Car Insurance Rates in San Marcos

Finding the cheapest insurance for a new or used car in Texas can turn out to be a painful process, but you can use a few tricks to find lower rates.

There is a better way to find insurance online and we’ll show you the absolute fastest way to price shop coverage for a new or used and locate the cheapest rates from San Marcos insurance agents and online providers.

You should take the time to compare rates quite often because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates on insurance at your last renewal other companies may now be cheaper. There is a lot of bad advice regarding insurance on the internet, but we’re going to give you some great ideas on how to lower your insurance bill.

Finding and comparing cheaper coverage in San Marcos is not as hard as you may think. If you already have coverage or are shopping for new coverage, use these money-saving tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Comparison shoppers only need an understanding of the quickest method to find the lowest price from many different companies online.

Car insurance companies in Texas

The car insurance companies shown below are our best choices to provide price comparisons in San Marcos, TX. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to find the lowest rates.


Insurance Rate Estimates for Popular Vehicles in San Marcos
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Policy Premium 6-month Policy Premium Monthly Premium
Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD $906 $453 $76
Chevrolet Silverado LT Regular Cab 2WD $1,278 $639 $107
Dodge Grand Caravan CV $1,072 $536 $89
Dodge Ram Quad Cab SLT 4WD $1,254 $627 $105
Ford Escape XLS 4WD $854 $427 $71
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Super Cab 4WD $906 $453 $76
Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan $1,250 $625 $104
Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan $1,278 $639 $107
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD $1,152 $576 $96
Honda Civic SI 2-Dr Coupe $1,402 $701 $117
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan $1,286 $643 $107
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD $1,238 $619 $103
Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr $1,062 $531 $89
Nissan Altima Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan $1,652 $826 $138
Toyota Camry LE $1,200 $600 $100
Toyota Corolla XRS $1,786 $893 $149
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Data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can impact rates substantially.

Car insurance rates are higher with tickets and accidents

The chart below shows how violations and at-fault claims drive up Kia Optima yearly insurance costs for each age group. The information is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

Kia Optima rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.

Smart buyers know how to buy auto insurance at a discount

Multiple criteria are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Some factors are common sense like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are not as apparent such as whether you are married or how safe your car is.

High comp and collision deductibles lower prices – Protection for physical damage, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims would be a broken windshield, hitting a deer, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage tell how much the insured will be required to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

Rates are affected by your address – Residing in less populated areas of the country may provide you with better prices if you are looking for the lowest rates. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with much more traffic and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident in addition to fewer liability claims.

Lower premiums for vehicles with better crash test results – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and reduced instances of injuries means less claims paid and cheaper rates on your policy.

File a auto insurance claims and pay more – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Companies in Texas award discounts to drivers who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.

The more you drive the more you pay – The higher the miles on your car in a year the more you’ll pay to insure it. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Autos not used for work or commuting cost less to insure than those that get driven frequently. It’s always a good idea to double check that your policy correctly shows the correct driver usage, because it can save money.

Men tend to take more risk – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both are in fender benders in similar numbers, but the men get into accidents with more damage. Not only are claims higher, but men get ticketed for serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.

Liability is important – Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are ruled to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability is cheap compared to comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.

Excellent credit scores equal low costs – Having a good credit history is a big factor in calculating your premium rate. Insureds that have high credit ratings tend to be better risks to insure than drivers with lower ratings. If your credit rating is low, you may save money insuring your vehicle by improving your rating.

Cheaper rates with these discounts on insurance

Insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit.Discount insurance

One last thing about discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

Insurance companies that may offer policyholders some of the discounts shown above may include but are not limited to:

Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some credits may not apply in every state. If you would like to see a list of companies that offer discounts in San Marcos, click this link.

Can’t I compare rates from local San Marcos car insurance agents?

A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help file insurance claims. A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap rate quotes and still choose a local agent. Putting coverage with small agencies is definitely important in San Marcos.

By using this simple form, the coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to find an agent on your own since rate quotes are delivered to you directly. If you need to get a price quote from a particular provider, you would need to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.

Different types of San Marcos auto insurance agents

If you are searching for a reliable insurance agency, it helps to know the two different agency structures and how they are slightly different. Agencies in San Marcos can be classified as either exclusive or independent. Both types of agents can sell auto insurance policies, but it’s a good idea to understand how they are different because it can factor into the selection process.

Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)

Agents that choose to be independent do not work for one specific company and that gives them the ability to insure through lots of different companies and get the cheapest rates. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies which requires no work on your part.

When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a few independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison. Most independent agents also contract with different regional companies who may have lower rates.

Shown below are San Marcos independent insurance agencies who may provide cheap rate quotes.

More insurance agents

Exclusive Agencies

These agents generally can only insure with one company and examples are State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agents cannot provide prices from multiple companies so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Drivers often buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive agencies in San Marcos willing to provide price quotes.

More insurance agents

Selecting an insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a low price. These are some questions your agent should answer.

If you feel you receive good feedback to any questions you may have and an affordable coverage quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles. Just be aware that consumers can cancel your policy at any time so don’t assume you are locked into your new company with no way to switch.

Is there deception in advertising?

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that claim the cheapest premium rates by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all say the same thing that drivers can save some big amount if you just switch to them.

But how can every company sell you cheaper insurance coverage? This is how they do it.

Companies have underwriting criteria for the driver that will generate a profit. For instance, a profitable insured might be described as between 30 and 50, has a clean driving record, and drives less than 5,000 miles a year. Any new insured that meets those criteria may get the lowest car insurance rates in San Marcos and will probably save if they switch.

Insureds who don’t qualify for this stringent profile will probably have to pay higher prices which results in business going elsewhere. The trick is to say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save the amount stated. That’s the way companies can make those statements.

This illustrates why you should get San Marcos car insurance quotes as often as possible. It’s not possible to predict with any certainty which company will give you the biggest savings.

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

Always remember that when buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different.Drive safe and save

For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Don’t give up on cheap rates

When getting San Marcos car insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to shop for car insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get auto insurance rates for, the better likelihood of getting cheap San Marcos car insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company.

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including policy non-renewal, not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium or lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

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