Has it been over a year since you last compared quotes for more competitive Chevy Equinox insurance in San Antonio? There isn’t anyone who loves paying for car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.
Sad but true, nearly 70% of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least four years, and nearly half have never compared rates to find lower-cost insurance. With the average premium in Texas being $2,680, drivers can save nearly 70% each year by just shopping around, but they don’t want to spend time to shop around.
Companies like Allstate and Progressive increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the geckos and flying pigs and do the work needed to find the best deal.
Informed Consumers Save Every Year
A large part of saving on auto insurance is knowing some of the things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you understand what determines base rates, this helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs. Many factors are considered when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving history, although some other factors are less obvious like your continuous coverage and annual miles driven.
- Optional features that lower prices – Purchasing a vehicle with advanced anti-theft systems can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all aid in stopping auto theft and help lower rates.
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Careless drivers pay higher costs – Only having one ticket can bump up the cost substantially. Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices as compared to careless drivers. People who have flagrant citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions might be required by their state to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The illustration below shows how traffic citations and accident claims can affect Chevy Equinox insurance prices for each age group. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
- Raise physical damage deductibles and save – Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your Chevy from damage. Some examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, hitting a deer, and rolling your vehicle. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles define how much the insured will be required to pay if the claim is covered. The more expense you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- What are good liability protection limits? – Liability insurance is the protection when you are ruled to be at fault for an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
- Do you have a high stress occupation? – Careers like military generals, business owners, and accountants usually pay higher premiums than the average policyholder due to intense work-related stress and long work hours. Conversely, careers such as professors, engineers and the unemployed pay the least.
- Do you really need to file that policy claims? – Car insurance companies in Texas give better rates to people who are not frequent claim filers. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of claims that you cannot pay yourself.
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Chevy Equinox claim statistics – Companies use statistical claims data to calculate a price that will offset losses. Models that have higher claim amounts or frequency will have higher rates for specific coverages. The table shown below demonstrates the insurance loss data for Chevy Equinox vehicles.
For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Percentage values below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while values that are 100 or greater point to more losses or statistically larger claims.
Chevrolet Equinox Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Chevrolet Equinox 4dr 2WD 82 86 74 101 104 93 Chevrolet Equinox 4dr 4WD 84 88 85 89 93 81 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insurance coverage analysis
The rate information shown next highlights estimates of policy rates for Chevy Equinox models. Knowing how rates are figured helps drivers make decisions when shopping around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Equinox LS 2WD | $364 | $728 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,790 | $149 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $364 | $728 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,790 | $149 |
Equinox LS AWD | $364 | $728 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,790 | $149 |
Equinox LT AWD | $364 | $728 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,790 | $149 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $410 | $858 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,966 | $164 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $410 | $858 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,966 | $164 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $410 | $858 | $514 | $30 | $154 | $1,966 | $164 |
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Price data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in zip code location which can decrease or increase rates considerably.
Can higher deductibles save money?
When shopping for insurance, a common question is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The comparison tables below lay out the price difference between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Equinox LS 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equinox LS AWD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equinox LT AWD | $294 | $496 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,333 | $111 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $332 | $584 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,459 | $122 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Equinox LS 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equinox LT 2WD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equinox LS AWD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equinox LT AWD | $182 | $312 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,012 | $84 |
Equinox LTZ 2WD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Equinox LTZ AWD | $206 | $368 | $382 | $22 | $114 | $1,092 | $91 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location which can affect prices greatly.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $29 more each month or $348 each year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at least 26 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off if you choose the higher deductible.
How to calculate if higher deductibles make sense
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $116 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $87 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $29 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $29 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 26 months |
One important issue to know is that a higher deductible means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket at claim time. You must have a higher level of savings in order to pay the deductible.
Men versus women drivers and insurance cost
The example below compares Chevy Equinox car insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
How much more does full coverage cost in San Antonio?
The example below visualizes the comparison of Chevy Equinox insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the Texas minimum liability coverage. The premiums assume no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There is no specific rule of when to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Chevy Equinox settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $6,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying in excess of $600 a year for full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few situations where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Save money with discounts
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there are discounts available that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but a few must be asked about prior to getting the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you could be getting lower rates.
- ABS Braking Discount – Vehicles with ABS braking systems or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with all your vehicles on the same insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
- Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents could pay up to 40% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Telematics Discount – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to look at driving habits by using a telematic data system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy on the web.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying a new car model can get you a discount because newer vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and earn discounts up to 10% off your San Antonio auto insurance quote.
As a footnote on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The diagram below shows the difference between Chevy Equinox car insurance costs with and without discounts applied. The costs are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, Texas state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A list of companies and their possible discounts can be found below.
- Mercury Insurance may offer discounts for age of vehicle, anti-theft, low natural disaster claims, professional/association, and annual mileage.
- Farmers Insurance includes discounts for good student, mature driver, alternative fuel, homeowner, pay in full, and switch companies.
- Farm Bureau offers premium reductions for multi-policy, 55 and retired, youthful driver, good student, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm has discounts for Steer Clear safe driver discount, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, driver’s education, multiple autos, student away at school, and good driver.
- Allstate discounts include teenSMART discount, passive restraint, early signing, safe driver, good student, and good payer.
- GEICO may have discounts that include military active duty, anti-theft, good student, membership and employees, and emergency military deployment.
When comparing rates, check with each company or agent to give you their best rates. Some discounts may not apply to policies in every state. To find insurance companies offering insurance discounts in Texas, click here to view.
Cover all your bases
In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to shop for Chevy Equinox insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive San Antonio auto insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the best price on insurance is with the least-expected company.
More affordable insurance in San Antonio is definitely available on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through local independent agencies.
People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, policy non-renewal, delays in paying claims and even policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right insurance provider is actually quite simple.
For more information, link through to these articles:
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 25 in San Antonio? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for a 20 Year Old Female in San Antonio? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Fusion in San Antonio? (FAQ)
- How Much is San Antonio Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Equinox? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males in San Antonio? (FAQ)
- How Much is San Antonio Auto Insurance for a 20 Year Old Male? (FAQ)
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
- How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)