If you plan on moving to Austin from another state, you are not alone. Texas' economy continues to grow. New opportunities are drawing countless new residents to the state. For Austin, that means a large population boom. The growth has created a significant need for new infrastructure in and around the city. Therefore, driving might prove risky. To protect yourself, you need auto insurance. How can you ensure you get coverage appropriately?
Texas requires residents to carry auto insurance and state registration on their vehicles. Therefore, a timeline exists for which you must undertake this process.
Registration Rules In Texas
When you move to Texas, you'll have to switch your residency status. Given that states manage their own vehicle registration, you'll have to get a new Texas license plate, driver's license and vehicle insurance. You will face a timeline in which to do so.
Within 30 days of moving in, you'll have to register your vehicle with the state. This will involve:
- Having a state-required vehicle inspection
- Obtaining Texas car insurance
- Paying applicable fees
- Placing tags and registration stickers on the vehicle
During this period, you also have the opportunity to transfer your vehicle's title to Texas. However, this is an optional task you can choose at your discretion.
Furthermore, you have 90 days after your move to obtain a Texas driver's license. Texas manages driver's licenses and vehicle registration through separate agencies. So, check with the Texas DMV for your registration rules. The Texas Department of Public Safety will handle your license.
Getting Car Insurance
To register your vehicle in Texas, you must get car insurance. Thus, as you gather information to register, also work on getting an auto policy.
To get adequate coverage, you must meet certain requirements. Texas requires all drivers to carry auto liability insurance. The limits of your policy must contain at least:
$30,000 bodily injury liability insurance per person
$60,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
$25,000 property damage liability coverage
You'll use your liability coverage to pay for the losses of other parties if you are at-fault in an accident. So, it's often in your best interest to carry more than the minimum levels of coverage. In limited cases, Texas will accept an out-of-state car insurance policy. However, it must still meet the minimum coverage requirements.
Who Has The Best Car Insurance in Austin?
Auto insurance is both a blessing and a curse, no one enjoys having the extra payment in their budget but if you ever have an accident then you’re sure thankful you have it. Not only is it your legal responsibility to have liability auto insurance in order to drive a car, but it acts as a shield for your assets and helps you pay for damages if you cause an accident.
Even though it’s a must-have, we want to make sure we’re getting the best deal on our policy. It can be tricky to figure out which plan is best for you and how to get the lowest rate, so here is a list of some of the best affordable car insurance companies in Austin.
Keep in mind, some insurance companies are members-only and the best rates are given to middle-aged people with good credit and a clean driving record. The averages given below are for the “perfect driver” with a good driver discount applied when available.
Who Will Give You The Cheapest Minimum Coverage In Austin?
- Texas Farm Bureau: $441 per year.
- Geico: $559 per year.
- Auto Club of SoCal: $638 per year.
- State Farm: $754 per year.
- Republic Group: $858 per year.
Best For Full Coverage For Good Drivers In Austin:
Going with the bare minimum won’t be an option if you’ve financed your car with a bank loan. Here are some great full coverage options near you.
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Texas Farm Bureau: $1,041 per year.
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Geico: $1,207 per year.
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Republic Group: $1,351 per year.
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Auto Club of SoCal: $1,478 per year.
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State Farm: $1,610 per year.
Where Can I Get The Cheapest Auto Insurance With One Accident In Austin?
Even careful drivers can have an accident. Having even one accident can raise your rates substantially for a while. When the unthinkable happens, check with one of these companies for the best rates.
Texas Farm Bureau: $1,210 per year.
- Republic Group: $1,351 per year.
- Geico: $1,917 per year.
- State Farm: $2,140 per year.
- Auto Club of SoCal: $2,310 per year.
Cheapest Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers
Family rates can differ depending on the makeup of your family. The good news is, insurance rates are less expensive for married couples. The bad news is, when your teens start driving it can get expensive again in a jiffy.
- Geico: $3,247 per year.
- Texas Farm Bureau: $3,717 per year.
- Republic Group: $4,137 per year.
- Auto Club of SoCal: $4,880 per year.
- State Farm: $5,064 per year.
If your teen gets good grades and maintains a clean driving record then they could be eligible for discounts to help ease the bill. The best way to save money on auto insurance is to compare plans at least once a year and make sure that you’re taking advantage of all the available discounts.
