Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Clearwater?

Clearwater, FL is a medium-sized city that is nestled in the greater Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area. The city of Clearwater is comprised of only 112,000 citizens, which is a fraction of the metro area’s 3.14 million. Of those, just under half (51,000) are considered employees who are likely to commute to work in their cars.

Those trips take an average of 22.6 minutes one way. Thus, a two-car household with two employees logs as many as 7.5 hours per week just getting to and from work. When trips for shopping, socializing, and recreation are tallied, that number can easily exceed 10 hours on the road per week. While Clearwater’s commute time is below the national average of 26 minutes for a one-way trip, this is still a significant statistic that factors into insurance rates.

Another piece of the insurance premium puzzle is auto theft. The Clearwater-Tampa-St. Petersburg auto theft rate is rather good, relative to some other metro areas. They are ranked #213 nationwide for auto theft and, in 2018, the area recorded a total of 5,400 stolen cars. Drivers might want to consider these facts before settling for the minimum auto insurance coverage.

In fact, since the median age in Clearwater is 44, insurers are likely to view those drivers with more favor, as mature drivers are thought to be safer and lower risk. On the other hand, very old drivers start to pose more risk as their hearing and eyesight decline. Further, Florida is known for extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, that do terrible damage to cars and homes in the area.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage is Needed for Clearwater Drivers?

Just like most states, Florida drivers must carry a minimum level of automobile insurance. To legally drive, every motorist should have at least a liability policy on their automobile. These policies do what their names imply, they cover a driver’s liability should they damage another person, property, or automobile. Qualifying policies should cover bodily harm to a minimum amount of $10,000 and $20,000 per accident. Property damage should be covered to a minimum amount of $10,000 per crash.

Liability policies thus do not cover any bodily or property damage incurred by the at-fault driver in an accident. They must cover those costs with other insurance or out-of-pocket. Therefore, it’s recommended that Clearwater drivers add collision or comprehensive coverage to their policies if they can afford to. Collision or comprehensive policies help even when a driver is not at-fault. When a car is hit, the driver can immediately begin the repairs process without having to wait for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to settle the claim. In the time it takes the two insurance companies to sort out the claim, the car can be repaired and back on the road.

Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code

Cheap Car Insurance in Clearwater by Insurer

Every household budget seeks to reduce reoccurring costs such as the cable bill, power, and automobile insurance. Thus, it’s vital to review the following chart of the cheapest car insurers in Clearwater, FL. However, keep in mind that low premiums are not necessarily the be all, end all of car insurance. That is, it’s also important to review a company’s customer service rating and the various packages they offer for homeowners, renters, etc.

Are you looking for a cheap car insurance quotes? Compare rates for all companies here.

Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Clearwater

Florida allows its insurers to raise rates for customers who have poor credit. In fact, a driver with poor credit might pay as much as $2,400 more than a driver with excellent credit. Even those with excellent credit but a DWI pay less than a great driver who has a hard time with debt. However, each company treats this issue differently so drivers with poor credit should investigate this carefully.

Are you looking for cheap insurance with bad credit? Check out this guide.

Full Coverage Vs. Liability Coverage

What is Liability Only Coverage?

Liability-only policies cover any damage you do as a driver, or which results from your automobile. These policies meet the minimum requirement for drivers in Fresno, California and are generally the cheapest. That is because the policy does not cover your car. Thus, if an uninsured driver hits your car, and is at fault, any damage you incur must be repaired at your expense. You will also be unable to make a claim if your car is damaged due to weather or as a result of some other non-driving incident.

Why You May Want Full Coverage Car Insurance

Full coverage is not a category used by insurance companies. Rather, it is a colloquial term used to describe policies that cover both you and other drivers. Thus, if you are in a collision with an uninsured motorist, you can make a claim to repair damage to your car. If your car is injured by some other sort of accident or even vandalism, you can claim those repairs, too.

When you purchase a car on a financing plan, your lender will probably insist that you cover the car with a comprehensive policy that will cover any damage. Even if you purchase a car outright you might want to purchase a comprehensive policy so that your beautiful car remains pristine for as long as possible.

Key Differences Between Full Coverage and Liability Only

The main difference between liability and full coverage insurance is that full coverage will cost more than liability insurance and this is because it protects you against many more possible risks that liability doesn’t cover.

In addition, liability insurance only covers other people’s injury claims and damages to other vehicles where full coverage will cover other’s injuries and vehicle damages as well as your injuries and damage to your own vehicle.

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in Florida by City

Additional cities in Florida you can check out.

Palm Bay

Helpful Advice to Get Lower Car Insurance Rates

Save on Your Insurance Policy Rates With These Discounts in Clearwater:

  • Shop around –

    As you can see from these few examples, the rates insurers charge for the very same driver demographics can vary incredibly. The television commercials by the insurers tell us we can save hundreds of dollars on automobile insurance. Actually, you could save a thousand or more dollars on your insurance each year.

  • Drive defensively –

    If you can stay out of accidents and don’t accrue moving violations, you can save a lot of money on your automobile insurance. People with too many accidents and moving violations have trouble getting insured at any rate.

  • Drive an older car –

    If you have a car that is too old and not worth enough to carry collision insurance, you can save quite a bit of money. This especially applies to younger drivers whose insurance costs are much higher. If they can drive an older vehicle that would just require liability insurance and maybe some inexpensive comprehensive insurance, they can save at least a thousand dollars or more on insurance.

  • Buy collision insurance with a high deductible rate –

    The higher deductible rate you can tolerate in the event of a collision and the need to repair your vehicle, the lower your collision insurance cost will be. Your collision insurance rate will be really high if your deductible is only around $500. If you can tolerate $1,500 or so, you can save quite a bit of money on this portion of your annual insurance rate.

  • Bundle your home and automobile insurance policies –

    If you can buy your automobile and home insurance from the same company, you will likely save money. Most insurers offer a substantial discount for having your home and auto policy with them.

This guide can help you find the best discounts on auto insurance.

Reasons that Affect Your Automobile Insurance Rates in Clearwater, FL

Your car insurance rates can change over time. One of the most reliable factors that will impact your premiums is your age. The older you are, the lower your insurance premiums should be. You may also find your rates vary depending on the car you drive. Sports cars or jeeps may incur higher premiums, while SUVs and sedans are cheaper to insure.

Rates are also impacted by your gender and age, though young women will have lower rates than their same-aged male friends. Actuarial tables show that young drivers are more prone to speeding, alcohol infractions, and accidents than older people, as are young males rather than females.

You can also reduce your regular premium payments by opting for a higher deductible on your collision and comprehensive coverage packages. You can also opt to pay your premium in a larger, single payment every six months rather than spreading the premium out over monthly payments.

Learn how driving violations can affect your car insurance rates.

Helpful Clearwater, Florida Vehicle Resources:

Live Traffic Accidents by City
https://www.flhsmv.gov/florida-highway-patrol/traffic-incidents/

DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.flhsmv.gov/locations/clearwater/

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