares Buick Enclave auto insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The information is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There isn’t a written rule that works best for making the decision to drop comp and collision coverage, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Buick Enclave settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, you would only receive $5,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are currently paying more than $500 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping physical damage coverage is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Affordable rates by taking advantage of discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list all discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below details a few of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts that may be available.
- Onboard Data Collection – Insureds that choose to allow companies to monitor driving habits by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars and trucks with ABS braking systems or traction control have fewer accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- No Accidents – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims can save substantially as compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Teen drivers should take driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- No Charge for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like Liberty Mutual and GEICO will turn a blind eye to one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Options like air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning a house in Corpus Christi can save a few bucks since owning and maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The information below shows the comparison of Buick Enclave annual premium costs with and without some available policy discounts. Data assumes a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Texas state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts include:
- State Farm has savings for Steer Clear safe driver discount, Drive Safe & Save, good driver, defensive driving training, anti-theft, student away at school, and good student.
- Farmers Insurance has discounts for bundle discounts, teen driver, pay in full, homeowner, multi-car, business and professional, and alternative fuel.
- Progressive may have discounts that include multi-vehicle, online quote discount, good student, online signing, and continuous coverage.
- GEICO includes discounts for seat belt use, membership and employees, good student, multi-policy, anti-theft, and defensive driver.
- Auto-Owners Insurance offers discounts for air bags, multiple vehicles, company car, safe driver, anti-lock brakes, student away at school, and paperless.
- The Hartford may offer discounts for bundle, vehicle fuel type, air bag, defensive driver, anti-theft, good student, and driver training.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts including multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe driver, good student, 55 and retired, and renewal discount.
- USAA offers premium reductions for military installation, defensive driver, vehicle storage, multi-policy, driver training, good student, and multi-vehicle.
If you want low cost Corpus Christi car insurance quotes, ask each insurance company the best way to save money. A few discounts may not be offered in every state.
Persistent drivers can save
Insureds leave their current company for many reasons like delays in paying claims, policy non-renewal, delays in responding to claim requests and lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new car insurance company is not as hard as you think.
Some insurance providers may not offer online rate quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents. Low-cost Buick Enclave insurance in Corpus Christi can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Corpus Christi agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection.
You just read a lot of techniques to lower your Buick Enclave insurance prices in Corpus Christi. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.
Additional articles
- Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Immigrants in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Over Age 50 in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)