It’s well known that insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Insureds who compare rates once a year are likely to buy a new policy because there are good odds of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A study discovered that consumers who routinely compared rates saved $3,500 over four years compared to policyholders who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the best price on insurance in Corpus Christi is the reason for your visit, then having a grasp of how to get rate quotes and compare insurance premiums can make it easier for you to save money.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get cheaper car insurance rates is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from companies in Corpus Christi. You can shop around by following these steps.
First, try to understand how car insurance works and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many risk factors that result in higher rates such as your driving record and a poor credit score can be rectified by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple sources.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and determine if cheaper Equator coverage is available. If you can save some money, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
An important part of this process is to make sure you enter identical coverages on every quote request and and to get price estimates from every company you can. This guarantees the most accurate price comparison and a thorough price selection.
Buying the cheapest insurance in Corpus Christi seems hard but is not really that difficult. If you have a current insurance policy or just want a better rate, you can learn to buy cheaper insurance without having to cut coverage. You just need to use the proper way to compare different rates from many companies at once.
The following companies offer price quotes in Corpus Christi, TX. If you want the cheapest car insurance in Corpus Christi, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
Insurance analysis for a Suzuki Equator
The price information displayed below showcases a range of insurance policy prices for Suzuki Equator models. Being aware of how insurance policy rates are determined can be useful when making smart choices when selecting a coverage provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $208 | $328 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,054 | $88 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $208 | $328 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,054 | $88 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $240 | $400 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,158 | $97 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $240 | $400 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,158 | $97 |
Equator Ext Cab 4WD | $240 | $400 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,158 | $97 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $270 | $472 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,260 | $105 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location information which can alter coverage rates considerably.
Higher deductibles save money
When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is which deductible level should you buy. The following tables highlight the differences in price between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $256 | $408 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,207 | $101 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $256 | $408 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,207 | $101 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equator Ext Cab 4WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $158 | $256 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $932 | $78 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $158 | $256 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $932 | $78 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equator Ext Cab 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equator Ext Cab 4WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Equator Crew Cab 4WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in your specific Corpus Christi location which can decrease or increase price quotes considerably.
Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible will cost you about $28 more each month or $336 every year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 27 months between claims, you would save money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $113 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $85 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $28 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $28 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 27 months |
The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice and can influence Suzuki Equator yearly insurance costs for each different age group. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Cost of full coverage in Corpus Christi
The example below illustrates the comparison of Suzuki Equator car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. Data assumes no claims, a clean driving record, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.
When to drop comp and collision
There is no exact formula for phasing out physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Suzuki Equator replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would get paid by your company is $7,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing you more than $700 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some conditions where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Choosing Suzuki vehicle insurance is an important decision
Even though it can be expensive, insuring your vehicle serves several important purposes.
- Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance coverage in order to be legal. 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.
- If you bought your vehicle with a loan, most banks will require you to buy full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you let the policy lapse, the lender may insure your Suzuki for a much higher rate and require you to fork over for it.
- Insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your Equator outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. But the average driver in Texas overpays more than $750 every year so compare rates once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are competitive.
What Affects Suzuki Equator Insurance Rates?
Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the elements that come into play when calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in cheaper rates. Many factors are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as traffic violations, although others are less obvious such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.
The factors shown below are some of the most common factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.
Urban residents pay more – Being located in areas with lower population has definite advantages when trying to find low car insurance rates. City drivers tend to have more road rage incidents and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Keep the miles off and save – Driving more miles annually the higher your rate. A lot of companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how much you drive. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. An improperly rated Equator is throwing money out the window. Ask your agent if your policy reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
Experienced drivers pay less – Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and usually have better credit. Beginning drivers are known to be more careless when driving with friends therefore insurance rates are much higher.
The following chart assumes a single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Men pay higher prices – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that females take fewer risks when driving. Now that doesn’t mean women are better drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the men have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and thus pay the highest rates.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Suzuki Equator car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Bad credit hurts insurance rates – Having a bad credit rating will be a significant factor in determining premium rates. If your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your Suzuki Equator by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Corpus Christi insurance discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may find discounts that can help lower your rates. A few discounts will be applied when you purchase, but some need to be inquired about before they will apply.
- Military Deployment Discount – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the personal injury premium cost.
- Membership in Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization in Corpus Christi is a simple method to lower premiums on your bill.
- Corpus Christi Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Corpus Christi can save you money because it means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Theft Deterrent System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and that can save you a little bit as well.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will definitely reduce your insurance premiums.
The example below shows the comparison of Suzuki Equator insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums assume a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Texas state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 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.
To see a list of companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Corpus Christi, click here to view.
Exclusive versus independent insurance agencies
A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. An additional benefit of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and still buy from a local agent.
After filling out this short form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents who will gladly provide quotes for your business. You won’t need to search for any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered directly to you. In the event you want to quote rates from a particular provider, you just need to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
Choosing an insurer requires more thought than just a cheap price. Before buying a policy in Corpus Christi, get answers to these questions.
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Texas?
- If your car is totaled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
If you are searching for a good Corpus Christi insurance agent, there are two different types of agents and how they work. Auto insurance agents in Corpus Christi can be classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Both can write policy coverage, but it is a good idea to know how they are different because it can influence your agent selection.
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
These type of agents normally can only provide a single company’s rates like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are well schooled on sales techniques which aids in selling service over price.
Listed below is a list of exclusive agencies in Corpus Christi that are able to give price quote information.
Michael Morgan – State Farm Insurance Agent
5515 Saratoga Blvd b – Corpus Christi, TX 78413 – (361) 992-3636 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Jesse Trevino
4721 Bonner Dr Ste 101 – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 986-1000 – View Map
Larry Watson – State Farm Insurance Agent
6210 Wooldridge Rd b – Corpus Christi, TX 78414 – (361) 993-6787 – View Map
View more Corpus Christi agents
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not limited to a single company and that gives them the ability to insure with any number of different companies and get the cheapest rates. If they find a lower price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from a couple of independent agencies in order to have the best price comparison.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Corpus Christi that can give you comparison quotes.
Joe Morales Insurance
5230 Kostoryz Rd # 18 – Corpus Christi, TX 78415 – (361) 852-4292 – View Map
Binyon Insurance Agency, LLC
9922 Leopard St #202 – Corpus Christi, TX 78410 – (361) 241-3748 – View Map
All American Hallmark Ins
4510 Weber Rd a – Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – (361) 993-6643 – View Map
View more Corpus Christi agents
If you get good feedback for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s a good possibility that you have found an auto insurance agent that can be relied on to properly service your auto insurance policy. But keep in mind you have the power to terminate your policy any time you want so don’t assume you’re contractually obligated to a policy indefinitely.
Quote. Compare. Save.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest cost, but do not skimp to save money.
Cheaper auto insurance in Corpus Christi can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Corpus Christi agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies don’t offer online rate quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
Even more information can be found at these sites:
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Good Students in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Sentra in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Unemployed Drivers in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Corpus Christi Auto Insurance for Uninsured Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Active Military in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for 16 Year Olds in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Uber Drivers in Corpus Christi? (FAQ)
- What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)
- Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)