Being forced to pay for overpriced auto insurance premiums can empty your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparing rate quotes is a great way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.
It’s shocking but a large majority of auto insurance policyholders kept their policy with the same company for four years or more, and just short of a majority have never quoted rates to find lower-cost coverage. Seattle insurance shoppers can save $427 each year by just comparing quotes, but they underestimate the amount of money they would save if they moved their coverage to a different company. You have so many car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to get the best deal for Honda Element insurance in Seattle.
Finding more affordable Honda Element car insurance quotes is pretty simple and can save money. The only thing you need to do is take a couple of minutes getting comparison quotes online with multiple companies.
It’s so fast and easy to compare price quotes online that it takes the place of having to waste gas driving to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to get quotes online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you’re the type of person who wants the professional abilities that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. It is possible to compare online quotes and have a local agent actually service the policy.
The following companies offer price comparisons in Washington. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you compare several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $218 | $434 | $384 | $22 | $114 | $1,172 | $98 |
Element LX 4WD | $168 | $284 | $304 | $18 | $90 | $864 | $72 |
Element EX 2WD | $230 | $422 | $304 | $18 | $90 | $1,064 | $89 |
Element EX 4WD | $160 | $304 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $918 | $77 |
Element SC 2WD | $198 | $390 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $970 | $81 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and claim-free. Information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can raise or lower auto insurance rates substantially.
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
The chart below shows the difference between Honda Element insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. Data assumes no claims or driving citations, $500 deductibles, single male driver, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to drop full coverage
There is no written rule of when to eliminate full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Honda Element claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing in excess of $600 a year to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some circumstances where buying only liability insurance is not a good idea. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage in place.
Policy deductibles
The chart below highlights how deductible choice and can raise or lower Honda Element annual premium costs for each age group. The costs are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Where to set your deductibles
When buying car insurance, a common question is which deductible level should you buy. The comparisons below approximate the rate difference between high and low coverage deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second pricing table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $228 | $384 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,037 | $86 |
Element LX 4WD | $228 | $384 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,037 | $86 |
Element EX 2WD | $228 | $384 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,037 | $86 |
Element EX 4WD | $228 | $384 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,037 | $86 |
Element SC 2WD | $228 | $384 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,037 | $86 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element LX 2WD | $186 | $310 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $896 | $75 |
Element LX 4WD | $186 | $310 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $896 | $75 |
Element EX 2WD | $186 | $310 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $896 | $75 |
Element EX 4WD | $186 | $310 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $896 | $75 |
Element SC 2WD | $186 | $310 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $896 | $75 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can influence price quotes significantly.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible costs an average of $11 more each month or $132 every year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at least 23 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible.
Check for these rate reducing discounts
Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you might be missing out on some discounts to reduce the price significantly. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few must be specifically requested before they will apply.
- Own a Home and Save – Being a homeowner can get you a discount since owning and maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Accident-free drivers can pay as much as 50% less compared to accident prone drivers.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Successfully completing a defensive driver class is a good idea and can lower rates if you qualify.
- Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Federal government employees can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags may qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts can be found below.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including military active duty, driver training, multi-policy, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, and membership and employees.
- USAA has discounts for annual mileage, good student, safe driver, vehicle storage, driver training, and family discount.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for good student, online signing, homeowner, online quote discount, continuous coverage, and multi-vehicle.
- American Family may offer discounts for Steer into Savings, defensive driver, good student, bundled insurance, early bird, and TimeAway discount.
- Esurance may include discounts for multi-policy, DriveSense, anti-theft, emergency road assistance, and anti-lock brakes.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts including good student, electronic funds transfer, business and professional, teen driver, bundle discounts, youthful driver, and distant student.
- State Farm has savings for accident-free, Steer Clear safe driver discount, safe vehicle, anti-theft, good student, and good driver.
Before purchasing a policy, check with every company to apply every possible discount. Some credits may not apply to policies in your state. To choose insurance companies who offer free Honda Element insurance quotes in Seattle, click this link.
Local Seattle insurance agencies and insurance
A lot of people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. Good insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find the best rates and still buy from a local agent.
By using this short form, the coverage information is sent to participating agents in Seattle who want to provide quotes for your business. You won’t need to find an agent due to the fact that quote results will go to you instantly. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
Picking a provider should include more criteria than just a cheap price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Do they offer accident forgiveness?
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- How long has their agency been in business in Seattle?
What insurance coverages do I need?
When choosing insurance from an agent or online for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique and your car insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Is water damage covered by my policy?
- Will damage be repaired with OEM parts?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Do I have coverage if I rent a car in Mexico?
- What exactly is covered by my policy?
- What is UM/UIM insurance?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Honda Element is totaled?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
Honda Element Insurance Prices Can Be Lower
A large part of saving on auto insurance is knowing the different types of things that are used to determine your premiums. When consumers understand what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that may result in big savings. Lots of factors are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable such as traffic violations, but other factors are more transparent like where you live or your commute time.
Avoid coverage lapses – Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance expire. And not only will your rates increase, being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You could then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Washington motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Premiums drop with age – Older, more experienced drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, tend to file fewer claims, and usually have better credit.Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be inattentive and easily distracted when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Policy add-ons can waste money – There are many additional extra coverages that can add up on your Element policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, death and dismemberment, and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when buying your policy, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so think about removing them and cutting costs.
Avoid traffic tickets – Just one moving violation can increase the cost of insurance twenty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who have dangerous tickets like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions might be required by their state to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state in order to continue driving.
Insuring your Honda Element just makes sense
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Honda Element in Seattle, paying for auto insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
First, the majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability insurance if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Washington these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a loan on your Honda Element, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it mandatory that you have physical damage coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Honda at a significantly higher premium and make you pay the higher premium.
Third, auto insurance preserves both your assets and your Honda Element. It will also provide coverage for many types of medical costs incurred in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay for a defense attorney in the event you are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of buying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially with large liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in Washington overpays more than $850 per year so compare quotes from several companies once a year at a minimum to make sure the price is not too high.
Insurance savings summarized
There are still a few companies who do not offer price quotes online and usually these regional carriers sell through independent agencies. Cheaper insurance in Seattle can be bought online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
You just read many ideas to lower your Honda Element insurance premium rates in Seattle. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
As you quote Seattle car insurance, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
For more information, feel free to visit the articles below:
- Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for High Mileage Drivers in Seattle? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for High Risk Drivers in Seattle? (FAQ)
- How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)