Anyone knows that car insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Consumers who shop around will, in all likelihood, buy a different policy because of the high probability of finding coverage at a cheaper rate. A recent survey found that drivers who compared rate quotes regularly saved an average of $3,400 over four years compared to drivers who never compared rates.
If finding the lowest rates on auto insurance in Tampa is the reason for your visit, then knowing how to find and compare coverage rates can save time and money.
The most effective way to save money on auto insurance rates in Tampa is to compare prices regularly from insurance carriers who provide car insurance in Florida.
Step 1: Gain an understanding of policy coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates down. Many factors that are responsible for high rates such as traffic violations and your credit history can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can quote rates from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
A valuable tip to remember is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to get price estimates from as many companies as you can. Doing this guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and many rates to choose from.
If you are already insured, you will surely be able to get lower rates using the concepts you’re about to learn. Buying affordable auto insurance in Tampa is actually quite simple. But Florida consumers do need to learn how companies price insurance differently because rates fluctuate considerably.
Learn How to Lower Your Insurance Rates
Lots of factors are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some factors are common sense like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are less apparent such as your marital status or your financial responsibility. It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help calculate your policy premiums. If you know what determines base rates, this helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.
- Raise physical damage deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your Mazda. Some examples of covered claims could be a broken side mirror, flood damage, and damage caused by flying debris. Deductibles for physical damage define how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if a covered claim is submitted. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the better rate you will receive.
- Where do you drive? – The more miles you rack up on your Mazda every year the more you’ll pay to insure it. The majority of insurers calculate prices determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that sit idle most of the time receive lower rates than those that get driven frequently. An incorrectly rated CX-7 may be costing you. Make sure your declarations sheet states the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
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Rates are impacted by vehicle performance – The performance level of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in your car insurance bill. Smaller low performance passenger models generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The following chart is based on a married male driver age 40, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Mazda CX-7 insurance rates compared to other models that have different risk factors.
- High credit scores save money – An insured’s credit score can be a huge factor in determining your rates. Drivers with high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit scores. If your credit score leaves room for improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your Mazda CX-7 by improving your rating.
Shop Mazda CX-7 insurance online
When looking for cheaper Tampa car insurance quotes, there are a couple ways of comparing price quotes from many insurance companies in Florida. One of the best ways to lower the rate you pay for Mazda CX-7 insurance is to perform an online rate comparison.
It’s so simple to compare insurance rates online makes it obsolete to call or drive to local Tampa insurance agencies. Doing it all online has made agencies unnecessary unless your situation requires the personal advice of an agent trained in personal lines coverage. However, consumers can get prices online but still have the advice of a local agent.
Just keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding a lower rate than you’re paying now. Some companies don’t provide Tampa CX-7 insurance quotes online, so you need to compare price quotes on coverage from those companies, too.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide comparison quotes in Tampa, FL. To find cheap auto insurance in Florida, we suggest you visit two to three different companies to find the cheapest car insurance rates.
Mazda CX-7 insurance charts and tables
The premium table displayed next covers different insurance coverage prices for Mazda CX-7 models. Learning more about how insurance policy premiums are determined can assist in making smart policy decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-7 SV 2WD | $222 | $420 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,408 | $117 |
| CX-7 Sport 2WD | $250 | $420 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,436 | $120 |
| CX-7 Touring 2WD | $250 | $420 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,436 | $120 |
| CX-7 Touring 4WD | $250 | $496 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,512 | $126 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 2WD | $278 | $496 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,540 | $128 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 4WD | $278 | $496 | $564 | $34 | $168 | $1,540 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in vehicle location which can increase or decrease coverage prices significantly.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for insurance is at what level do you set your deductibles. The comparison tables below may help to conceptualize the rate fluctuation between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-7 SV 2WD | $322 | $544 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,457 | $121 |
| CX-7 Sport 2WD | $364 | $544 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,499 | $125 |
| CX-7 Touring 2WD | $364 | $544 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,499 | $125 |
| CX-7 Touring 4WD | $364 | $640 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,595 | $133 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 2WD | $406 | $640 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,637 | $136 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 4WD | $406 | $640 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,637 | $136 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-7 SV 2WD | $200 | $342 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,108 | $92 |
| CX-7 Sport 2WD | $224 | $342 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,132 | $94 |
| CX-7 Touring 2WD | $224 | $342 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,132 | $94 |
| CX-7 Touring 4WD | $224 | $402 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 2WD | $250 | $402 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,218 | $102 |
| CX-7 Grand Touring 4WD | $250 | $402 | $418 | $24 | $124 | $1,218 | $102 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can revise coverage prices noticeably.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $32 more each month or $384 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average more than 23 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money if you decide on a higher deductible.
