Save Money on Chevy Impala Insurance in Austin

Are you at wits end from paying out the nose to pay your auto insurance bill each month? You’re in the same situation as many other Texas consumers.

It’s hard to believe, but over 70% of drivers kept buying from the same company for more than four years, and 38% of customers have never even compared rates from other companies. Many drivers in Texas could save themselves nearly $1,770 a year by just shopping around, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to find lower-cost auto insurance rates. Lots of car insurance companies contend for your business, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance company to get the cheapest price on Chevy Impala insurance in Austin.

If you are already insured or are just looking to switch companies, use these tips to find better prices and still have adequate protection. Choosing the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Austin is much easier if you know where to start. Drivers just have to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around from many different companies online.

Most major insurance companies provide coverage prices directly from their websites. Doing online quotes for Chevy Impala insurance in Austin is pretty painless because you just enter the amount of coverage you want on the page. When complete, their system sends out for your driving record and credit report and generates a price based on many factors. The ability to get online rates for Chevy Impala insurance in Austin makes it easy to compare insurance prices and it’s necessary to get many rate quotes in order to get a lower rate.

To quickly find out what other companies charge, compare quotes from the companies shown below. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you duplicate the coverage information exactly as shown on your declarations page. Doing this assures you’re receiving a price comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

The providers in the list below provide price comparisons in Austin, TX. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them to get the lowest price.

Data variables include single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can increase or decrease prices substantially.

Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?

The illustration below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can raise or lower Chevrolet Impala insurance prices for each age group. The data is based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Should you raise deductibles?

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for auto insurance is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The rates shown below may help to conceptualize the rate difference when you select higher and lower coverage deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in specific location information which can modify premiums greatly.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible costs approximately $39 more each month or $468 each year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $900 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 23 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible.

One important note is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in more money out-of-pocket when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You must have some funds available in the event you have to pay more for the deductible.

Impact of speeding/accidents on auto insurance rates

The diagram below shows how violations and fender-benders increase Chevrolet Impala insurance prices for different insured age categories. The data is based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Companies offer many types of discounts on Chevy Impala insurance in Austin

Auto insurance is not inexpensive, but there could be significant discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts will apply when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

• Distant College Student Discount – Children who are attending college and do not take a car to college may be able to be covered for less.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll and complete driver’s education as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
• Austin Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Austin can save a few bucks because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you can avoid monthly service charges.
• Professional Memberships – Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Mature drivers may be able to get a slight reduction on a Austin car insurance quote.
• Discounts for Good Drivers – Drivers without accidents may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
• Driver Training Discounts – Passing a safe driver course could earn you a small percentage discount if your company offers it.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.

Auto insurance companies that have most of the discounts above possibly include:

• State Farm
• Nationwide
• GEICO
• AAA
• 21st Century
• The Hartford

It’s a good idea to ask all companies you are considering which discounts you qualify for. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be available in every state.

Auto insurance is an important decision

Even though it can be expensive, paying for auto insurance may be required for several reasons.

• The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability insurance 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.
• If you have a loan on your Impala, most banks will require you to buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may insure your Chevy for a lot more money and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
• Auto insurance preserves your Chevy and your assets. Insurance will pay for all forms of medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of insuring your car are without a doubt worth the cost, especially when you need to use it. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is overpaying more than $750 every year so it’s recommended you shop around at every policy renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to adequate coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that.
For example, these questions may help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.

• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Can my babysitter drive my car?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• What states are considered no-fault?
• What are the liability requirements in my state?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Local neighborhood Austin car insurance agents

Some consumers prefer to talk to an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Most agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help submit paperwork. A good thing about comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get cheaper prices but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting neighborhood agents is still important in Austin.

Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents in Austin who can give free rate quotes for your business. There is no reason to find an agent on your own since price quotes are sent immediately to you. If you wish to get a comparison quote for a specific company, just visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.

Is an exclusive or independent auto insurance agent right for you?

If you want to use a reliable insurance agent, it’s important to understand the types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Austin can either be independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to point out how they differ since it could factor into which type of agent you select.

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents can quote rates with many companies so they can write business with multiple insurance companies and find you the best rates. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage which requires no work on your part. When comparing rate quotes, we highly recommend that you get quotes from a couple of independent agencies for maximum quote selection.

Shown below is a partial list of independent agencies in Austin that may be able to give free rate quotes.

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agencies

These type of agents write business for a single company and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are very knowledgeable on what they offer and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below are Austin exclusive insurance agents willing to provide rate quotes.

More insurance agents

Choosing the best car insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are some questions you should get answers to.

• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Austin?
• Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
• Are they involved in claim handling?
• If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?

Car insurance coverages for a Chevy Impala

Having a good grasp of auto insurance helps when choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Chevy Impala.

Due to the fact that many Texas drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as hitting a deer, rock chips in glass and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision insurance

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers things such as damaging your car on a curb, driving through your garage door, rolling your car and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible on your Impala to get cheaper collision coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills for things like doctor visits, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and funeral costs. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability insurance

This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 30/60/25 which means a $30,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical services, court costs, repair costs for stationary objects and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Texas state law requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.