How to Save on Your Teen's Car Insurance Rates

Have a new teen driver? Be prepared to pay rates that are through the roof. Insurance companies know that younger drivers get into more accidents than older, more experienced ones, and use that to their advantage when you are looking for teen driver rates.

Insurance companies might vary the rate depending on a few different things, one of which is their gender. Teen males have historically been more expensive to insure because they are seen as higher risk. Teen drivers between the age 16 and 19 are 4 times as likely to have a wreck compared to those over 19. Although insurance companies want your business, they also have to protect themselves.

Although teen insurance is expensive, there are 5 few things that can help reduce that rate that you are given:

1. Maintaining a B or higher average grade in high school.
2. Receiving certificates from safety courses.
3. Bundling the policy with others.
4. If your teen went to college 100 miles away without their vehicle.
5. Raising your deductible

Keeping your record clean is another easy way to save money on your premiums. Something as small as not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign can result in a ticket and can raise your rates. Have discussions with your teen about these infractions and what they mean for the monthly premium. Similar to the original rates given, males tend to see a higher increase in premium per infraction than females.

It might seem like insurance companies are biased, but their numbers and research back up the rates. In order to keep the lowest rate for your teen go over what we listed out above. Remind them that their grades are more important than just getting into college, to abide by the laws and to buy in to their safety driving courses. It can save you money in the long run.

Contact us to discuss your teen's insurance policy at 877-596-2559 or go online to get an Arlington auto insurance quote.

5 tricks to save on your car insurance

Here are 5 tips to save on your auto insurance.

1. Go online. Many carriers will give you a discounted rate for online applications because it is an automated process and costs them much less to process your application. Discounts of 5% to 10% are pretty common. Pickard Insurance can help you with that, contact us.

2. Comparison shop. Let us shop around for you! As an independent agent, we have access to a many of the best carriers and can get you the best rates. Most insurance companies will simply add or subtract after each question they ask you to calculate your insurance premium. We will take your information as a whole and find the best rate for you.

3. Bundle. Don’t stop at auto insurance. Many carriers will give you a discount if you have more than one policy with them. Let us shop your home, renters, or any other products you might need! You can save a substantial amount of money every month and we can do this for you at no cost.

4. Pay all at once. Insurance policies, like loans, will make you pay interest if you make monthly payments instead of paying the premium in full. Some carriers will even give you a discount for paying your policy up front. Look at all of your options, including a small loan to cover the premium. It could save you money in the long run.

5. Add safety devices to your car. Insurance premiums can go up for a number of reasons. Theft of your vehicle or vehicle break in’s can escalate that cost. Make sure your car has an alarm at a minimum. If it doesn’t, consider getting one from a local electronics store.
Theft of and from your vehicle plays a major role in the calculation of your insurance premium. Having an alarm or immobilizer fitted will give you a small discount to your premium and having a tracker fitted could also help with savings.

Contact us to for more information on money saving tips, or get an online Arlington car insurance quote.

What are your car insurance coverage options?

It should be inevitable that you need car insurance. People are so dependent on their vehicles for day to day activities. Between home, work, school , and other errands, car insurance is the only thing that can protect you in the event of theft or accidents. Shop around for great rates to ensure you save on auto ensure and make sure you have all the right coverages for your needs.

Auto insurance provides coverage for property loss, medical expenses, and legal liability. Property coverage ensures damage to your car or theft of your car is paid for. Medical coverage will pay for the treatment of your injuries, rehabilitation, or for any lost wages and funeral expenses you may incur. Lastly, liability coverage pays for injury or property damage.

Read more on some of the more basic benefits included with car insurance policies.

Auto insurance includes a lot of coverages in basic policies, but there are other optional coverages you might one day find yourself needing. Whether you’re getting an Arlington auto insurance quote or renewing your policy, be sure to discuss with us what options best fit your needs at 817-460-0333. 

What is non-standard auto insurance for high risk drivers?

Non-standard insurance is a class of insurance for drivers who have a less than perfect driving record. Someone with a bad driving record might not meet the standards required by an insurance company to qualify for a regular policy. In order to meet the state requirements of maintaining an insurance policy, a non-standard policy is issued to allow high risk drivers to carry insurance while still having a flexible plan.
There are several reasons why you may be required to maintain high risk insurance. The top three reasons are: if you have been convicted of driving while intoxicated, an elderly driver over the age of 70, or the owner of a high-end/high performance vehicle.

Let's take a deeper look at each of these situations.

