Save Money on Mazda RX-8 Insurance in Tampa

Searching for the cheapest insurance for a Mazda RX-8 in Florida can normally be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks to save time.

There are more efficient ways to compare insurance rates so we’re going to tell you the absolute fastest way to price shop coverage for a new or used Mazda and obtain the best price possible from both online companies and Tampa agents.

Consumers should take time to quote other rates before your next renewal since rates trend upward over time. Even if you got the lowest rate on Mazda RX-8 insurance in Tampa last year there may be better deals available now. Block out anything you think you know about insurance because you’re about to learn the best methods to find great coverage at a great price.

Finding cheaper Mazda RX-8 insurance rates can be quick and easy. Just spend a few minutes getting comparison quotes from online providers.

The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Tampa, FL. If your goal is to find cheap car insurance in Tampa, FL, we suggest you compare several of them to find the lowest car insurance rates.

Take advantage of these eight money saving discounts

Some companies do not list all available discounts very well, so the list below gives a summary of some of the best known and also the lesser-known credits that may apply to you.

• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Options like air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy may earn a small discount due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
• Military Discounts – Having an actively deployed family member can result in better insurance rates.
• Driver Education Discount – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to participate in a local driver’s education class in high school.
• Distant Student – Any of your kids who live away from home to go to college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• No Claim Discounts – Drivers who don’t have accidents have much lower rates compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Discount for Good Grades – Excelling in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount up to age 25.
• Telematics Devices – People who choose to allow their insurance company to look at vehicle usage remotely such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive could see a rate decrease as long as the data is positive.

As is typical with insurance, most discount credits are not given to the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though you would think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, nobody gets a free ride. Any amount of discount will positively reduce your premiums.

The illustration below compares Mazda RX-8 insurance prices with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, Florida state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.

Popular insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be found below.

• State Farm offers discounts for accident-free, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, and anti-theft.
• GEICO has discounts for seat belt use, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, air bags, driver training, anti-theft, and defensive driver.
• Progressive may offer discounts for online signing, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, homeowner, and multi-policy.
• 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driver, homeowners, anti-lock brakes, good student, and 55 and older.
• American Family includes discounts for TimeAway discount, defensive driver, good student, accident-free, multi-vehicle, Steer into Savings, and mySafetyValet.
• The Hartford offers discounts including air bag, vehicle fuel type, anti-theft, driver training, bundle, good student, and defensive driver.
• AAA may include discounts for AAA membership discount, education and occupation, pay-in-full, multi-car, anti-theft, and multi-policy.

Double check with every prospective company which discounts you qualify for. All car insurance discounts may not apply in Tampa. For a list of companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Tampa, click here.

Rates and statistics

The premium information shown next covers estimates of insurance prices for Mazda RX-8 models. Understanding how insurance prices are established is important for you to make decisions when shopping your coverage around.

Table data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle location which can revise coverage rates considerably.

Higher deductibles lower rates

One common question asked by Tampa drivers is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The comparisons below can help show the differences in price of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in Tampa location which can lower or raise rates considerably.

Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $36 more each month or $432 annually than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at least 21 months between claims, you would save more money going with the higher deductible.

The information below highlights how deductible selection and can affect Mazda RX-8 annual premium costs for each age group. The data is based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.

Irresponsible driving raises your rates

The example below illustrates how violations and at-fault accidents impact Mazda RX-8 insurance prices for different age groups of insureds. The premiums are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.

Men versus women drivers and insurance cost

The chart below shows the comparison of Mazda RX-8 insurance rates for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents or driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.

Cost comparison with and without full coverage

The example below visualizes the comparison of Mazda RX-8 annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Florida. The information is based on no claims or driving violations, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.

When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage

There isn’t a steadfast formula for eliminating physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s pretend your Mazda RX-8 replacement cost is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premiums are more than $800 annually to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some circumstances where buying only liability insurance is not advised. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.

Auto insurance agents can help

Some people just prefer to buy from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Agents are trained risk managers and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of getting free rate quotes online is that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local insurance agents is important particularly in Tampa.

Upon completion of this short form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact an agency as quotes are delivered immediately to you. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific company, you can always go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.

When narrowing the list to find a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures that you can choose from. Auto insurance agents in Tampa can be categorized as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know the difference in how they write coverage since it may influence which type of agent you select.

Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are normally appointed by many insurers and that allows them to write policies with lots of companies and find you the best rates. If they quote lower rates, they simply move the coverage in-house and you can keep the same agent.

If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you should always get quotes from a few independent agents to have the most options to choose from. Most also write with smaller regional carriers which may have better rates.

Shown below is a small list of independent agencies in Tampa who can help you get free auto insurance quotes.

• Rip Weachter Insurance Agency
  4311 W El Prado Blvd – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 831-8889 – View Map
• Varney Agency | Tampa FL
  5401 W Kennedy Blvd #230 – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 200-7261 – View Map
• Duarte Insurance Agency, Inc.
  5512 N Armenia Ave # A – Tampa, FL 33603 – (813) 874-3222 – View Map

View more agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

These agents can only place business with one company like Farmers Insurance and State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive insurance agents are trained well on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Many people buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the brand and strong financial ratings.

The following is a list of exclusive agents in Tampa who can help you get price quotes.

• Allstate Insurance: Bruce Kestenbaum
  320 E Fletcher Ave – Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 513-8800 – View Map
• Ray Mathews – State Farm Insurance Agent
  15271 Amberly Dr – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 978-1898 – View Map
• Adi Khorsandian – State Farm Insurance Agent
  20752 Center Oak Dr – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 991-4111 – View Map

View more agents

Picking the best insurance agency should depend on more than just the premium amount. Get answers to these questions too.

• Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
• Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
• Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?

Upon receiving satisfactory answers to these questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that meets the criteria to properly service your auto insurance policy. It’s important to know that you can cancel a policy any time you want so don’t feel that you are permanently stuck with a specific company for the full policy term.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to buying a policy, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that
For instance, these questions might point out whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

• Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
• If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
• How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
• Can I make deliveries for my home business?
• Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
• I have health insurance so do I need medical payments coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Why you need to buy insurance

Despite the potentially high cost of Mazda RX-8 insurance, paying for insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

• Just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability protection if you want to drive legally. 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 you have a loan on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you buy insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank may buy a policy for your Mazda at an extremely high rate and require you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
• Insurance protects not only your Mazda but also your financial assets. Insurance will pay for most medical and hospital costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your Mazda as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.

The benefits of buying insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly for liability claims. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is currently overpaying as much as $850 per year so compare rates at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Specific coverages for a Mazda RX-8

Knowing the specifics of your insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Mazda RX-8.

Due to the fact that many Florida drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (10/20/10), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Frequently these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a deer, a broken windshield and hitting a bird. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Liability

This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 10/20/10 which means $10,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $20,000, and a limit of $10,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers things like court costs, structural damage, medical expenses and emergency aid. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as large an amount as possible. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10/20/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

The illustration below shows why buying minimum limits may not provide adequate coverage.

Auto collision coverage

Collision insurance covers damage to your RX-8 caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things like hitting a mailbox, rolling your car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible on your RX-8 in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Insurance for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for immediate expenses for ambulance fees, nursing services, rehabilitation expenses and dental work. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Quote more and you will save more

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on Mazda RX-8 insurance in Tampa. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. They can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.

As you restructure your insurance plan, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.

Some insurance companies may not provide internet price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies work with independent agencies. Cost effective Mazda RX-8 insurance can be sourced both online as well as from insurance agents, so you need to compare both to have the best selection.

Steps to finding discount Mazda RX-8 insurance in Tampa

The best way we recommend to find affordable quotes for auto insurance rates is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from companies in Tampa. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.

• First, get an understanding of how insurance companies determine prices and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that result in higher prices like tickets, at-fault accidents, and a not-so-good credit score can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Second, compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from many different companies. Click to view companies
• Third, compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate in Tampa. If you find a better price and make a switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
• Fourth, tell your current company of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application for your new policy. Don’t forget to put the proof of insurance certificate in your glove compartment.

One tip to remember is to use identical limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to analyze all possible companies. Doing this provides an accurate price comparison and the best price selection.

More information can be found at the links below

• Understanding Limits and Deductibles (Allstate)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Equinox in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Teenage Males in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Tampa Auto Insurance for Retired Military? (FAQ)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for a Subaru Outback in Tampa? (FAQ)
• What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
• Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
• What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)