Really, the only way to find lower priced car insurance rates is to compare prices annually from different companies who sell auto insurance in Albuquerque. This can be done by following these guidelines.
First, spend some time learning about how auto insurance works and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that cause rate increases like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a low credit score can be controlled by paying attention to minor details. Keep reading for more ideas to find cheap rates and earn larger discounts.
Second, get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for a wide range of companies.
Third, compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, notify your agent or company to cancel your current coverage and submit a down payment along with a completed application for the new coverage. As soon as you receive it, place the new certificate of insurance in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
One thing to remember is to try to use the same deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to look at as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
It’s safe to conclude that insurance companies don’t want their policyholders to compare prices. Drivers who shop around will, in all likelihood, switch auto insurance companies because of the good chance of finding a cheaper policy. A recent auto insurance study revealed that consumers who compared rates annually saved $72 a month as compared to drivers who never compared rates.
If finding the cheapest price for Mazda RX-8 insurance in Albuquerque is the reason you’re here, then learning about how to get rate quotes and compare insurance rates can help make the process easier.
Locating the best rates in Albuquerque is really quite easy. Virtually every driver who carries insurance will probably find a cheaper policy. But New Mexico consumers benefit from understanding the methods companies use to calculate your insurance rates and use it to find better rates.
Cheapest auto insurance in Albuquerque, NM
The companies shown below offer price quotes in New Mexico. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Mazda RX-8 insurance rates and statistics
The premium information shown below highlights estimates of insurance policy prices for Mazda RX-8 models. Learning how insurance prices are figured can aid in making smart choices when buying a policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RX-8 Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $314 | $494 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,246 | $104 |
RX-8 Grand Touring 4-Dr Coupe | $314 | $570 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,322 | $110 |
RX-8 R3 4-Dr Coupe | $314 | $570 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,322 | $110 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and New Mexico minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in garaging location in Albuquerque which can increase or decrease premium rates greatly.
Physical damage deductible comparison
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is at what level do you set your deductibles. The rates shown below can help you understand the rate fluctuation between high and low policy deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RX-8 Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $348 | $590 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,401 | $117 |
RX-8 Grand Touring 4-Dr Coupe | $348 | $680 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,491 | $124 |
RX-8 R3 4-Dr Coupe | $348 | $680 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,491 | $124 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RX-8 Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $254 | $398 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,090 | $91 |
RX-8 Grand Touring 4-Dr Coupe | $254 | $458 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,150 | $96 |
RX-8 R3 4-Dr Coupe | $254 | $458 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,150 | $96 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New Mexico minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can impact prices noticeably.
Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $28 more each month or $336 each year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 14 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money if you choose the higher deductible.
The chart below demonstrates how deductible levels and can increase or decrease Mazda RX-8 insurance premiums for each age group. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
The diagram below shows the difference between Mazda RX-8 annual premium costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The rates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to buy liability coverage only
There is no definitive rule of when to eliminate comp and collision coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Mazda RX-8 claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying over $800 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not recommended. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Why You Might Pay Inflated Rates in Albuquerque
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that are used to determine the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in much lower annual insurance costs.
Comp and collision deductibles are a factor – Comp and collision deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before your car insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of covered claims are a windshield broken by a bird, damage caused by hail, and damage caused by road hazards. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
Small claims can cost you – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance companies in New Mexico award cheaper rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of more catastrophic claims.
Your liability insurance limits – Your policy’s liability coverage kicks in if ever you are found liable for an accident. It will provide legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability is cheap compared to comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Policy add-ons could be costing you – Policies have extra add-on coverages that may not really be needed if you aren’t careful. Insurance for rental car coverage, towing coverage, and motor club memberships are probably not needed. You may think they are a good idea initially, but if you don’t need them get rid of them and save.
Vehicle features can affect prices – Buying a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your premiums. Theft deterrent systems such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all help prevent vehicle theft.
Qualify for multi-policy discounts – Lots of companies provide discounts to customers that purchase more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you qualify for this discount already, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Avoid car insurance policy lapses – Not maintaining insurance can get your license suspended and companies may charge more for letting your insurance lapse. Not only will you pay higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance could earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the New Mexico motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Discount Albuquerque insurance rates
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that may help make it more affordable. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for in order for you to get them. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Discount for Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a break if you buy life insurance.
- Full Payment Discount – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you will save over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
- Onboard Data Collection – People who choose to allow their insurance company to spy on when and where they use their vehicle by using a telematics device in their vehicle like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could see a rate decrease if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
- Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less as opposed to frequent claim filers.
- New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% since new model year vehicles are generally safer.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to use their safety belts can save a little on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The information below visualizes the comparison of Mazda RX-8 premium costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The costs are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, New Mexico state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.
A list of companies and their offered discounts can be found below.
- GEICO offers discounts including five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, federal employee, driver training, seat belt use, and membership and employees.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for multi-car, accident prevention training, anti-lock brakes, homeowner, safe driver, and anti-theft.
- State Farm may have discounts that include defensive driving training, multiple policy, passive restraint, good student, safe vehicle, driver’s education, and anti-theft.
- MetLife offers premium reductions for multi-policy, defensive driver, claim-free, good student, good driver, and accident-free.
- 21st Century includes discounts for air bags, defensive driver, driver training, 55 and older, student driver, and theft prevention.
- Progressive offers discounts for multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, online quote discount, and continuous coverage.
When quoting, ask every prospective company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not be offered in every state. If you would like to view companies that offer some of these discounts in New Mexico, follow this link.
Insurance agent or online?
A small number of people just want to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is not a bad decision A good thing about comparing rates online is you can get cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent.
After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents in Albuquerque who will give you quotes for your car insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies because prices are sent to the email address you provide. You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent. If you want to get a comparison quote from a particular provider, just find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Picking a insurance company should depend on more than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- How many companies do they write for?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- What is the financial rating for the quoted company?
- How many years have they been established?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
After talking to the agent and getting acceptable answers to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found a company that can be trusted to provide car insurance coverage. Just understand that once you purchase a policy you can cancel your coverage when you choose so don’t assume you’re contractually obligated to a specific company for the entire policy term.
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing your policy, there really isn’t a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique.
For instance, these questions might point out if your situation could use an agent’s help.
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
- Is there coverage for my trailer?
- Which companies will insure me after a DUI?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
Budget-friendly car insurance in Albuquerque can be found online as well as from independent agents in Albuquerque, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies may not have internet price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies work with local independent agencies.
Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy cancellation, not issuing a premium refund or even policy non-renewal. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
We’ve covered many ideas to lower your Mazda RX-8 insurance auto insurance rates in Albuquerque. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Additional learning opportunities
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Under 25 in Albuquerque? (FAQ)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)