How to Find Affordable Insurance in Austin
The most affordable car insurance in Austin, Texas, like many things in life, depends on circumstances. Those are all the factors that change a rate and make a person more or less risky. All those points are added together by the agent to come up with the rate they can offer.
Unfortunately for those who are struggling, one of the biggest factors in determining how much an individual or vehicle will cost to cover is the credit rating. A good or great rating is seen as a sign the person listed in the policy is responsible. That makes them less likely, in the eyes of the agency, to cause accidents or practice risky driving habits. There are businesses that ensure those with lower credit scores, but the rates may not be as favorable.
While it might not be really simple to get affordable car insurance in Austin, Texas, there are lots of different things that you can do in order to reduce your quotes. As long as you are willing to put in some effort and have a bit of determination to succeed, at the end of the day you will come out with some excellent policy options.
When you insure your car make sure that it is registered in a location that is advantageous to you. You don't necessarily have to be completely honest here, and if you live in the middle of a big city you don't necessarily have to say that your car is registered there. Instead, register it somewhere quieter and your premiums will certainly go down.
Always compare as many quotes as you can when looking for decent insurance. You can't expect to have excellent policies simply appear in front of you after only one or two minutes of searching. Take as much time as you need searching for as many policies as you can and you will be able to find something of good value.
Play the different companies off against each other and make them compete to achieve your custom. At the end of the day, you are the one with all the power. There are dozens of insurance providers looking to sign you up, and you have the choice between all of them. Do not get sucked in by their marketing ploys, but instead make sure that you barter and haggle with them in order to get some excellent deals.
Never buy additional coverage unless you really think it is going to be required. It is amazing how so many people will purchase a comprehensive insurance policy when they really will make absolutely no use of it whatsoever. Always evaluate the specific coverage that you require and never purchase more than you need.
Your credit rating has become more and more important when it comes to purchasing affordable car insurance in Austin, Texas. If you demonstrate irresponsibility in your financial dealings your credit rating will go down and this will have a knock-on effect on everything within your financial life, including getting good insurance premiums. As such, maintain a good rating to achieve good premiums.
Additional Tips on Finding Cheap Insurance in Austin
Picture of A Few Easy Steps to Getting Lower Car Insurance in Austin, Texas
Everyone has to have it, but most people overpay for it. What is it? Car Insurance! Most people don't know there are ways to save big bucks on their car insurance.
There are many ideas for lowering car insurance in Austin:
Here is how to get the best car insurance for the least amount of money.
First, figure out what you want and how you are going to achieve it. Lowering your auto insurance costs can be easy, but there are a few ways to do it.
Do you have a new car and need an entirely new policy?
Do you have an existing car and are looking to reduce your payments?
Do you want to change your current policy for a newer one?
Once you know what you want, you do need to talk to a car insurance agent. Agents can be contacted either online or at a local office. The one good thing about working with an agent in person is that they have a lot of pull when it comes to prices and discounts. There are also good things about getting your quote online. When you do things on the web, you can get many quotes in a short amount of time from several companies.
When you are trying to get discounts you have to be knowledgeable about what things entitle you to a price reduction. Here is a small list of a few standard discounts.
How old is your car? Older cars have less value and don't require the same auto insurance coverage and new cars. Confirm you are not paying for more coverage than your old car needs.
Does your car have safety features? Most agencies are quick to give you discounts but ask and make sure! These can save you a lot of money!
Do you have more than one car? You can add multiple cars on one policy and get a pretty good price reduction.
You can also raise your deductible and in a result get your premiums lowered. However, lowering your premium has its ups and downs. You pay less for coverage, but in the event of an accident, you pay more out of your pocket for repairs. Think about it before doing it!
Also, a common thing that most people overlook is making sure you're paying the right price for your age group! As you get older, you pay less because you are more experienced. Now, this discount starts to lower as you get into your 40s or 50s but if you were younger than that and older than 21 you could be overpaying because of being incorrectly grouped. Check with your agency to make sure. Once you have milked all the discounts, you can enjoy your lower car insurance bill!
How Being a Safe Driver Can Save on Your Insurance
Due to a high level of accidents and accidents with fatalities throughout the state of Texas, the insurance premiums are among the highest in the US. Keeping a clean driving record will help you get the lowest possible rates. A clean driving record is one free from speeding and other moving violations and no accidents.
