I’m sure you’ve seen the ads from auto insurance companies like Farmers, Progressive, and State Farm that promise dirt cheap rates, so you should just pick the company with the cutest commercial, right?
Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy, as there are a whole bunch of unknown elements like if you need full coverage or liability-only, the neighborhood you live in, what physical damage coverage deductibles you want, and if you have points on your license, that all help calculate your car insurance rates. This article will detail the best ways to find cheap auto insurance and should give you a good start in finding the cheapest insurance in Texas.
The vehicle model that is being insured is one of the largest considerations when comparing cheap coverage for used cars. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, a lack of safety features, or a track record of large liability claims will cost much more to insure than safer models. The next list shows coverage prices for some of the more affordable vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,193 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,209 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $1,221 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $1,264 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $1,266 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $1,292 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $1,315 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 2WD | $1,384 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab Platinum 2WD | $1,390 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $1,386 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD 4-Dr | $1,398 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $1,412 |
| Ford F-350 XL Crew Cab Turbo Diesel 2WD | $1,433 |
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Data rating is based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in garaging location in Lubbock, TX which can increase or decrease coverage prices substantially.
Looking at the rates, cars like the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape are the less-costly vehicles to insure for pre-owned vehicles.
One of the more important criteria that are looked at to determine the annual cost of car insurance is where your car is garaged. More populated areas will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates have the luxury of lower rates.
The following table sorts the most costly cities in Texas for used cars to buy an auto insurance policy in. Lubbock is listed at #12 with an annual rate of $1,733 for coverage, which is around $144 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $1,996 |
| 2 | Brownsville | $1,927 |
| 3 | Dallas | $1,893 |
| 4 | Houston | $1,891 |
| 5 | Laredo | $1,889 |
| 6 | Garland | $1,850 |
| 7 | Mesquite | $1,807 |
| 8 | Amarillo | $1,804 |
| 9 | Beaumont | $1,754 |
| 10 | Pasadena | $1,740 |
| 11 | Grand Prairie | $1,740 |
| 12 | Lubbock | $1,733 |
| 13 | Irving | $1,719 |
| 14 | Arlington | $1,692 |
| 15 | Austin | $1,676 |
| 16 | San Antonio | $1,671 |
| 17 | Carrollton | $1,664 |
| 18 | Fort Worth | $1,621 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi | $1,620 |
| 20 | McKinney | $1,609 |
| 21 | Plano | $1,576 |
| 22 | Waco | $1,569 |
| 23 | El Paso | $1,568 |
| 24 | Killeen | $1,533 |
| 25 | Abilene | $1,515 |
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Information shown are approximated as zip code location can raise or lower rates greatly.
The example below demonstrates how deductible levels can influence annual premium costs when researching cheap insurance for used cars. The data is based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data above shows that a 30-year-old driver could cut expenses by $344 a year by switching their comprehensive and collision coverages from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $520 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the 20-year-old, could possibly save as much as $766 each year just by choosing higher deductibles.
When increasing deductibles, it will be required to have enough savings set aside to offset the extra out-of-pocket expense. This is the primary disadvantage of choosing high deductibles.
Insuring your vehicle with a good quality auto insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many choices there are in Lubbock. The information in the next section may help you pick which car insurance companies you want to consider when looking for cheaper rates. These ratings are only made up of companies who write in the majority of U.S. states, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Texas are not taken into consideration for the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers Overall in Lubbock
- Travelers
- USAA
- Mercury Insurance
- AAA Insurance
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
Careless driving habits raise car insurance rates
One of the best ways to maintain low car insurance prices for pre-owned vehicles is to be a good driver and avoid accidents and traffic citations. The information below demonstrates how traffic citations and accident claims can drive up auto insurance rates for different age categories. Data assumes a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the previous chart, the average cost of auto insurance in Lubbock per year with no violations or accidents is $2,078. Get written up for one speeding ticket and the average cost jumps to $2,381, an increase of $303 each year. Then add in two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the annual cost of car insurance for used cars goes up to an average of $4,862. That’s an increase of $2,784, or $232 per month, just for being a less-than-perfect driver!
How to find low-cost insurance for used cars
Here are some of the recommended thrifty ideas that can help drivers locate low-cost auto insurance.
- Avoid getting citations and tickets
- Good credit can save money
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Avoid filing small claims
- Drive safe vehicles
- Shop around and save
The last tip in the list is incredibly important, as we emphasized in the prior article. Prices charged by auto insurers can change significantly in a year, so don’t be unwilling to buy from a different company if a lower-cost policy is available. Many drivers tend to have loyalty to a certain company, but it’s not a good idea if that loyalty ends up costing hundreds of dollars year after year. Take a few minutes and compare rates to find cheaper insurance for used cars in Lubbock.