Driving Under the Influence
If you have lost your driver’s license because of a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, getting your driver’s license back and getting back on the road means you will have to buy and show proof of insurance. Acquiring non-standard insurance in the form of high risk or a SR22 are typically the options available.

With non-standard insurance you have the flexibility to choose the plan that best suits your needs, but one that also provides the coverage required by the state in which you live.

Age Related High Risk Insurance
Drivers aged 70 and over are typically considered by insurance companies to be a high risk. You are also considered to be a high risk if you are under the age of 20. There are several reasons why you may be considered high risk due to your age; you are not being penalized. As young drivers, you typically do not have the experience to show that you are a safe, careful driver. An elderly driver may be at risk of health problems that could interfere with your judgment or ability to be safe while on the road. With non-standard insurance, if it's a matter of age risk, you have choices in the policy you choose.

High Performance Vehicle
There are several reasons outside of your age and driving record that may require you to have non-standard insurance. For example if you own a high performance vehicle, such as a sports car or a custom designed vehicle, there are usually additional risks. The biggest factors are either the high cost of repair in case of an accident or the higher likelihood of being stolen or damaged.

You may also need non-standard insurance if you have a lapse in coverage or have previously filed excessive claims with your current or previous insurance company. If you have a bad driving record due to several citations, especially serious violations, you may need to look into obtaining a non-standard insurance policy as well.

If your driving record is spotty, you own a vehicle that may be considered a risk, or if you have any other questions or concerns regarding non-standard insurance, please feel free to call us at 877-596-2559 to get your free Arlington car insurance quote.

Auto Insurance for Arlington, TX

Texas law requires people who drive in Texas to pay for the accidents they cause. Most drivers do this by buying automobile liability insurance.

Liability insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver’s car and pays other people’s medical expenses when you are at fault in an accident. It does not pay to repair or replace your car or for your injuries. Consider buying other types of coverage – such as personal injury protection or medical payments, collision, and comprehensive – to pay for these expenses.

Financial Responsibility

Most drivers buy liability insurance to meet the state’s financial responsibility law.  You must buy at least the minimum amount of coverage. The current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This basic coverage is called 30/60/25 coverage.

Because of car prices and the high cost of medical care, the minimum amounts might not be enough to pay all of the other driver’s costs if you’re in an accident. Other drivers could sue you to collect the difference. Consider buying more than the basic limits to protect yourself financially.

Breaking the Law

There are penalties for breaking the state’s financial responsibility law. A first conviction will result in a fine between $175 and $350. Additional convictions could result in fines of $350 to $1,000, suspension of your driver’s license, and impoundment of your car.
When you obtain an auto insurance policy, your insurance company will send you a proof-of-insurance card. You will need this card to prove that you have insurance when you

• are asked for it by a law enforcement officer
• have an accident
• register your car or renew its registration
• obtain or renew your driver’s license
• get your car inspected.

TexasSure

TexasSure is a verification system that lets law enforcement and county tax officials determine whether you have auto liability insurance. Police can use TexasSure when they pull you over to check if the car you’re driving has insurance.

TexasSure is intended to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles in Texas. An estimated 4 million vehicles – one in five – on Texas roads are uninsured. TexasSure also helps prevent the use of counterfeit proof of insurance cards and helps stop people from getting insurance so that they can get their car inspected or registered, and then cancelling their insurance afterward.

For more information, visit the TexasSure website www.TexasSure.com

Arlington, TX

Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas (USA) within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the U. S Census Bureau's estimate, the city had a population of almost 374,000 at the end of 2011, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex. Arlington is the fiftieth most populous city in the United States of America and the seventh most populous city in the state of Texas; it is also the largest city in the state that is not a county seat.

Located approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of downtown Fort Worth and 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown Dallas, Arlington is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, a doctoral-granting institution, and a General Motors assembly plant. Additionally Arlington hosts the Texas Rangers' Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Cowboys Stadium, the International Bowling Campus (which houses the United States Bowling Congress, International Bowling Museum and the International Bowling Hall of Fame), the headquarters for American Mensa, and the theme parks Six Flags Over Texas (the original Six Flags) and Hurricane Harbor. The city borders Kennedale, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Fort Worth, and surrounds the smaller communities of Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego. Arlington is the headquarters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV.

Arlington is the largest city in the United States without a public transit system.

(Sources: TDI.Texas.gov and Wikipedia.org.)

Contact us today at (817) 460-0333 for an Arlington auto insurance quote.