Are there any real advantages to getting my car insurance policy over the Internet as compared to buying it from an insurance broker or directly from an agent?

Yoshi

Houston, TX

Yes, although the Internet does not have exclusivity when it comes to the best car insurance deals it does make it far easier for many people to find the best car insurance rates available. Here are five (5) reasons to consider buying car insurance online:

1. Get the Latest Rates – Insurance comparison websites (like this one) has made it possible for anyone to get access to the latest car insurance rates inn the market, without the need to contact different agents or consult a broker. You only have to put some basic information in (e.g. age, gender, type of vehicle, location, etc.) in order to find out about the best-priced offers out there.

2. Have More Companies to Compare – Another great thing about the Internet (and insurance comparison websites) is that you actually get to compare offers from a wide-variety of insurers simultaneously. This can significantly increase your chances of finding the best-priced policies out there.

3. Save (a Lot of) Time – With comparison websites you can cut-down the amount of time you spend having to shop and compare for the best deals online.

4. Independent Rating Agencies – Companies like A.M. Best and J.D. Powers give car insurance rating information which will help you find the best (and worst) performing companies in your area. This can be quite useful in determining which insurers you should go with.

5. Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Provides a level of transparency concerning the track record of businesses (insurers) in your area. The BBB website can give you valuable insight about the insurers your interested in.

I have lived here in Houston, Texas most of my life and we plan to move in the countryside soon. Also, if I switch to a low-profile vehicle and have safety devices, will my car insurance rates be different then?

Gareth

Houston, TX

Unlike Houston, Texas, the countryside is a rural area and it has lesser crime rates and fewer traffic jams. For this reason, your car insurance rates will normally be lower than what you pay now since you live in an urban area. That is because your vehicle would be less likely to be stolen, vandalized and be caught up in an accident. Getting lower car insurance rates may not be the only reason why you are moving to the countryside but doing so can definitely turn around your premiums.

Getting low-profile vehicle can also help you have lower car insurance rates. For the purpose of determining car insurance premiums, vehicles are rated on a risk scale. Generally a sports car and other high-performance, showy cars are considered higher risks since these cars are usually targeted more by thieves. Also, statistics show that the people who drive these types of vehicles are more likely to drive recklessly. So if you own just a wagon or a sedan, which is considered lower risks, you would likely have lower car insurance rates. And aside from owning a low-profile vehicle, your car insurance company will give you discounts for having safety devices installed in your vehicle, thus, lowering your insurance rates.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rates

My sister in Houston, Texas receives annually very high amount of vehicle insurance payments from her provider. I heard the rate of deductibles can reduce her insurance premium costs. What is deductible and how can deductible affect her vehicle insurance costs?

Diana

Houston, TX

The amount of deductible in your vehicle insurance policy in Houston, Texas does affect your sister’s policy premium costs. A deductible is a part of vehicle insurance policy that indicate the amount a policyholder pays first before his/her vehicle insurance coverage takes in charge of any expenses a policyholder might have due to roadway accidents. For instance, if you have $300 deductible in your policy, you have to pay that amount from the total cost of any damages and injuries, say $1,000, caused by the car accident you are involved in. Then your insurance provider will pay for the remaining $700.

In your case, to reduce your sister’s expenses from her vehicle insurance costs is to have high deductible. By doing so, your sister’s insurance provider will decrease the rate of her vehicle insurance because your sister manifests that she is willing to carry a huge weight of the expenses from a car accident. But you need to decide well on this and determine if you can afford to pay the amount of deductible you chose because his happened to be a usual mistake of some policyholders. They usually get higher deductible because they are overwhelmed of low insurance rate as its consequence. Just be reminded of this and know the possible combination of deductibles and policy coverage.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rates

I’m a single, 20 year old working student here in Houston, Texas who has just been thrown out from my parent’s policy (long story). I can’t afford to pay very high insurance for my car, do you have any tips or suggestions?

Amanda

Houston, TX

Hi Amanda, the great news here is that nothing beats the feeling of independence, and satisfaction of being able to take care of your own bills. There are definitely ways to shave off much needed dollars on your car insurance rates there in Houston, Texas. Here’s a few tips on how you can keep your car insurance costs down:

Become A Safer Driver
The safer the driver the better rates you’ll be able to get. Most states and auto insurance providers offer discounts upon completion of accredited defensive driving courses or classes. Talk to your insurance company about a list of accredited driving schools there in Houston, Texas.

Maintain Good Grades
If your performing well academically, you can actually leverage this into a good student discount. See if you’re insurance provider offers this with your current policy.

Install Safety Mechanisms
If you can afford too, making your car safer against theft, and car accidents, by getting additional safety and security mechanisms will qualify you for additional discounts towards your insurance premiums.

Shop Around Online
The Internet is an increasingly popular, and reliable, resource getting accurate insurance quotes. Insurance portals can also give you points of comparisons between carriers to help you determine the best rates available. Try to get at least five or six quotes and decide if you can get a better deal with another provider.

Tags: auto warranty, auto warranty deals, car insurance

Though the jam-packed highways here in Houston, Texas are not that safe and vehicle insurance is likely to be an imperative, my brother thinks that vehicle insurance is luxurious. He advised me to just take an extra care in driving. What would be the good reasons I may consider for me to subscribe for vehicle insurance?

Lincoln

Houston, TX

You just said one of the most eminent reasons for you to subscribe for vehicle insurance: the roads are not safe. This is indeed the case especially in highways in Houston, Texas in other states as well. In fact, every five seconds there occurs a motor collision and every 12 minutes there is a fatal bodily injury from motor crashes in the US. And actually buying vehicle insurance policy and driving safely is not contradictory but rather complementary. When you subscribe for vehicle insurance make sure you are not under the influence of prohibited alcohol when you drive and when you drive always be cautious.

