Factors Influencing Your Texas Auto Insurance Quotes

July 3, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Insurance Tips 

Reader’s Question:

Why do I get more expensive auto insurance quotes than my neighbor here in Texas? We both have the same car and the same auto insurer. Am I being duped?

Candace

Tyler, TX

Good question. When it comes to auto insurance rates, your insurer uses many different factors in order to assess or underwrite the risk you represent as accurately as possible. The type of vehicle you drive is just one of those said factors. Listed below are some of the most common things that will influence your auto insurance quotes and rates:

  • Your Age, Gender, & Marital Status – Teens and seniors are seen to have the highest auto accident risks, females are also statistically less-inclined to get into an accident than males. Married people are also seen as more responsible drivers.
  • Your Driving Record - this is probably the biggest factor that is considered. Some insurers will even go as far back as the last five years into your driving history to assess how risky or safe of a driver you are.
  • Claims History – Those who have filed more claims in the past may be seen as a riskier driver by auto insurers.
  • Credit History – Credit is now used as an indicator of how safe and responsible you are while on the road. Those with good credit tend to be safer drivers in general.
  • Where You Live – The crime rate and traffic density in your area (as well as the number of miles you drive everyday) will have an impact on your ability tog et affordable auto insurance quotes.

Shopping around for auto insurance quotes online is a great way to take advantage of the difference in rates between companies. Using online auto insurance comparison websites you can obtain free quotes, get the latest rates, and compare more carriers easily.

How To Get Cheap SR22 Insurance In Texas

April 7, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: SR22 - DUI Insurance 

Reader’s Question:

If they say that SR22 insurance is normally expensive, how can I ever get cheap SR22 insurance here in Texas?

Mary

Brownsville, TX

SR22 insurance is required among drivers who have been found guilty of violating major traffic rules such as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving without the required minimum car insurance coverage. SR22 insurance is demanded only from drivers who are considered as high risk. Since high risk drivers are required to carry it, SR22 insurance in Texas is normally expensive. But you can still get cheap SR22 insurance if you shop hard enough for firms offering a cheap policy.

Strictly speaking, SR22 insurance is a type of form issued by a car insurance provider to a state department of motor vehicles. This is to vouch that the person carrying it has the required minimum insurance coverage. SR22 insurance must be carried by the high risk driver for 3 years.

SR22 insurance is usually expensive; since it is given to high risk drivers, car insurance companies charge exorbitant rates to holders of SR22 insurance. Those who have SR22 insurance cannot afford to have lapses in their monthly payments because they run the risk of having their insurance policies cancelled. Likewise, not all car insurance companies issue SR22 insurance because of its high risk nature.

Shopping for SR22 insurance maybe difficult given the high prices of SR22 insurance but this does not mean that high risk drivers cannot find an affordable SR22 insurance. Shopping around is important if one is to get a cheap SR22 insurance. It also helps if the driver has a good credit history as car insurers prefer to issue cheap SR22 insurance to those who can settle their bills on time.

Getting SR22 Car Insurance With Bad Credit

October 1, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: SR22 - DUI Insurance 

As this video states, while having bad credit doesn’t exactly ruin your chances of getting cheap SR 22 car insurance, it does make it more unlikely. There are several factors that factor into the car insurance premium that you pay in the end, such as your driving record and your age and the type of car your drive, but over the past few years, your credit report has been playing a bigger and bigger role. The car insurance score that is seen from your credit report is gotten in a different way from your credit score, in that paying on time is emphasized more than not having maxed out credit cards and not having a long credit history.

There is some debate as to whether or not using the credit report to determine how much to charge someone for their SR 22 car insurance premium is ethical, but so far the car insurance companies are winning out. According to statistics, they say, people with bad credit tend to get into more collisions and file more claims than people who have good credit. Because of this, those with bad credit belong to a higher risk group.

For many people, finding this out is just a ‘the more you know’ sort of thing, because there isn’t much that they can do about their credit, at least in the short run. However, if your credit report is getting in the way of you getting reasonable car insurance rates on your Dallas SR 22 car insurance, then it makes sense to order your reports from each credit union and make sure that everything on there has a reason to be there and try to start working on diminishing your debt.