Austin, the live music capital of the US, has a few unique driving norms that you can use to help you avoid accidents or crashes. Let’s go over some defensive driving lessons that will help you stay accident-free in Austin, TX.
Defensive Driving Tips For Austin
Texas is the only state that allows passing on the right using the shoulder. While this law is meant only for rural driving, people often push the limits and try this maneuver in the cities when there is congested traffic. What does this mean for you as a defensive driver? It means that you need to use your side mirrors to monitor traffic on both the left and the right sides of your vehicle at all times.
The weather in Texas is pretty steady, warm, and conducive to safe driving conditions. However, every few years it does ice over and as you can imagine the population used to warmer weather is unprepared for icy conditions, and many accidents can happen. Avoid driving in icy conditions. Austin roads might not get a lot of snow or ice but they do get a lot of flooding during heavy rains. Always listen to flood warnings in your area and drive safely.
Long flat roads can lead to high rates of speed, at least during non-congested times of the day. So always watch your speed and the posted speed limits. On the flip side, always make sure you are driving at least the minimum speed on the highways as long slopes in the roadways can make it dangerous for other drivers if you are driving too slowly.
How to Avoid Being a High Risk in Austin
If you live in Austin or the surrounding areas, you face a unique set of driving risks. Few other areas in the country feature the mix of urban, suburban, Hill Country, and rural driving that the greater Austin area does.
Driving in Austin requires care and precision. However, if you don't have the best driving record, you could face additional challenges. As a high-risk driver, it's imperative that you drive safely in and around Austin to maintain your license and keep your insurance rates from increasing further.
Why Do Risks Occur?
Auto insurers determine how much they charge for coverage based on the risks a driver presents. Risks come in various forms.
For example, one area of risk typically used to determine policy rates is a driver's location. The driving risks in Austin - with a population of nearly 950,000 - are likely different than those in Brady, population 5,400. Urban areas typically see more auto insurance claims from wrecks, theft, or other incidents than rural areas do. This leads insurers to sometimes consider urban zones high-risk.
Another common risk factor is the driver's record. If a driver has multiple accidents, tickets, or violations, insurers often view them as harder to insure. The insurance company may have to classify the driver as a high-risk operator.
How Risks Affect Insurance Prices
If you obtain a high-risk designation in Austin, you may face increases in your auto insurance rates. The combination of your location and driving record might compel your insurer to charge you more for your coverage. As an urban, high-risk driver, you pose more of a cost risk to your insurer.
Due to the heightened driving risks you face in Austin, you could wind up paying more than $2,000 a year for your auto insurance coverage. Indeed, as a high-risk driver, this cost might even be higher.
You Can Control Costs
Even if you're a high-risk Austin driver, you don't have to pay an arm and leg for auto insurance. There are ways you can work with your insurer to get affordable rates.
Compare the insurance prices of various companies. You may be able to reduce your coverage costs to only around $1,000 a year. Your insurer may also be able to offer discounts to help control policy costs.
It's best to work at keeping your driving record clean. Your record isn't usually permanent. So, if you begin to avoid driving violations, you may be able to reduce your costs over time. Nothing works better than paying attention to the road and remaining responsible. Devote your focus to the road, and you can make your excursions around ATX safe adventures.
Classic Car Insurance in Austin
Classic car insurance is best if you don't want to compromise the vehicle's true value.
You might have to drive on risky roads which are full of vehicles, some are highly experienced drivers, and others are learners who have recently started operating the gears. Chances are huge that a tough situation on the roads can make cars prone to accidents.
Both driver and car can be harmed by accident. Although cars are more inclined to get damaged whether it's minor or not during the eventuality of a crash the damage caused can be costly especially for higher-end cars. An incident with a car will make you realize the true value of comprehensive car insurance and the best Classic car insurance, as only full coverage will help you recover your losses.
Haven't you bought your special cars, vintage cars, high-end cars, or sports cars with the desire for only the best?
Stunning looks, mind-blowing performance, oodles of luxury, and exorbitant quality are premium class vehicles, their features distinguishing them from the rest. Getting you Classic car insurance in Austin, Texas is a suave way to safeguard the expensive entity.
