The words “low-cost” and “auto insurance” really shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when you are trying to find the lowest insurance rates for used cars. Because of the high cost, let’s get started by showing you some situations that can significantly affect auto insurance rates, and find some ways to reduce the price of your next policy.
The type of vehicle requiring insurance is one of the main factors when quoting economical coverage for used cars. Vehicles with lots of speed or power, a lack of modern safety features, or high incidents of liability claims will cost quite a bit more to insure than safer models.
The table below features auto insurance rates for a number of the most cost-effective vehicles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 4WD | $978 |
| Toyota Prius | $986 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $997 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $1,007 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,005 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $1,073 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $1,086 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $1,088 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,129 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,136 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $1,131 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 2WD | $1,141 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $1,131 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $1,135 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $1,152 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $1,162 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $1,160 |
| Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab Harley Edition 2WD | $1,171 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $1,188 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,205 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $1,216 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $1,225 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab Laramie 2WD | $1,226 |
| Compare Cheap Rates Go | |
Data assumes single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in Austin, TX location which can lower or raise rates significantly.
Based upon the rates shown, vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Prius, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda CR-V will be a few of the most economical vehicles to insure for pre-owned vehicles.
Deciding which companies quote the lowest-priced auto insurance rates for used cars takes a bit more work in order to find the best policy.
Every car insurance company uses a little different formula to set policy rates, so we will examine the auto insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Austin, TX. It’s important that you understand Texas auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things that control the cost of coverage. Improving your credit rating, moving to a different location, or getting a reckless driving citation can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than the competition.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes for Used Cars
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $1,021 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,095 |
| 3 | Texas Farm Bureau | $1,235 |
| 4 | Germania Mutual | $1,256 |
| 5 | Esurance | $1,365 |
| 6 | California Casualty | $1,396 |
| 7 | State Farm | $1,495 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,521 |
| 9 | Nationwide | $1,538 |
| 10 | Safe Auto | $1,549 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,715 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,718 |
| 13 | Amica | $1,723 |
| 14 | Home State | $2,071 |
| 15 | GEICO | $2,156 |
| 16 | MetLife | $2,227 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,232 |
| 18 | Unitrin | $2,241 |
| 19 | 21st Century | $2,421 |
| 20 | Titan | $2,672 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
Travelers may have some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Austin at around $1,021 a year. This is $883 less than the average premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance would also be considered some of the cheaper Austin, TX car insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are a customer of USAA and switched to Travelers, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of approximately $74. Texas drivers with Texas Farm Bureau could save as much as $214 a year, and Germania Mutual customers might reduce rates by $235 a year.
These policy rates are averages across all types of insureds and vehicles and do not take into consideration an exact zip code location for used cars. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 23 companies in the list above. That point stresses why you need to get rate quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
For pre-owned vehicles, one of the big considerations that are looked at to determine insurance cost is where you call home. Areas with more people or higher crime rates tend to have higher rates, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The information below shows the most expensive areas in Texas for used cars in which to buy car insurance. Austin ranks #15 with an annual cost of $1,676 for the average policy, which is approximately $140 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $1,936 |
| 2 | Brownsville | $1,927 |
| 3 | Dallas | $1,893 |
| 4 | Amarillo | $1,858 |
| 5 | Laredo | $1,851 |
| 6 | Houston | $1,835 |
| 7 | Pasadena | $1,812 |
| 8 | Grand Prairie | $1,811 |
| 9 | Mesquite | $1,807 |
| 10 | Garland | $1,796 |
| 11 | Beaumont | $1,754 |
| 12 | Irving | $1,736 |
| 13 | Lubbock | $1,716 |
| 14 | San Antonio | $1,688 |
| 15 | Austin | $1,676 |
| 16 | Arlington | $1,658 |
| 17 | El Paso | $1,616 |
| 18 | Fort Worth | $1,604 |
| 19 | Carrollton | $1,598 |
| 20 | Corpus Christi | $1,588 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Rate quotes are comparative as specific Austin garaging address can increase or decrease coverage rates substantially.
Finding the highest-rated auto insurance provider is hard considering how many choices drivers have in Texas. The company information shown below could help you select which car insurance companies to look at comparing rates with.
