If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to save on car insurance rates in Tampa is to compare prices once a year from providers in Florida. Rates can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about policy coverages and the factors you can control to drop your rates. Many rating factors that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a low credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A good piece of advice is to make sure you enter similar deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and and to get price quotes from all possible companies. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and maximum price selection.
Shockingly, the vast majority of Florida car insurance customers have stayed with the same insurance company for over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared rates with other companies. American drivers could save themselves nearly $859 a year just by comparing rates, but they underestimate how much money they would save if they bought a different policy.
This article’s intent is to help educate you on the best ways to compare prices and how to save the most money. If you are insured now, you stand a good chance to be able to get lower rates using these tips. Nevertheless, Florida consumers need to learn the way insurance companies calculate your policy premium and use this information to your advantage.
Find Cheap Insurance with These Tips
Part of the insurance buying process is learning the rating factors that are used to determine your insurance rates. If you have some idea of what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings. Lots of factors are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some factors are common sense like your driving record, but some are more obscure such as your marital status and annual miles driven.
- Eliminate unneeded extra policy coverages – Policies have extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying insurance. Add-on coverages like vanishing deductibles, death and dismemberment, and membership fees may not be needed and are just wasting money. They may seem good when deciding what coverages you need, but if they’re wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
-
Rates are impacted by vehicle performance – The performance level of the car you need to insure makes a significant difference in determining your rates. The lowest base rates tend to be for economy passenger cars, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
The following chart uses these variables: married male driver age 30, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Honda Accord insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different risk factors.
- Cars with good safety ratings cost less to insure – Vehicles that have high safety ratings cost less to insure. Vehicles built for safety reduce the chance of injuries and reduced instances of injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
- Liability coverage preserves assets – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance is the protection in the event that you are responsible for physical damage or personal injury to other. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
-
Younger driver insurance costs – Drivers with little experience are statistically proven to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher insurance rates. Older, more experienced drivers have been proven to be more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents, and are safer drivers.
The following data uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- When should you not file insurance claims? – If you file a lot of claims you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies in Florida provide discounts to drivers who are not frequent claim filers. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
- Insurance policy lapses raise premiums – Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and companies may charge more for letting your insurance coverage expire. In addition to paying higher premiums, not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you fines or a revoked license. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Florida motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- Cheaper prices using alarms and GPS tracking – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can save you some money. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
-
Loss statistics for a Honda Accord – Insurers factor in insurance loss information to help calculate premium rates. Models that have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have a higher cost to insure.
The table below shows the historical loss data for Honda Accord vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles combined as an average is set at 100. Values that are 100 or less suggest losses that are better than average, while numbers above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or tendency to have larger claims.
Auto Insurance Loss Data for Honda Accord Models Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Honda Accord 91 85 90 122 117 94 Honda Accord Hybrid 96 80 98 89 76 84 Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 2WD 85 97 83 122 113 94 Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 4WD 99 102 94 120 93 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
All major insurance companies give coverage prices on their websites. Getting Honda Accord insurance prices online is possible for anyone as you simply enter the coverage amounts you desire into the form. Once entered, the company’s rating system automatically orders your credit score and driving record and generates a price based on the information you submitted.
This helps simplify price comparisons, and it is important to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for the best rate on insurance.
To quickly use this form to compare rates, take a look at the companies shown below. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you enter the coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will get a rate comparison for the exact same coverage.
The companies shown below can provide comparison quotes in Tampa, FL. To find cheap car insurance in Tampa, we suggest you get rates from several of them to get the most affordable price.
Data for Honda Accord insurance
The data table displayed below highlights detailed analysis of prices for Honda Accord models. Having a good grasp of how car insurance premiums are determined is important to be able to make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $414 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,222 | $102 |
| Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $414 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,222 | $102 |
| Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $414 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,222 | $102 |
| Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $256 | $504 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,344 | $112 |
| Accord EX 2-Dr Coupe | $256 | $594 | $570 | $34 | $170 | $1,624 | $135 |
| Accord LX-S 2-Dr Coupe | $256 | $594 | $570 | $34 | $170 | $1,624 | $135 |
| Accord EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $290 | $594 | $570 | $34 | $170 | $1,658 | $138 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in specific Tampa garaging location which can influence premiums significantly.