Any losses you might have otherwise experienced with a lower end insurer will be saved; your vehicles will be secured through a quintessential coverage. Besides, top-end cars are often eyed by thieves, so safeguard your precious assets. Moreover, maintaining luxury cars is more demanding than other cars although the rewards are long-lasting. The extraordinary cars' parts, if damaged can only be fixed by the manufacturers, and purchasing of the parts can add up quickly. If your vehicle is covered with quality classic car insurance, they'll make sure that your car is fixed with a true sense of quality.
High-end cars are sophisticated and not meant for casual driving. Besides, they are not driven every day. The care involved in luxury automotive make them less exposed to damage or accident. But many are tempted by the bigger engine volume and high speed of luxury sports cars, motivating them to experience the thrill with aggressive driving.
Rental Insurance in Austin
This is a most common question when you rent a car, not just in Texas but everywhere else in U.S. There are so many articles over the internet with the same story over and over. Now we are going to reveal the answer and clear it once and for all.
Should you decline it?
The answer is more simple than you'd probably like it to be. All you have to do is ask your car insurance provider first. Just clear it up and have that knowledge with you as you go into rent a car. In MOST cases, your current car insurance provider's insurance will transfer to the rental car if you have full coverage. Simply make sure before you go to rent your car.
What should you have?
You'll want to make sure you of course have basic liability (required by law) and then the best route to go is with full coverage. Known as comprehensive and collision. This will take care of you in nearly any situation.
Medical payments
Medical insurance pays for funeral and medical expenses caused by accident. The medical payment involves all people involved in an accident.
Personal Injury protection
Something similar to medical payments, it supports all family members including you and other people involved. It doesn’t matter who caused the accident, the PIP will pay for your expenses. If you want, you can reject the Personal Injury Protection, which could save money on your monthly bill.
Rental reimbursement coverage
It may count as one of the most important coverages when it comes to insurance in Texas. In case your rental car is stolen or being repaired, however, the company will pay you only in case of damage covered by your insurance.
A new car
If you decide to buy a new car, your insurance automatically covers it but with certain limitations. To avoid any misunderstanding if you planning to buy a new car, tell your company upfront. Don’t wait longer than twenty days, you may lose your insurance coverage.
Don't Do These 5 Things to Avoid Accidents in Austin
If you’re looking for the cheapest rates for auto liability insurance in Austin, you’re going to want to have a clean driving record without accidents or tickets for moving violations. Sharing a road with the nearly 100,000 residents of Austin, Texas means congested conditions that require focus, attention, and defensive driving. Here are the top 5 accident causing conditions you need to be aware of.
Distracted Driving - A few years ago, distracted driving lept to the top of the list for causing accidents and is responsible for both small fender benders and deadly crashes. Distracted driving is anything that pulls your attention from the road but these days most distracted driving is caused by people using their cell phones while driving to talk, text, or multitask.
Speeding - Driving at high speeds causes dangerous and often fatal car crashes. In recent years, speeding was the cause of over 10,000 car crash fatalities per year. Both car accidents and speeding tickets will cause your insurance premiums to rise. Teenagers, drunk drivers, and distracted drivers are all more likely to speed.
Drunk or Impaired Driving - Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly forbidden in every state and yet lots of people get behind the wheel after drinking, many of which are over the legal limit for alcohol consumption. Drunk driving is responsible for more than 10,000 deaths each year. Being intoxicated causes people to drive more recklessly and at higher speeds.
Weather Conditions - Weather conditions that affect the road can make stopping or controlling the vehicle difficult. Rain, sleet, ice, and snow all make driving difficult and you also need to watch out for other drivers who may be struggling to control their cars on the road.
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs - People in a hurry or who are driving distracted will sometimes run red lights and stop signs either accidentally or on purpose. Running red lights is the cause of close to 1,000 deaths per year and that number is on the rise as distracted driving is also on the rise. Always obey the traffic laws and posted signs, they are there to keep you safe. Distracted driving, weather conditions, drunk driving, and pure recklessness are the top reasons people run red lights or stop signs.
New to Cheapest Auto Insurance?
Austin is a fast-moving city and it certainly pays to carry insurance. It shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to get a cheap auto insurance rate. We understand that at Cheapest Auto Insurance and do our very best to get you the best insurance rates to keep you safe, covered, and back on the road in no time!
Call us at 713-237-0904 to speak with a live insurance agent or for an online quote click here!