True enough an insurance policy will never secure you from roadway accidents. However, if your car is insured you can expect an amount from insurers whenever you get involved in a car crash. With the high rate of car accidents, who knows you may be one of those involved in one of the unprecedented car crashes in the next hours. At least with vehicle insurance, you may never have potential financial burden in the future and you are able to protect not yourself and your car but also your passengers and your victim if you are at-fault in a collision.

Tags: auto insurance

I just usually depend on my husband regarding so many things including our car insurance here in Houston, Texas. I don’t know much about it so I wanna take time in going over some things in our policy. What are the basic things that I need to understand about our car insurance policy?

Neve

Houston, TX

It’s very important that you are familiar with the things that are included in your car insurance policy in Houston, Texas so that you know what to do in case of an accident; you understand what you are paying for; and also make sure that you are not over paying them. All vehicle owners have to be aware of the terms in your car insurance policy. You don’t have to wait for an accident to happen to find out that your auto liability insurance is not enough.

First of all, you need to know that if you want to reduce your annual insurance premium costs, you need to have a higher deductible. You also have to maintain a good credit rating so that your car insurance would not cost as high as drivers with bad credit. Also, if you combine other insurance coverage with the same insurance provider, such as home, life and health insurance policies, the insurance carrier may provide you a discount. You can also get rid of or say no to things such as road side assistance and other things that do not happen frequently especially of you know you could take care of them.

Tags: auto liability insurance, car insurance, car insurance policy

I heard that the Rhomberg balance test is used by police officers in Houston, Texas if they suspect that a driver is under the influence. How is this test being done and is this an accurate indicator of impairment?

Eden

Houston, TX

The Rhomberg balance test is an instrument used by police officers in Houston, Texas on drivers whom they suspect of DUI. But this test is considered to be designed for failure and the only purpose is to give the officer probable cause for the DUI arrest and evidence to support a drunk driving court case. The Rhomberg balance test is a non-standardized test which means that it is not recognized by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The result of this test holds less weight in court because the NHTSA has not found it to be an accurate indicator of physical and mental impairment.

During the Rhomberg balance test, the motorist is told to stand with his/her feet together, with head tilted back and eyes closed. He/she should estimate the passage of 30 seconds, then tilt the head forward, open his or her eyes, and say “stop.” If he/she overestimates a period of 30 seconds by counting too slowly, the officer would likely conclude that the driver is under the influence of alcohol. If he/she underestimates 30-second period by counting too quickly, the officer could conclude that the driver is under the influence of stimulants.

Tags: DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer, field sobriety tests

My brother is insistent that he won’t hire a DUI lawyer to help him defend on his DUI case in Houston Texas. I need help in explaining to him the importance of having a DUI lawyer. How can a DUI lawyer help him on his case?

Ruth

Houston, TX

A DUI charge can be very traumatic, especially if you are not familiar with the legal process in Houston, Texas. A DUI conviction is even worse because it could remain on your criminal record for your entire life. Since your brother has a DUI charge, he has to contact a DUI lawyer immediately. A DUI lawyer would advise him throughout the DUI process and serve as his advocate in court and at his case hearing against the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He can be assured that every effort will be placed into successfully defending his DUI charges.

Your brother just has to make sure that the lawyer he will be hiring is an experienced lawyer in the DUI field. This kind of lawyer focuses primarily on DUI law and has years of practice experience and a winning reputation. The DUI process is very complex and confusing that is why your brother will need to retain the services of an aggressive DUI lawyer. A DUI lawyer could help him get the legal process with ease and provide him with up-to-date DUI resources and knowledgeable counsel.

My father has been charged with DUI in Houston, Texas. This is his first DUI offense and obviously, we want to help him win his DUI case. Is there a way to beat a DUI charge?

Olson

Houston, TX

There are many ways to beat or win over a DUI conviction, even if your father had blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit. An experienced DUI lawyer in Houston, Texas will look at multiple methods to attack the charge. First, the DUI lawyer should look at the stop itself or when your father was asked by police officer to pull over. An officer must have at least reasonable suspicion to make a stop on the highway. A good DUI lawyer would look at all the circumstances surrounding the stop of the vehicle, and make sure all State and Constitutional Laws regarding search and seizure have been followed.

If your father performed a standardized field sobriety test (FST), that test should be scrutinized for mistakes by the officer, and if he has taken a Breathalyzer, then that machine and its operation must be analyzed completely. From lack of probable cause to make an arrest, or reasonable suspicion to make a stop, the police officer not conforming with all the rules regarding breath tests or performing FST’s inaccurately, there are many ways to beat a DUI charge.

My sister has been charged with DUI here in Houston, Texas. We have not decided whether or not we will hire a lawyer because my sister said that she can get out of this on her own. How important is having a lawyer in cases such as this?

Lindsay

Houston, TX

Often times, the importance of retaining a good DUI defense lawyer if arrested for driving under the influence is being overlooked. Since she was charged with DUI in Houston, Texas, the magnitude of having a good DUI lawyer on your sister’s side equals that of having the best doctor trying to save her life. Of course, a DUI conviction is not a matter of life or death in its literal sense, but a DUI conviction or guilty plea would definitely affect her life.

If your sister will be convicted for DUI, the most obvious effect on her life by is the punishment. Depending on whether she is guilty of a misdemeanor offense or a felony DUI offense, she would pay a fine, potentially lose her license to drive, possibly serve some sort of community service, and maybe serve some time in prison. Not to mention the fact that in Texas, the punishment escalates if the person is convicted of a DUI-related offense for the second time within a certain time frame.

These are just some of the possible consequences that your sister might be facing if she will be convicted for DUI. So, she has to think hard about the importance of having a DUI lawyer on her side.