How to calculate when to raise deductibles
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $129 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $97 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $32 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $32 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 23 months |
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The example below shows how traffic citations and at-fault claims can drive up Mazda CX-7 premium costs for different insured age categories. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Why you need quality insurance for your CX-7
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Mazda in Tampa, insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability coverage in order to be legal. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your CX-7 has a lienholder, it’s guaranteed your bank will have a requirement that you have insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If the policy lapses, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Mazda at a much higher rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your car and your assets. It will also reimburse you for many types of medical costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If your Mazda gets damaged, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of having car insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. As of last year, the average driver in Florida is wasting up to $700 annually so it’s recommended you shop around once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Cheaper Mazda CX-7 insurance quotes in Tampa
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every possible discount very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as some of the hidden credits available to you.
- ABS Braking Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
- Good Student Discount – This discount could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Life Insurance – Some insurance companies give better auto insurance rates if you take out life insurance.
- Distant Student Discount – Children who attend college more than 100 miles from Tampa and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
- Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your auto and homeowners insurance and place coverage with the same company you will save nearly 15% which can help you find affordable Mazda CX-7 insurance rates in Tampa.
A little disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The example below shows the comparison of Mazda CX-7 auto insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no claims or violations, Florida state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.
Companies and their offered discounts are detailed below.
- Farm Bureau may offer discounts for good student, multi-policy, 55 and retired, renewal discount, driver training, multi-vehicle, and safe driver.
- State Farm includes discounts for accident-free, good student, safe vehicle, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and anti-theft.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including continuous coverage, homeowner, good student, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
- Allstate has discounts for premier discount, auto/life discount, farm vehicle, anti-theft, and premier plus.
- Nationwide may include discounts for business or organization, easy pay, good student, accident-free, family plan, anti-theft, and defensive driving.
- MetLife offers discounts including good student, multi-policy, good driver, claim-free, accident-free, and defensive driver.
Before purchasing a policy, check with every company what discounts are available to you. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in your state. If you would like to view insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Tampa, follow this link.
Get rate quotes but still have a local Tampa insurance agent
Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the great benefits of getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get cheaper car insurance rates and still buy from a local agent. Buying from local agencies is definitely important in Tampa.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Tampa who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to contact any agents as quotes are delivered to your email. You can get cheaper insurance rates AND an agent nearby. If you need to quote rates from a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Compare rates from both independent and exclusive car insurance agents
When looking for a local Tampa insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agencies and how they work. Insurance agents are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be independent do not sell for just one brand and that gives them the ability to insure with any number of different companies and get the cheapest rates. If you want to switch companies, they can switch companies in-house and you stay with the same agent. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, we recommend you include a couple of independent agencies to get the most accurate price comparison.
Listed below is a small list of independent insurance agents in Tampa who may provide rate quotes.
Duarte Insurance Agency, Inc.
5512 N Armenia Ave # A – Tampa, FL 33603 – (813) 874-3222 – View Map
Geocite Insurance Agency
3105 W Waters Ave #313 – Tampa, FL 33614 – (813) 510-5366 – View Map
Italiano Insurance Services, Inc.
3021 W Swann Ave – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 877-7799 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents of this type generally can only insure with one company such as Allstate, State Farm and Farm Bureau. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents receive a lot of sales training in insurance sales which helps them sell on service rather than price.
Listed below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Tampa that can give you price quotes.
Ray Mathews – State Farm Insurance Agent
15271 Amberly Dr – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 978-1898 – View Map
Robin Simmons – State Farm Insurance Agent
2425 S Dale Mabry Hwy a – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 258-2828 – View Map
Jim Cornwell – State Farm Insurance Agent
4305 W Bay to Bay Blvd – Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 835-8892 – View Map
Selecting an insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Does the agency have a positive business rating?
After talking to the agent and getting good responses to any questions you have in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s a good possibility that you have found an insurance agency that meets the criteria to insure your vehicles.
Car insurance companies ranked
Selecting the right auto insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many choices drivers have in Florida. The information shown next could help you pick which auto insurers you want to consider when comparing rate quotes.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| Mercury Insurance | 97 | 96 | 88 | 89% | A+ | 93.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
| The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
| GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
| Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
| 21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
| Liberty Mutual | 79 | 87 | 95 | 78% | A | 85.3 |
| Farmers Insurance | 77 | 80 | 80 | 84% | A | 80.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
You may need specialized insurance coverage
When it comes to insurance from an agent or online for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique and your insurance should unique, too.
For example, these questions might point out whether you may require specific advice.
- When can my company non-renew my policy?
- Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
- How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Does my Mazda CX-7 need full coverage?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Should I waive the damage coverage when renting a car?
- Can I rent a car in Mexico?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
One last thing to lower rates
Budget-friendly auto insurance in Tampa is possible online as well as from insurance agents, so you need to shop Tampa car insurance with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not offer online quoting and these regional carriers sell through local independent agents.
In this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to compare Mazda CX-7 insurance rates in Tampa. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.
To read more, feel free to browse these articles:
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Company Car in Tampa? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Bad Credit in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for High School Students in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Teenage Males in Tampa? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Uber Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Good Students in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Dodge Grand Caravan in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)