Save Money on Kia Optima Insurance in El Paso

It's well known that insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. Consumers who shop around at least once a year are inclined to switch auto insurance companies because they have a good chance of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. Remarkably, a study showed that people who compared price quotes annually saved about $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who never compared prices.

If finding budget-friendly auto insurance in El Paso is your ultimate objective, then understanding the best ways to find and compare car insurance can make it easier to find better rates.

Really, the only way to find affordable auto insurance rates in El Paso is to start doing an annual price comparison from providers that sell auto insurance in Texas.

1. Take a little time to learn about policy coverages and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price such as speeding tickets, accidents and poor credit can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle. This article gives additional ideas to prevent rate hikes and find missing discounts.
2. Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates from multiple companies.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates and decide to switch, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Tell your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your existing policy and submit payment and a completed application for the new policy. Once the paperwork is finalized, store the proof of insurance certificate in your glove compartment.

One important bit of advice is to make sure you're comparing similar deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and and to get price estimates from as many companies as you can. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and a thorough price selection.

If you have a policy now or just want to save money, use these money-saving tips to shop for the lowest rates without reducing coverage. Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in El Paso can be much easier if you know how to start. Comparison shoppers only need an understanding of the most time-saving way to compare price quotes using one simple form.

Best Kia Optima insurance prices in Texas

The companies shown below can provide comparison quotes in El Paso, TX. If more than one company is shown, it's highly recommended you compare several of them to find the cheapest car insurance rates.

Rates and detailed analysis

The premium table shown next highlights different insurance prices for Kia Optima models. Understanding more about how auto insurance premiums are determined can help customers make decisions when shopping around.

Data rating is based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in your specific El Paso location which can modify prices significantly.

Cautious drivers save money

The chart below highlights how traffic violations and accidents can affect Kia Optima car insurance costs for each different age group. The information is based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Affordable rates on Kia Optima insurance in El Paso with these five discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you might be missing out on some discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but some must be specially asked for before they will apply. If you are not receiving all the discounts you qualify for, you may be paying too high a price.

• Student Driver Training - It's a good idea to have your young drivers successfully take a driver's education course if it's offered in school.
• El Paso Homeowners Discount - Just being a homeowner can get you a discount since home ownership requires a higher level of personal finance.
• Telematics Data - El Paso drivers who agree to allow their company to analyze their driving habits remotely like Allstate's Drivewise may get a rate reduction if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Accident Free - Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay much less compared to drivers with a long claim history.
• Waiver for an Accident - This isn't a discount exactly, but companies like Liberty Mutual, GEICO and Allstate allow you one accident before raising your premiums with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a specific time period.

As a sidenote, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

The example below shows the difference between Kia Optima yearly insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The rates are based on a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, Texas state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.

Car insurance companies that may include many of the previously listed discounts possibly include:

• State Farm
• Nationwide
• GEICO
• AAA
• 21st Century
• The Hartford

When getting a coverage quote, ask all the companies how you can save money. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered on policies in El Paso. If you would like to see a list of providers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Texas, follow this link.

Situations that may require an agent's advice

Always keep in mind that when comparing a policy, there really is not a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your needs are unique to you.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

• When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
• Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
• How many claims can I have before being canceled?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• Can my babysitter drive my car?
• When can I cancel my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Insurance agent or online?

A small number of people just prefer to sit down with an agent and doing that can be a smart decision Good insurance agents can help you build your policy and help in the event of a claim. One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates and still have a local agent. Supporting local agencies is definitely important in El Paso.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to insurance agents in El Paso who can give free rate quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered directly to your email. If for some reason you want to compare rates from a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

When researching a reliable insurance agency, there are two different types of agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. El Paso agents can either be exclusive or independent. Either one can provide car insurance policies, but it is a good idea to know the subtle differences since it can impact which type of agent you select.

Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)

These type of agents are appointed with more than one company so they can insure your vehicles through lots of different companies and find the cheapest rate. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply switch companies in-house and you stay with the same agent.

When comparing car insurance prices, you should always check rates from a few independent agents to have the most options to choose from.

Featured below is a small list of independent agents in El Paso that can give you price quotes.

View more agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents in the exclusive channel work for only one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Exclusive agents are usually well trained in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price.

Listed below is a short list of exclusive agencies in El Paso that are able to give price quotes.

View more agents

Selecting an insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. You should also get answers to these questions.

• Do they offer accident forgiveness?
• Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• How many companies do they write for?
• Is the quote a firm price?
• Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
• How long has their agency been in business in El Paso?
• Is insurance their full-time profession?

After receiving good responses to these questions as well as offering an affordable quote, you may have found an auto insurance agent that can be relied on to properly insure your vehicles. Just be aware that it's your policy and you can cancel your coverage for any reason so don't feel that you are obligated to any specific agency for a certain time period.

Specifics of your car insurance policy

Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Auto liability insurance - Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 30/60/25 that means you have a $30,000 limit per person for injuries, $60,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers things like loss of income, pain and suffering and bail bonds. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but it's cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Texas requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/25 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.

The next chart shows why low liability limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance - Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the "other guys" either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle's damage.

Due to the fact that many Texas drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Texas limits are 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important. Usually these limits are set the same as your liability limits.

Collision coverage - This covers damage to your Optima caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Optima to save money on collision insurance.

Insurance for medical payments - Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses for nursing services, EMT expenses, X-ray expenses, hospital visits and doctor visits. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) - Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as fire damage, falling objects and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle's value is low it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Quote more to save more

Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agencies. More affordable car insurance in El Paso is definitely available from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.

You just learned some good ideas how to find lower-cost Kia Optima insurance in El Paso. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your prices. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company.

People switch companies for many reasons like unfair underwriting practices, high prices, poor customer service or an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Whatever your reason, finding a new company can be less work than you think.

Additional detailed information is available in these articles:

• What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
• State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
• If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)