Choosing a Car Insurance Provider

Whether you want to change your car insurance or just purchased a new car, you now need to shop around for insurance. You want a company that’s reputable, among other assets. At Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX and the surrounding area, we desire to educate individuals looking for insurance on what to look for in an insurance provider.

Level of Coverage

Before you begin the process, you want to choose how much coverage you need. You also want to consider how new your car is and the funds you have if you should happen to need to make repairs or purchase a new one. At this point, you should also take into consideration if want your insurance to cover natural disaster and theft. Keep in mind, not all insurers offer the same level of coverage. 

State Insurance Providers

If you visit your state’s department of insurance, you can find a list of providers who serve your state. You’ll want to narrow down your options to the ones who offer the level of coverage you desire.

Check Reviews Online

Often, one of the easiest ways to compare insurance providers is to search online for reviews. You’ll find information regarding the experiences that previous customers had. You may want to look them up on the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website to see if they’re accredited and if they have any disputes against them. The AM Best Company offers information regarding the financial strength of an insurance provider. 

Get a Quote

The next step to comparing car insurance providers is to get quotes from different companies that had high ratings and the level of coverage you require. 

Contact Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX and the surrounding area, for a quote for insurance by contacting us at 210-858-9860.

 

Influencing your car insurance rates

Insurance companies have a basic rate they charge for automobile insurance.  The State of Texas requires basic liability coverage, and you may want comprehensive and collision if you have a newer car or are still paying off your vehicle.  While they are some basic rates, there are several things in your life that can affect how much you will pay. VersatileInsurance Planners in San Antonio, TX can help you put yourself in the best light and get you the coverage you need.

Where you live, or where you drive the most, is one of the major factors in determining insurance rates. Your credit score is also very important and is often the biggest factor in determining how much of a discount you qualify for.  The age of the primary driver is also a major consideration. Teenagers cost more because they have more accidents.

A driving record can also have an influence on how much your insurance will cost. Speeding tickets or moving violations will make you seem like a greater risk so your premiums will cost more. Some offer discounts if you have not had an accident in several years.

The type of car you drive will also affect your rates, as well as the value. Some cars are stolen more often than others. Whether the car is used for business is another factor. Some other factors include your occupation, whether you are a parent, and whether you are a homeowner. Whether you have a garage or park on the street, is yet another consideration.

Visit or call Versatile Insurance Planners of San Antonio, TX today to find out how you can get the best car insurance for your situation. You may also use our online tool to help you get an idea of what the insurance will cost.

 

What to do with your vehicle after an accident

You have had a crash while driving your vehicle. Fortunately, everyone seems to be unhurt, and you have exchanged all the information you need with the other driver. Now comes the question of what to do with your vehicle. Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX, strongly advises that you take your vehicle to a body shop immediately to have it evaluated, preferably by having it towed.

To be prepared for such emergencies, you should have a membership with an auto club such as AAA. The annual fee will likely pay for itself the first time you have to have your vehicle towed to a garage or body shop.

You may be reluctant to take your car to the shop immediately after an accident, especially if it seems to have just sustained a scratch or a minor dent. However, the kinetic energy that a car crash creates can cause a lot of hidden damage to your vehicle. The frame or undercarriage may have become so compromised that taking it on the road can cause a catastrophe at the next sudden stop or bump on a pothole. If the initial crash does not hurt you, this kind of accident just might. At the very least, the damage to your car may be exacerbated, increasing the cost of repairing it.

A trained and experienced body shop technician can evaluate your vehicle and tell you what needs to be done to get it back into a drivable condition and, most importantly, how much it will cost. While this process is happening, you can get into a rental car and be on your way.

If you have any questions concerning car crashes or about auto insurance in general, contact Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX.

 

Does a Person’s Credit Score Really Impact Auto Insurance Rates?

When you go to apply for car insurance in San Antonio, TX, there are many factors taken into consideration by the carriers you receive quotes through. From your past driving record to whether or not you currently have insurance, these factors will impact the quotes you receive. Another element that is taken into consideration by many insurance carriers is your credit score. The higher your credit score, the more trustworthy you appear in the eyes of the insurance company. More so, a good credit score helps insurance companies, like Versatile Insurance Planners, to determine that you are a low risk for them to insure. 

There have been studies that prove the lower your credit score, the more of a risk you are to insurance companies. It should be noted that when an insurance company takes a look at your credit score, they do not take into account your income history, your current employment, or any other type of information. All they look at is your credit score. 

And just because you have a high credit score does not necessarily mean you are going to receive a low premium quote. If you have a perfect credit score but a poor driving history, such as one or more tickets during the past two to three years, then you’re likely not going to receive the lowest premium quote anyway. 

There are more than a few factors considered when insurance companies give you a quote. The best way to get the most accurate quote is to be completely honest about your past driving history. If you lie about a speeding ticket, you may end up with a low quote, but once it goes through underwriting, the truth is revealed and your quote will likely increase. 

If you would like to learn more about auto quotes, please contact Versatile Insurance Planners serving the San Antonio, TX area.