Save on Honda Ridgeline Insurance in Lubbock

A recent car insurance study revealed that the vast majority of consumers have purchased from the same company for well over three years, and 38% of customers have never taken the time to shop around. Texas consumers could save about $1,770 a year by just comparing quotes, but they think it’s difficult to find affordable car insurance rates.

Really, the only way to get affordable car insurance rates in Lubbock is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurers who sell insurance in Texas.

Step 1: Try to comprehend auto insurance and the measures you can control to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as at-fault accidents and a poor credit rating can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.

Step 2: Request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can quote rates for many different companies. View companies

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

One thing to remember is to use identical coverage information on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and the best rate selection.

Lowering your car insurance rates is surprisingly easy. The only thing you need to do is spend a few minutes on the computer to get quotes provided by online insurance companies.

Getting free price quotes online is quite simple, and it replaces the need to spend your day driving to different Lubbock agent offices. The fact that you can get quotes online has made agencies unnecessary unless you prefer the personal advice that you can only get from talking to an agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to get prices online but still have the advice of a local agent.

The car insurance companies shown below provide comparison quotes in Texas. To find the cheapest car insurance in TX, we recommend you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Honda Ridgeline insurance rate analysis

The coverage information shown below covers detailed analysis of insurance costs for Honda Ridgeline models. Having a better idea how insurance prices are formulated can assist in making smart buying decisions.

Data variables include single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific location information which can raise or lower coverage prices greatly.

Physical damage deductibles

One of the most common auto insurance questions is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The rates below help summarize the premium difference between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can decrease or increase insurance rates noticeably.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible costs roughly $41 more each month or $492 every year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go more than 22 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money if you choose the higher deductible. Here’s how you can come to your own conclusion.

One important note is that raising deductibles results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have to file a claim. That will force you to have some savings in the bank in the event you have to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.

Safe drivers pay less for auto insurance

The diagram below shows how violations and at-fault claims influence Honda Ridgeline premium costs for different insured age categories. The information is based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The information below illustrates the comparison of Honda Ridgeline insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. Data assumes no violations or claims, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.

Are you wasting money on full coverage?

There isn’t a written rule for excluding physical damage insurance, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Honda Ridgeline book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $600 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some conditions where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.

Three reasons to not skimp on car insurance

Despite the potentially high cost of Honda Ridgeline insurance, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

• Most states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability in order to license the vehicle. 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 vehicle, more than likely the lender will make it mandatory that you have insurance to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Honda at a much higher rate and require you to pay the higher price.
• Insurance safeguards both your Honda Ridgeline and your personal assets. It will also cover many types of medical costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of insuring your car more than offset the price you pay, especially for larger claims. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $865 each year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Informed Drivers Can Cut Insurance Costs

Many different elements are considered when premium rates are determined. Most are fairly basic like an MVR report, but other criteria are less obvious such as whether you are married and annual miles driven. The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at some of the things that help calculate the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

• Better premiums on vehicles with better crash test results – Cars with high safety ratings cost less to insure. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries translates directly to fewer claims which can mean better rates for you.
• Save money by having excellent credit – A driver’s credit score can be an important factor in determining premium rates. Insureds that have excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit is lower than you’d like, you may save money insuring your Honda Ridgeline by improving your credit score.
• Big city or small town – Living in less populated areas of the country may provide you with better prices when insuring your vehicles. Residents of big cities tend to have more aggressive driving styles and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
• Optional features that lower premiums – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help stop your vehicle from being stolen.

• Your age impacts your prices – Teen drivers in Texas are statistically shown to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and usually have better credit.

  The chart below uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

• Bump up coverage deductibles to lower rates – The deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are a windshield broken by a bird, damage caused by hail, and damage from wind. The more you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the better rate you will receive.
• Liability protection is cheap – Liability insurance will provide protection in the event that you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Bundle policies and save – Lots of insurance companies apply discounts to buyers that have more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you qualify for this discount already, you still need to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to save more without the discount by buying auto insurance from a different company.

Auto insurance discounts are available to get cheap rates

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but a few must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

• Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying in monthly installments you can avoid the installment charge.
• Federal Government Employee – Active or former government employment could qualify for a slight premium decrease with certain companies.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new can be considerably cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Telematics Discount – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to analyze when and where they use their vehicle through the use of a telematics system such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might get better premium rates if their driving habits are good.
• Responsible Drivers – Drivers without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than drivers with accidents.
• Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Honda could be rewarded with lower prices due to less chance of an accident.
• Senior Citizens – Older drivers are able to get reduced rates.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Good Student Discount – Maintaining excellent grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. You can use this discount normally up until you turn 25.

As a footnote on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any qualifying discounts will lower the premium cost.

The illustration below illustrates the difference between Honda Ridgeline annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The premiums assume a female driver, no claims or driving citations, Texas state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, marriage, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.

Large auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts are included below.

• State Farm offers premium reductions for multiple autos, safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, and accident-free.
• Progressive has savings for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, continuous coverage, multi-policy, homeowner, and good student.
• Travelers has discounts for payment discounts, hybrid/electric vehicle, driver training, multi-policy, and continuous insurance.
• American Family may have discounts that include Steer into Savings, early bird, good driver, good student, and multi-vehicle.
• Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for multi-car, safety features, new vehicle discount, newly married, exclusive group savings, newly retired, and teen driver discount.

If you want cheaper Lubbock auto insurance quotes, ask every prospective company how many discounts you can get. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply in Lubbock. To view companies with discount auto insurance rates in Texas, click here.

When to contact an agent

A small number of people would prefer to sit down with an agent and often times that is recommended Agents can help you build your policy and help file insurance claims. An additional benefit of getting online price quotes is you may find cheaper rates and still buy from a local agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your information is immediately sent to companies in Lubbock who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no reason to contact any agents because prices are sent instantly to you. If you want to get a comparison quote for a specific company, you just need to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.

Finding the right company is decision based upon more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions you should ask.

• Are they full-time agents?
• Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Lubbock?
• Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Is coverage determined by price?

The type of auto insurance agent you choose is important

If you are searching for a reputable agency, it helps to know the two different types of agencies and how they function. Auto insurance agents in Lubbock can be classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either one can write auto insurance policies, but it is important to understand the difference between them because it may have an impact on which agent you choose.

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents

These agents generally can only insure with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance, Allstate, or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot provide prices from multiple companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage.

The following is a short list of exclusive agents in Lubbock that can give you rate quotes.

More Lubbock agents

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents can quote rates with many companies so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If they find a lower price, the agent simply finds a different carrier which is easy for the insured.

When comparison shopping, we recommend you get rate quotes from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.

The following are Lubbock independent insurance agents that can give you price quotes.

More Lubbock agents

If you receive good answers to any questions you may have and a low price estimate, it’s a good possibility that you have found a car insurance agent that is reputable and can service your policy.

Be persistent and save

Cost effective Honda Ridgeline insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Lubbock agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.

As you quote Lubbock auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price while still protecting your assets.

We’ve covered some good ideas how you can reduce Honda Ridgeline insurance prices online in Lubbock. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the higher your chance of finding affordable Lubbock auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the best prices are with the least-expected company. Smaller companies often have lower rates on specific markets than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

Even more information is located in the articles below:

• Understanding Limits and Deductibles (Allstate)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for Seniors in Lubbock? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Safe Drivers in Lubbock? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Lubbock Car Insurance Quotes for Veterans? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for College Students in Lubbock? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Uninsured Drivers in Lubbock? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Bad Credit in Lubbock? (FAQ)
• Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
• Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)
• Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)