The best way we recommend to find affordable quotes for auto insurance rates in Tampa is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in Florida. Prices can be compared by following these steps.
First, gain an understanding of what is in your policy and the measures you can take to lower rates. Many rating factors that increase rates such as traffic citations, accidents, and poor credit history can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Continue reading for more information to get affordable coverage and find overlooked discounts.
Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes for many different companies.
Third, compare the new quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
Fourth, provide notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit the application along with any required down payment to your new insurance company. When you receive it, store the proof of insurance certificate in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
One tip to remember is to make sure you’re comparing the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote request and to quote with every company you can. Doing this helps ensure the most accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Unbelievable but true, most consumers kept their policy with the same company for at least the last four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never even compared quotes to find lower-cost rates. Tampa consumers can cut their rates by approximately $1,100 a year by just comparing quotes, but they just don’t understand how much they could save if they replace their high priced policy.
Locating the best rates in Tampa can initially seem challenging. Practically everyone who is shopping for auto insurance will probably buy a cheaper policy. But Florida car owners must understand how insurance companies determine how much to charge because it varies considerably.
Tampa Insurance Premiums are Influenced by These Factors
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that are used to determine your car insurance rates. If you know what impacts premium levels, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could help you find much lower annual insurance costs.
The itemized list below are most of the major factors used by your company to calculate premiums.
Accidents can increase prices – A bad driving record can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Even a single chargeable violation can increase the cost of insurance substantially. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance compared to bad drivers. Drivers unfortunate enough to have careless tickets such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may face state-mandated requirements to maintain a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
The information below highlights how speeding tickets and accident claims impact Volkswagen Beetle insurance premiums for different ages of insureds. The rates are based on a single female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Infrequent drivers can save – The more miles you rack up on your Volkswagen every year the higher your rate. A lot of companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars that have low annual miles can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Verify your declarations sheet correctly shows the correct usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. An improperly rated Beetle is just wasting money.
Married people drive safer – Walking down the aisle helps lower the price compared to being single. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Deter vehicle theft – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Advanced theft deterrents such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help prevent car theft and help bring rates down.
Eliminate unneeded incidental coverages – There are a lot of optional add-on coverages that may not really be needed on your Beetle policy. Coverage for things like rental car reimbursement, towing, and motor club memberships could be just wasting money. The coverages may be enticing when you first buy your policy, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so eliminate them to save money.
Insurance losses for a Volkswagen Beetle – Insurance companies use historical loss data when determining insurance costs. Vehicles that historically have increased losses will have higher rates for specific coverages.
The table shown below demonstrates the actual insurance loss data for Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is a value of 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while values over 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or larger claims.
| Specific Volkswagen Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 101 | 93 | 101 | 85 | 95 | 101 |
| Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 85 | 78 | 95 | 76 | 89 | 79 |
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
The fastest way that we advise to compare policy rates for Volkswagen Beetle insurance in Tampa is to know most larger insurance companies participate in a system to give free rates quotes. All consumers are required to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information such as types of safety features, your job, if you’re married, and if you have a valid license. That rating data is then sent to multiple top-rated companies and they return quotes instantly to find the best rate.
To find the cheapest Volkswagen Beetle insurance rates, click here and see if a lower rate is available in Tampa.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in Tampa, FL. To get cheap car insurance in FL, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
Coverage analysis
The premium information displayed next highlights estimates of insurance premium costs for Volkswagen Beetle models. Having a better idea how premiums are formulated can be of help when making smart buying decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beetle S 2-Dr Hatchback | $228 | $438 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,146 | $96 |
| Beetle 2-Dr Convertible | $296 | $516 | $276 | $16 | $82 | $1,186 | $99 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can alter coverage prices significantly.
The information below illustrates how your deductible choice and can raise or lower Volkswagen Beetle insurance prices for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.
Insurance premiums based on gender
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Volkswagen Beetle insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
Why car insurance is not optional
Despite the potentially high cost of Volkswagen Beetle insurance, maintaining insurance is mandatory in Florida but it also protects more than you think.
First, almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you drive a vehicle. 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.
Second, if your car has a lienholder, most lenders will stipulate that you carry insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank will be required to insure your Volkswagen at a much higher rate and make you pay much more than you were paying before.
Third, car insurance preserves both your vehicle and your assets. It also can pay for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of having car insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially if you ever need it. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver is overpaying over $855 a year so shop around at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Lower-cost Tampa insurance quotes with discounts
Car insurance companies do not advertise every possible discount very well, so the below list has some of the more common and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using when you buy Tampa auto insurance online.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed in the military may lower your prices slightly.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Distant Student Discount – Older children who live away from home at college and do not take a car to college may be able to be covered for less.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking part in a safe driver class is a good idea and can lower rates if you qualify.
As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Volkswagen Beetle insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The costs are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, Florida state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Some of the insurance companies that may offer these benefits possibly include:
When getting a coverage quote, ask each company or agent how you can save money. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be available to policyholders in Tampa. If you would like to choose from a list of companies who offer cheap Volkswagen Beetle insurance quotes in Florida, click this link.
Do I need an agent?
Certain consumers prefer to go talk to an agent and that is not a bad decision The biggest benefit of comparing rate quotes online is you can get the best rates and still buy from a local agent.
Upon completion of this simple form, the coverage information is transmitted to companies in Tampa who will give competitive quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to do any legwork because quoted prices will be sent directly to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates and work with a local agent. If you wish to quote rates for a specific company, just jump over to their website to submit a rate quote request.
Choosing the best company should include more criteria than just the premium amount. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Tampa?
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Can you contact them at any time?
- How are they compensated?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
If you want to buy insurance from a reputable agency, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents in Tampa are considered either independent or exclusive.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel can only place business with one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies are highly trained on their company’s products and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
Below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Tampa that can give you rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance: John Fox
4941 E Busch Blvd Ste 150 – Tampa, FL 33617 – (813) 985-3889 – View Map
Robin Simmons – State Farm Insurance Agent
2425 S Dale Mabry Hwy a – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 258-2828 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Rich Lovinger
4016 Henderson Blvd l – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 837-9329 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agencies
These agents often have many company appointments so they can quote policies with any number of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If premiums increase, they simply switch companies in-house without you having to go to a different agency.
When searching for an agent, you definitely need to compare prices from multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
Listed below are Tampa independent insurance agents that can give you price quotes.
Duarte Insurance Agency, Inc.
5512 N Armenia Ave # A – Tampa, FL 33603 – (813) 874-3222 – View Map
Omega Insurance Agency, Inc.
5300 W Cypress St #271 – Tampa, FL 33607 – (813) 341-1530 – View Map
Insurance Office of America
4915 W Cypress St – Tampa, FL 33607 – (888) 269-6019 – View Map
Final considerations
Cheaper insurance in Tampa can be purchased online and from local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers don’t offer online quoting and these small, regional companies prefer to sell through local independent agents.
When getting Tampa auto insurance quotes online, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the best possible price.
Additional detailed information can be read by following these links:
- How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Altima in Tampa? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Honda Civic in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)
- What is Covered by GAP Insurance? (Allstate)