Tightwads Lessons for Saving on Texarkana Arkansas Auto Insurance

Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. You have multiple car insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it makes it harder to find the best rates for your vehicles.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Texarkana

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

• Little extras can really add up – There are a lot of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, if your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have poor credit.
• One company can mean more discounts – The majority of insurance companies provide better rates to people who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire will be a fast way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Companies don’t always advertise every discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared to bad drivers.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
• Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
• College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Arkansas, follow this link.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

Certain consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, the coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How cool is that?!

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions to ask:

• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• Are they full-time agents?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Arkansas?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?

What type of Texarkana auto insurance agent is right for you?

When researching local Texarkana agents, there are a couple of different agency structures from which to choose. Texarkana agents can either be captive or independent. Both do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them because it can influence the selection process.

Agency Captives

These agents write business for a single company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are well schooled on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

The following are Texarkana captive insurance agents who may provide you with price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 3015 E 9th St – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 772-4661
Farmers Insurance Group – 4425 Jefferson Ave # 100 – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 772-4555
Shelter Insurance – 2918 County Ave – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 772-0313

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to contact at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Below is a list of independent insurance agents in Texarkana that can give you comparison quotes.

Barnette Agency Inc – 2505 Sugar Hill Rd – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 774-9407
Young and Youngblood Insurance – 515 Regions Bank Bldg – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 774-3669
Dickens Agency – 3210 Jefferson Ave – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 773-5500
Standridge Insurance – 4707 E Broad St – Texarkana, AR 71854 – (870) 773-6000

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Texarkana, simply jump to this page.

Upon receiving answers to your satisfaction to your questions and locked in a price quote, you may have just found an insurance agent that will adequately provide auto insurance.

To learn more about auto insurance in Arkansas

Additional detailed information can be read at the Arkansas Insurance Department website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, learn about specific coverages, and read industry bulletins.

Summing up your auto insurance search

When you buy insurance online, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Texarkana, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.