It’s safe to assume that insurance companies don’t want their policyholders to compare prices. Drivers who get comparison quotes at least once a year will presumably buy a new policy because there are good odds of finding good coverage at a lower price. A survey found that people who made a habit of comparing rate quotes saved an average of $3,500 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding budget-friendly auto insurance is your target objective, then having a good understanding how to quote prices and compare cheaper coverage can help make the process easier and more efficient.
The easiest way to get affordable auto insurance rates in Tampa is to regularly compare quotes from companies in Florida. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.
- Try to learn about auto insurance and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an imperfect credit score can be rectified by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies. View a list of agents
- Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if cheaper tC coverage is available in Tampa. If you can save money and switch companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
An essential thing to point out is that you use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and to quote with as many companies as you can. This guarantees a fair price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
Buy Scion tC Insurance for Less
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that come into play when calculating your premiums. When consumers understand what impacts premium levels, this enables you to make decisions that may result in cheaper rates.
The itemized list below are some of the most common factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your prices.
- Keep insurance claims to a minimum – Auto insurance companies in Florida award discounts to drivers who are claim-free. If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for more catastrophic claims.
- Liability coverage is important – The liability section of your policy kicks in in the event that you are found liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense coverage to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability insurance is quite affordable when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
- Bundle policies and save money – Most larger insurers afford discounts to clients who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other Tampa tC insurance rates to ensure the best deal.
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Good drivers pay less – Just one ticket could increase your next policy renewal forty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. People who have severe violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may face state-mandated requirements to maintain a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The example below shows how violations and at-fault fender-benders can raise Scion tC annual premium costs for each different age category. The costs are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
- Never let your policy lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance lapse for non-payment. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you a revoked license or a big fine. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Florida motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- Having a spouse is a bonus – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage generally demonstrates drivers are more financially stable and it’s proven that married drivers tend to file fewer claims.
- Avoid unnecessary add-on coverages – Policies have optional add-on coverages that can add up when buying insurance. Insurance for things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death, and membership fees are some examples. They may sound like good ideas when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so think about removing them and cutting costs.
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Insurance loss statistics a Scion tC – Insurers take into consideration historical loss data for every vehicle to help calculate premium rates. Vehicles that the statistics show to have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have increased rates.
The table below illustrates the historical loss data for Scion tC vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles as a whole is equal to 100. Values that are 100 or less imply a favorable loss record, while numbers above 100 indicate frequent claims or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Scion tC Insurance Loss Statistics Specific Scion Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Scion tC 133 139 136 148 152 143 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Compare Tampa Scion tC insurance quotes
The companies shown below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Tampa, FL. In order to find cheap car insurance in Tampa, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Coverage analysis
The premium table displayed below showcases different coverage prices for Scion tC models. Having a better idea how prices are formulated can help you make smart buying decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $226 | $612 | $590 | $34 | $176 | $1,638 | $137 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in garaging location in Tampa which can increase or decrease price quotes noticeably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The figures shown below can help show the rate differences of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $322 | $736 | $522 | $30 | $156 | $1,791 | $149 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC 2-Dr Hatchback | $200 | $464 | $522 | $30 | $156 | $1,372 | $114 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location information which can impact insurance rates greatly.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $35 more each month or $420 annually averaged for all tC models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average more than 21 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you elect the higher deductible.
Why you need insurance for your vehicle
Even though it can be expensive, insurance is required in Florida but also provides important benefits.
- Just about all states have minimum liability requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. 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 tC has a lienholder, it’s guaranteed your bank will force you to buy full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Scion at a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them for it.
- Auto insurance preserves your Scion tC and your assets. It also can pay for most medical and hospital costs that are the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, your auto insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance greatly outweigh the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. But the average driver in Florida is wasting up to $825 a year so it’s recommended you shop around at least once a year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Verify you’re getting every discount
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may be missing some discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but some need to be asked for prior to receiving the credit.
- Low Miles Discount – Low mileage vehicles can earn slightly better prices than normal.
- Anti-theft System – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Discount for Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get better premium rates if you take out life insurance from them.
- E-sign Discounts – A handful of insurance companies will provide an incentive for signing up on their website.
- Home Ownership Discount – Just owning your own home may earn you a small savings because it shows financial diligence.
