The shopping isn’t over once you have your proof of insurance. If you activate the reshop feature, Jerry will automatically reshop quotes for you regularly—before your renewal, when your credit score changes, or when a new insurer becomes available in Brownsville—to make sure you’re always getting the best insurance costs.
How to avoid high car insurance rates in Brownsville, TX
A lot of determining auto insurance factors are out of your hands, like your age or ZIP code—but there are some things you can do to help nab the cheapest rates for yourself.
Prepare to drive in inclement weather
In the last few years alone, Brownsville has seen some nasty weather, mainly in the form of flooding due to torrential rain and severe storms. Just last year, Brownsville saw record-breaking downpours over four days, with the police department warning people to exercise caution on the road.
But you shouldn’t just practice safe driving in the face of a flash flood warning. In any severe weather scenario, here are some things you can do to keep safe:
Avoid driving during a storm, if possible. In some circumstances, it might be safer to turn on your emergency lights and pull to the side of the road so you can wait it out.
Leave extra space between your vehicle and others. Low visibility and slick roads can lead to reduced traction, so you’ll need to allow yourself more time to stop.
Don’t drive through deep water. It doesn’t take much to sweep away a car or cause damage to your vehicle, so a good rule of thumb is not to cross water that’s higher than the center of your wheel.
Watch out for debris in the water. If you’re crossing water or thinking about it, steer clear of any obstacles or downed power lines.
Don’t drink and drive
Brownsville is part of Cameron County, a midsize county that was ranked third-worst for drunk driving fatalities between 2014-2018—and in 2021, saw a total of 418 DUI-related crashes.
Texas DUI laws
are strict. Young drivers under the age of 21 cannot be found with any alcohol in their systems. If charged with a DUI and found guilty, penalties may include:Fines between $2,000 and $10,000
72 hours to 10 years of jail time
90 days to 2 years of license suspension
It’s also worth noting that in Texas, DWIs are a bit different. The first two offenses are a class A misdemeanor—so long as you didn’t seriously injure or kill anyone, or drive with underage passengers. If you’re caught a third time in any of the aforementioned circumstances, a DWI charge is classified as a felony
Not only that, a DUI charge can seriously impact your insurance rates. Here are some of the increases you can expect to see after only one charge:
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Methodology
To determine these average increases, our editorial staff combined data from Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet, Bankrate, ValuePenguin, and Insurance.com. The data in the table above represents the average of the data contained in these sources.
Protect yourself with UM/UIM
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
reports that roughly 20% of people are uninsured in the state, which is why it’s important to consider UM/UIM. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
will help cover damages if you get into an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t have enough coverage, or doesn’t have coverage at all. It saves you from repair costs and legal fees, and isn’t subject to a deductible whereas your average health insurance policy is.There are a lot of discounts out there
When it comes right down to it, insurance companies of all sizes have discounts for their policyholders, sometimes for doing very little!
For example, certain companies partner with outside organizations to allow discounts for healthcare providers
and teachers
: Nationwide
provides discounts to members of the American Nurses AssociationAAA
works with the American Society of Registered NursesMercury
offers up to a 17% discount for teachersFarmers
offers discounts to members of specific teacher groups
You can also save on insurance coverage as a college student
in good standing. Allstate
, GEICO, State Farm
, and USAA
have a good student discount, which helps B-average students save up to an average of 11% off their policy costs. Here are some other simple discounts to look into:
Bundling discounts: Purchasing your auto insurance policy and homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance from the same provider can save you anywhere from 9% to 20%.
Loyalty discounts: If you’ve been with a company for a certain amount of time, you might be rewarded with a premium discount.
Payment discounts: Paying online or paying in full could knock off as much as 10% off your premium.
Going paperless: When you sign your documents online or opt to have policy paperwork sent electronically, some companies will give you a discount.
Remember: You can always speak with an insurance agent at your current provider to discover opportunities you might be missing.
Keep on top of your vehicle maintenance
Regular car maintenance—especially after harsh downpours or adverse weather—reduces the chances of an accident and keeps your vehicle running smoothly.