The recommended way to find cheaper auto insurance rates is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurers who can sell car insurance in Tampa.
- Step 1: It will benefit you to learn about the different coverages in a policy and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many factors that drive up the price such as at-fault accidents and a substandard credit score can be controlled by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple companies. Start a quote
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy and determine if cheaper M3 coverage is available. If you find a lower rate and buy the policy, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Step 4: Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current coverage and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new company or agent. As soon as you can, put the certificate verifying proof of insurance in your glove compartment.
A good tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare similar deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and to quote with all possible companies. Doing this guarantees a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.
It’s an obvious conclusion that auto insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Drivers who perform rate comparisons will probably buy a different policy because they have good chances of finding lower prices. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that consumers who regularly compared price quotes saved over $865 a year compared to drivers who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the best price on BMW M3 insurance is your ultimate target, then having an understanding of how to quote prices and compare car insurance can help you be more efficient.
If you have a current auto insurance policy, you should be able to cut your premiums using the techniques presented in this article. Buying the cheapest auto insurance in Tampa seems hard but is not really that difficult. Although Florida drivers do need to understand how companies determine how much to charge and apply this information to your search.
Affordable car insurance in Tampa, FL
The following companies can provide free rate quotes in Tampa, FL. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
BMW M3 insurance rate analysis
The table shown below covers a range of insurance rates for BMW M3 models. Learning a little about how insurance policy premiums are formulated can be of help when making smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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M3 4-Dr Sedan | $344 | $692 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,570 | $131 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $376 | $772 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,682 | $140 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $376 | $772 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,682 | $140 |
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Above prices assume married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Tampa which can influence prices greatly.
Can higher deductibles save money?
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is at what level do you set your deductibles. The tables below may help you to understand the price difference when you select higher and lower coverage deductibles. The first data set uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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M3 4-Dr Sedan | $498 | $994 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $2,083 | $174 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $544 | $1110 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $2,245 | $187 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $544 | $1110 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $2,245 | $187 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M3 4-Dr Sedan | $276 | $524 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,366 | $114 |
M3 CI 2-Dr Coupe | $302 | $586 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,454 | $121 |
M3 2-Dr Convertible | $302 | $586 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,454 | $121 |
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Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in specific zip code location which can change rates considerably.
We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible costs roughly $64 more each month or $768 annually than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average at least 14 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.
Gender-based auto insurance premiums
The information below visualizes the comparison of BMW M3 insurance prices for male and female drivers. The data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Does it make sense to buy full coverage?
The example below visualizes the comparison of BMW M3 insurance prices with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The rate quotes are based on no violations or claims, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no set guideline to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than about 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your BMW M3 settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $8,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying in excess of $800 annually for physical damage coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some conditions where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
Score discounts on Tampa car insurance
Car insurance can be pricey, but you might already qualify for some discounts to help offset the cost. Some of these discounts will be visible when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked about in order for you to get them.
- Professional Organizations – Being a member of qualifying employment or professional organizations could earn you a nice discount on your next car insurance statement.
- One Accident Forgiven – Not necessarily a discount, but some insurance companies permit an accident without the usual rate increase if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers successfully complete driver’s ed class as it can save substantially.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your entire bill at once rather than spreading payments over time you can actually save on your bill.
- No Claim Discounts – Tampa drivers who stay claim-free are rewarded with significantly better rates on Tampa auto insurance quote when compared with insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The information below compares BMW M3 insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no violations or accidents, Florida state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, claim-free, multi-policy, multi-car, homeowner, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Larger car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be read below.
- Farm Bureau has savings for youthful driver, multi-policy, safe driver, good student, renewal discount, and driver training.
- State Farm may offer discounts for driver’s education, defensive driving training, good driver, Drive Safe & Save, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for continuous coverage, multi-policy, online signing, multi-vehicle, good student, and online quote discount.
- Allstate includes discounts for teenSMART discount, resident student, anti-theft, premier plus, EZ pay plan discount, and utility vehicle.