Analysis of deductible levels
The hardest decision when buying coverage is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The following tables may help you to understand the rate fluctuation between low and high insurance deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $280 | $446 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,231 | $103 |
| Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $280 | $446 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,231 | $103 |
| Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $280 | $446 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,231 | $103 |
| Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $322 | $544 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,371 | $114 |
| Accord EX 2-Dr Coupe | $322 | $640 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,629 | $136 |
| Accord LX-S 2-Dr Coupe | $322 | $640 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,629 | $136 |
| Accord EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $364 | $640 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,671 | $139 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $228 | $360 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,068 | $89 |
| Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $228 | $360 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,068 | $89 |
| Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $228 | $360 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,068 | $89 |
| Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $438 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,180 | $98 |
| Accord EX 2-Dr Coupe | $262 | $516 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,420 | $118 |
| Accord LX-S 2-Dr Coupe | $262 | $516 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,420 | $118 |
| Accord EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $296 | $516 | $472 | $28 | $142 | $1,454 | $121 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate quotes do not factor in specific garaging location which can decrease or increase price quotes substantially.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $16 more each month or $192 a year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you decide on a higher deductible.
Does full coverage make sense?
The example below shows the comparison of Honda Accord insurance premiums with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The premium estimates are based on no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There is no set guideline of when to phase out comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Honda Accord replacement cost is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $2,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying in excess of $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are a few situations where eliminating full coverage is not a good plan. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Why you need car insurance
Even though Tampa Accord insurance rates can get expensive, buying car insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a specific minimum amount of liability coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your Accord has a loan, most lenders will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Honda at a significantly higher premium and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Car insurance protects both your Honda and your assets. It will also cover medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if you cause an accident and are sued. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of having car insurance more than offset the price you pay, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Unknowingly, the average driver is currently overpaying as much as $855 a year so shop around once a year at a minimum to save money.
Do you qualify for discounts on Honda Accord insurance in Tampa?
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.
- Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple cars on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Require your teen driver to participate in a local driver’s education class as it can save substantially.
- Online Discount – A few larger online companies will give a small break get Tampa car insurance digitally online.
- Switch and Save Discount – A few larger companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current Accord insurance policy expiring. You could save around 10% when you buy Tampa car insurance online.
- Telematics Devices – Insureds that choose to allow their insurance company to track their driving habits by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if they show good driving skills.
- Bundle and Save – If you combine your home and auto policies and insure them both with the same insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
- Tampa Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Tampa can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students well after school through age 25.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% on medical payment and PIP coverage.
Don’t be surprised that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works.
The diagram below shows the comparison of Honda Accord car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The rates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Florida state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, homeowner, marriage, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To choose insurance companies with the best discounts in Florida, click here to view.
When should I get advice from an insurance agent?
A lot of people still like to visit with an insurance agent and that is a smart decision One of the great benefits of comparing insurance online is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have a local agent. Buying from local insurance agencies is still important in Tampa.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, the quote information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to find an agent on your own because prices are sent immediately to you. You can find the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you need to compare rates from a specific insurance provider, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and complete a quote there.
When finding local Tampa agents, you should know the different types of agencies and how they operate. Insurance policy providers are either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that elect to be independent do not work for one specific company and that gives them the ability to insure with many different companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, they can switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part. If you are comparing rate quotes, we recommend you compare quotes from at a minimum one independent agency in order to compare the most rates. Most have the option of insuring with less well-known companies that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
Featured below is a partial list of independent agencies in Tampa that may be able to give you price quote information.
- Duarte Insurance Agency, Inc.
5512 N Armenia Ave # A – Tampa, FL 33603 – (813) 874-3222 – View Map - GreatFlorida Insurance – Bill Sullivan
10353 Cross Creek Blvd Suite C – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 994-1143 – View Map - GreatFlorida Insurance – Ceci Wise
1719 W Fletcher Ave – Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 849-0125 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only write with one company and some examples include State Farm, Allstate, and Farm Bureau. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled on sales techniques which can be an advantage. Some insured continue to use the same agent mainly due to the brand name rather than low price.
Below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Tampa that are able to give price quotes.
- Joyce Coleman – State Farm Insurance Agent
8221 Parkedge Dr – Tampa, FL 33637 – (813) 975-1866 – View Map - Jerry Perez – State Farm Insurance Agent
9724 N Armenia Ave #200 – Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 931-3000 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Bruce Kestenbaum
320 E Fletcher Ave – Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 513-8800 – View Map
Picking the best insurance agency should depend on more than just the quoted price. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Florida?
- Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Are there any discounts for paying up front?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- What is the financial rating for the quoted company?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Tampa?
More quotes mean more insurance savings
When searching for cheaper Tampa car insurance quotes, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
We just showed you many ways to save on Honda Accord insurance in Tampa. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost Tampa car insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest priced insurance comes from an unexpected company.
People switch companies for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, unfair underwriting practices, being labeled a high risk driver and high prices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
To learn more, take a look at the following helpful articles:
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for First-time Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Tampa Car Insurance Rates for Lyft Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Tampa Car Insurance Quotes for a Jeep Wrangler? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Uninsured Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Higher speed limits cause more fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)