The ratings below are for companies who write in the majority of U.S. states, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Texas are not included in these rankings. If you would like to check rates from these top insurers and more, click here.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| Mercury Insurance | 97 | 96 | 88 | 89% | A+ | 93.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
| The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
| GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
| Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
| 21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
| Liberty Mutual | 79 | 87 | 95 | 78% | A | 85.3 |
| Farmers Insurance | 77 | 80 | 80 | 84% | A | 80.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
How to get discounts on Austin auto insurance
Auto insurance companies that provide coverage for used cars may provide price discounts that could reduce prices by 25% or more if you qualify. A few popular companies and the discounts they provide include:
- AAA offers premium reductions for education and occupation, pay-in-full, good driver, multi-policy, multi-car, anti-theft, and AAA membership discount.
- Progressive offers discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, online signing, good student, and homeowner.
- State Farm includes discounts for passive restraint, good driver, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, good student, multiple autos, and safe vehicle.
- Esurance may offer discounts for anti-theft, good driver, Switch & Save, Pac-12 alumni, and anti-lock brakes.
- Nationwide may have discounts that include multi-policy, easy pay, business or organization, anti-theft, defensive driving, and Farm Bureau membership.
The information below shows the comparison of yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The rates are based on a female driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Texas state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with multiple vehicle, marriage, accident-free, vehicle safety, homeowner, and passive restraint discounts applied. In this example, the average amount saved each year on auto insurance for used cars is 28% or $706.
Here’s why you should shop around
Austin, TX auto insurance rates are impacted by many things that control the cost of a policy. Simply having a birthday, having a teen driver, or getting a driving violation may generate price changes that may make certain companies cheaper than others.
Not only may things change on your end, but companies modify rates at least once a year in order to maintain liquidity for claims. Heavier than normal losses can result in a rate increase, while a lower level of claims may cause cheaper Austin car insurance rates.
The bar chart below shows the companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Austin, TX for a 35-year-old male driver with no violations or accidents, and excellent credit. If we estimate prices based on his personal risk profile, Travelers might quote the best car insurance rates in Austin at $1,118 each year. This is $786 less than the average policy premium paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance are the remaining cheapest Austin, TX auto insurance companies.
Now we will pretend the driver from the above example some claims, a little lower credit rating, and a speeding citation. Due to the fact that every insurance company uses their own formula for determining rates in each state, analyzing rate quotes could result in a different ranking of affordable companies as shown below.
Mercury now has the lowest car insurance rate in Austin with State Farm, Safe Auto, USAA, and Nationwide also having competitive pricing. This shows why Austin drivers need to do a thorough rate comparison to find cheap insurance quotes for used cars.
Car insurance prices are impacted by many risk factors and can change without notice, so the most economical option six months ago may now not even be in the top five.
If you like to get some help when trying to find the best insurance rates for used cars, the agents below can probably answer your questions and help you decide which coverages and limits you need.
To find an auto insurance agency close to where you live, click the button link following the list.
- Karen Hall – State Farm Insurance Agent
7004 Bee Cave Rd #3 – Austin, TX 78746 – (512) 327-6200 - State Farm: Dick Clay
3006 Bee Cave Rd Suite B170 – Austin, TX 78746 – (512) 328-2340 - Allstate Insurance: Cheri Roman
8103 Brodie Ln Ste 7 – Austin, TX 78745 – (512) 282-9999
View more Austin, TX insurance agents
Ideas to find more affordable insurance for used cars
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some thrifty solutions that can help Austin drivers locate cheaper car insurance.
- Try paying for small claims out-of-pocket
- Higher physical damage deductibles lower rates
- Lower rates by purchasing a safer vehicle
- Improve your credit score
- Home or renters coverage can save on auto insurance
- On older vehicles, drop full coverage
- Shop around once a year for cheaper rates
The last idea is very significant, as was pointed out in this piece. Coverage prices in Austin can change significantly in a year, so don’t be tentative to buy a different policy if a lower price can be found. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but it’s not a good idea if your bullheadedness ends up costing you hundreds every year. In just a couple of minutes you could shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for used cars.