- Data Collection Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow driving data submission to study when and where they use their vehicle through the use of a telematics system such as Progressive’s Snapshot may see discounts as long as they are good drivers.
- Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully take a driver’s education course in school.
- Claim-Free Discount – Good drivers with no accidents pay less compared to bad drivers.
You should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The example below shows the comparison of Scion tC premium costs with and without discounts applied. The prices are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Florida state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-car discounts applied.
The best auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are included below.
- State Farm has discounts for anti-theft, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, accident-free, safe vehicle, student away at school, and good student.
- American Family policyholders can earn discounts including TimeAway discount, multi-vehicle, early bird, good student, air bags, bundled insurance, and defensive driver.
- AAA has savings for education and occupation, anti-theft, good student, AAA membership discount, good driver, and multi-policy.
- GEICO offers discounts for defensive driver, anti-theft, military active duty, multi-vehicle, seat belt use, air bags, and federal employee.
- Mercury Insurance includes discounts for anti-theft, ease of repair, professional/association, accident-free, annual mileage, and good driver.
- Farmers Insurance may include discounts for bundle discounts, business and professional, mature driver, homeowner, distant student, multi-car, and teen driver.
- Progressive discounts include online signing, online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, and multi-policy.
When comparing rates, check with every insurance company which discounts they offer. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered on policies in your state.
Are insurance agents obsolete?
A small number of people just want to sit down and talk to an agent and that is just fine! Good insurance agents will help you protect your assets and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that you can find cheap car insurance quotes and still have an agent to talk to. And buying from local insurance agents is definitely important in Tampa.
By using this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Tampa that provide free Tampa auto insurance quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to drive around since price quotes are sent to you. If for some reason you want to compare prices for a specific company, you would need to search and find their rate quote page and complete a quote there.
Independent or Exclusive: It’s your choice
If you want a local Tampa insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents and how they work. Car insurance agencies may be either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either can write car insurance policies, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in the companies they write for because it can impact your selection of an agent.
Independent Car Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be independent are not employed by any specific company so they can quote policies with lots of companies and find you the best rates. If they quote lower rates, they simply move your policy to a different company without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparing car insurance rates, you will want to get insurance quotes from independent agents for the best price selection. They often place coverage with small regional insurance companies which can save you money.
The following is a list of independent agents in Tampa that may be able to give comparison quotes.
- Omega Insurance Agency, Inc.
5300 W Cypress St #271 – Tampa, FL 33607 – (813) 341-1530 – View Map - Varcas Insurance Agency LLC
1721 W Hillsborough Ave – Tampa, FL 33603 – (813) 319-1940 – View Map - E J Ferro Insurance Agency
Tampa, FL 33647 – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 926-1515 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents of this type generally can only insure with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Exclusive agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive insurance agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price. Consumers frequently choose to use an exclusive agent mainly due to the brand rather than having low rates.
Below are Tampa exclusive insurance agents willing to provide rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Rich Lovinger
4016 Henderson Blvd l – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 837-9329 – View Map - Mike Foley – State Farm Insurance Agent
3704 W Swann Ave – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 289-7888 – View Map - State Farm: Jimmy Fisher
6920 E Fowler Ave – Tampa, FL 33617 – (813) 989-2037 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- How many years have they been established?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
Tampa auto insurance companies
Buying coverage from the right insurance provider is difficult considering how many choices drivers have in Florida. The information displayed below could help you select which car insurance companies you want to consider purchasing from.
Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 91%
- AAA Insurance – 90%
- Esurance – 90%
- Mercury Insurance – 89%
- Nationwide – 89%
- Travelers – 88%
- Progressive – 88%
- Safeco Insurance – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Allstate – 88%
Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- Mercury Insurance
- Travelers
- American Family
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- The Hartford
- The General
- 21st Century
- Esurance
Smart consumers save more
We just covered quite a bit of information on how to find lower-cost Scion tC insurance in Tampa. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Tampa auto insurance, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the best rates are with a smaller regional carrier.
As you quote Tampa auto insurance, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, delays in responding to claim requests, delays in paying claims and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company is less work than it seems.
Additional resources
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Nurses in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Tampa Auto Insurance for a Toyota 4Runner? (FAQ)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)