Everyone knows that auto insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Insureds who shop around for a cheaper policy will probably move their business because there is a great chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that consumers who regularly shopped around saved about $3,400 over four years compared to other drivers who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding discount rates on car insurance in Corpus Christi is the reason for your visit, then learning about the best way to shop and compare coverages can make it easier to find better rates.
The most effective way to get low-cost Toyota Prius Prime insurance is to compare quotes annually from different companies who provide car insurance in Corpus Christi.
First, try to understand how your policy works and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that drive up the price like traffic violations and a negative credit score can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Second, request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide prices from multiple companies. View rates
Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, notify your current company to cancel your current coverage. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application to your new insurance company. Once coverage is bound, place the new proof of insurance paperwork with the vehicle registration.
A tip to remember is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this guarantees an accurate price comparison and a good representation of prices.
If you have coverage now or are just looking to switch companies, follow these tips to find the best rates without having to cut coverage. Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Corpus Christi is much easier if you know where to start. Consumers only have to learn how to compare different rates using one simple form.
How to buy Toyota Prius Prime insurance online
The providers in the list below provide free rate quotes in Corpus Christi, TX. To locate the best car insurance in TX, we recommend you click on several of them to find the most affordable auto insurance rates.
Why do I need car insurance?
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance serves an important purpose.
- Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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 have a lien on your Toyota Prius Prime, most lenders will stipulate that you have insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Toyota for a much higher rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
- Insurance protects your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance more than cancel out the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. The average driver in Texas is overpaying more than $865 each year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are inline.
Insurance coverages and their meanings
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages available from insurance companies.
UM/UIM Coverage
This coverage provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Toyota Prius Prime.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (30/60/25 in Texas), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally these limits are set the same as your liability limits.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see values of 30/60/25 which stand for $30,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage protects against claims like medical services, pain and suffering, attorney fees, loss of income and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Texas state law requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/25 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
The chart below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be adequate coverage.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hail damage, vandalism, falling objects and theft. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for claims like hitting a parking meter, rolling your car and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to bump up the deductible on your Prius Prime to save money on collision insurance.
Medical costs insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for expenses such as chiropractic care, nursing services and doctor visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover you and your occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Corpus Christi car insurance company ratings
Ending up with the highest-rated auto insurance company can be a challenge considering how many companies sell insurance in Corpus Christi. The ranking information in the lists below may help you select which providers to look at purchasing coverage from.
Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
Mercury Insurance | 97 | 96 | 88 | 89% | A+ | 93.4 |
AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
Liberty Mutual | 79 | 87 | 95 | 78% | A | 85.3 |
Farmers Insurance | 77 | 80 | 80 | 84% | A | 80.3 |
Compare Rates Now Go |
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
One last thing to lower rates
We’ve covered a lot of information how to get a better price on Toyota Prius Prime insurance in Corpus Christi. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your prices. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These companies may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.
More affordable auto insurance in Corpus Christi is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Corpus Christi, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide price quotes online and usually these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
To learn more, feel free to browse the resources below:
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Affordable Corpus Christi Car Insurance Rates for College Graduates? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Corpus Christi Car Insurance for Drivers Requiring a SR22? (FAQ)
- Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)