- Nationwide may have discounts that include Farm Bureau membership, family plan, business or organization, good student, easy pay, and defensive driving.
- MetLife may include discounts for claim-free, accident-free, good driver, defensive driver, and multi-policy.
Double check with each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in Tampa. To find providers who offer car insurance discounts in Tampa, click here to view.
Insurance Premium Influencing Factors
Many different elements are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as traffic violations, although some other factors are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.
The list below includes some of the major factors car insurance companies consider when setting your rate level.
- Discounts for married drivers – Having a spouse may save some money on car insurance. Having a significant other generally demonstrates drivers are more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.
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Pay more for higher performance vehicles – The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in the rate you pay. The cheapest insurance rates will normally be found when insuring small economy passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The data below assumes a married male driver age 50, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates BMW M3 insurance premiums compared to other makes and models that have a range of performances.
- Big cities have higher costs – Having an address in a rural area is a good thing when buying car insurance. Residents of big cities have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population means reduced accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
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Pay more by driving carelessly – Even a single ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Attentive drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have received flagrant tickets like DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
The example below shows how violations and accidents impact BMW M3 insurance premiums for different categories of driver ages. The prices are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
- Raise your coverage deductibles for better prices – The deductibles you choose state the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims are rear-ending another vehicle, animal collisions, and damage caused by road hazards. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the better rate you will receive.
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Loss statistics for a BMW M3 – Companies factor in insurance loss information to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Models that are shown to have higher claim frequency or loss amount will cost more for coverage.
The table below outlines the actual insurance loss data for BMW M3 vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles compiled together is set at 100. Numbers under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while values that are above 100 point to more frequent losses or statistically larger claims.
BMW M3 Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury BMW M3 4dr 302 186 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
When to have guidance from an insurance agency
Some people prefer to sit down with an agent and that can be a great decision The biggest benefit of comparing auto insurance online is that drivers can save money and get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents that give free quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. There is no need to contact an agency because prices are sent instantly to you. You can find the lowest rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you want to get a price quote for a specific company, you would need to search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
Finding the right company shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Any agent in Tampa should have no problem answering these questions:
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Is the agent properly licensed in Florida?
- Can glass claims be handled at your home?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Tampa?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
Tampa car insurance agents are either independent or exclusive
If you are wanting to find a local agent, there are a couple of types of agencies and how they work. Agents in Tampa can be described as either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel work for only one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farm Bureau. Exclusive agents cannot shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. These agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Shown below are Tampa exclusive insurance agents that are able to give price quotes.
Herma White – State Farm Insurance Agent
14940 N Florida Ave – Tampa, FL 33613 – (813) 961-6661 – View Map
John Lang – State Farm Insurance Agent
4023 W Waters Ave #5 – Tampa, FL 33614 – (813) 885-2748 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: John Fox
4941 E Busch Blvd Ste 150 – Tampa, FL 33617 – (813) 985-3889 – View Map
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents do not sell for just one brand and that enables them to quote your coverage with many different companies and find the cheapest auto insurance rates. If prices rise, the business is moved internally which is easy for the insured. If you need lower rates, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
The following are independent agents in Tampa willing to provide price quote information.
Rip Weachter Insurance Agency
4311 W El Prado Blvd – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 831-8889 – View Map
Italiano Insurance Services, Inc.
3021 W Swann Ave – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 877-7799 – View Map
Phil Cole Whitco Insurance Agency
6601 Memorial Hwy #230 – Tampa, FL 33615 – (813) 884-7577 – View Map
Lower rates by being persistent
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to find cheaper BMW M3 insurance in Tampa. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting affordable Tampa auto insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small local company. Smaller companies may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
Much more information about car insurance in Florida can be read at these links:
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Learners Permit in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Teenage Males in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Tampa Car Insurance Rates for a Dodge Ram? (FAQ)
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)