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It is possible to get cheap auto insurance in Texas if you are aware of the exact level of insurance that you need. The term ‘cheap’ is very relative, since there are so many options available to you that what is inexpensive to one driver might be too expensive for another. Let’s have a look at how you can cut your premium costs to a minimum while still providing you with a reasonable level of cover.
Texas State Law, like most others, requires you have a minimum level of liability insurance. You cannot purchase less than that level of cover, and in Texas that is:
Bodily injury coverage for one person of $20,000. That covers medical expenses, lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering for one person injured in an accident caused by you. You also need to have $40,000 bodily injury coverage for all persons involved in the one accident. Additionally you must have $15,000 cover for injury to property.
These are minimum levels of cover, and are reasonably high for liability cover. Many other states have lower minimum figures for liability insurance, and you will likely find that you won’t want to increase your cover, especially after April 1st, 2008, when they increase to 25/50/25.
Texas also requires you buy personal injury insurance, for injury to yourself, and uninsured driver cover, to pay for a collision with an uninsured driver even though it was the other driver’s fault. However, you can reject these if you put it in writing. You will have to do this if you want cheap auto insurance in Texas since that type of cover can be expensive to buy.
The cost of your insurance depends a lot on the repair and replacement cost of your vehicle. If your car is relatively new then you will likely want to take out collision cover that pays for repairs to or renewal of your car regardless of who caused the accident. The payment made is limited to the value of your car, and if the repair is too expensive the insurance company will likely total the car and pay you the book price for it. This is not usually enough of a payment to enable you to purchase a car even the same age, let alone a new one.
You might also want to buy comprehensive cover that will pay for damage caused in ways other than by collision. For example, storm damage, theft, fire or vandalism. This again is only worthwhile if your car is fairly new, and you don’t want to pay these repair costs yourself. That is probably the most important factor in the cost of your insurance policy: how much you are prepared to pay yourself.
The cheapest insurance in Texas is purely and simply the minimum state cover, with a written statement that you don’t want personal injury or uninsured driver cover. This means that you are covered for the medical expenses of others but not for yourself, and that you also have to pay your own expenses if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver that does not have the personal funds t pay personally, even if you sued them.
It also means that you are prepared to take the chance of your vehicle not being damaged in any way or stolen, and that you are prepared to pay for everything yourself should such events occur. In that way you will be able to get the cheapest auto insurance in your state, Texas or not. However, you can also help to reduce your premium by having a claim free record for at least three years. Most insurers will give you a discount for this.
 You could also reduce the auto insurance costs for your kids by putting them on your policy, at least for the time being. Have you asked your company if they have a discount insurance deal for employees with their own insurers? Many have and you can reduce costs that way. You can also get reductions if you insurance your car with the same company insuring your house, as long as you have a claim free record with your home insurance.
Having safety features in your car to reduce injury, such as passenger air bags, can help to reduce your costs, as do anti-lock brakes that help to reduce skidding. Anti-theft devices such as a car alarm, and the fact your car is garaged each night, will also result in reduced premiums with most auto insurers.
Another way to get cheap insurance is compare insurers online. You can often get a cheaper price online and it is easier to compare prices online that walk the streets from one company to another. It is possible to get cheap car insurance in Texas, though much depends on the level of cover you must have, your personal circumstances and type of automobile, and on your past claims record. If you have frequently claimed in the past, then forget cheap auto insurance in Texas or anyplace else!
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