8 Discounts Kannapolis Consumers Forget when Buying Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your checking account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to make sure you’re not throwing money away.

Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a provider to find the lowest rate possible.

It’s a good habit to shop coverage around once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a couple years back you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so with this article, you’re going to get a bunch of ideas how to find affordable auto insurance.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Finding affordable coverage in Kannapolis is not rocket science. But North Carolina drivers must understand how the larger insurance companies compete online.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Kannapolis, North Carolina

When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes from local in Kannapolis, North Carolinaauto insurance companies. One of the best ways to find the lowest rates is to get quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  • Probably the best way to find low rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. A single, simple form gets you price quotes .
  • A more time consuming way to compare prices requires a trip to the website for every company you want to comare and request a quote. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare Farmers, Progressive and Allstate. You would have to spend time on each company’s site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to insurance companies in Kannapolis, click here.

  • The hardest method to compare rates is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, comparison shop your insurance online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one it’s not possible to find the best deal in Kannapolis. Slightly different coverages may result in large price differences. Just remember that quoting more will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Don’t pay full price with these eight discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in school.
  • Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
  • Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
  • Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.

To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in Kannapolis, follow this link.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is sent to participating agents in Kannapolis who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Selecting a company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These questions are important to ask:

  • Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
  • Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
  • If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
  • Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
  • What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?

Two types of Kannapolis car insurance agents

When researching an insurance agent, there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agencies in Kannapolis are either captive or independent.

Agency Captives

Captive agents can only write with one company like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are well schooled in insurance sales which can be an advantage.

Shown below are Kannapolis captive insurance agencies that can give you rate quotes.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-39.jpg" alt="Kannapolis NC insurance quotes” />

Allstate Insurance Co – 1525 Dale Earnhardt Blvd – Kannapolis, NC 28083 – (704) 932-3330
State Farm Insurance – 1610 Dale Earnhardt Blvd – Kannapolis, NC 28083 – (704) 938-4628

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency.

When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the best comparison.

The following are independent agencies in Kannapolis willing to provide comparison quotes.

Direct General Ins Agency – 2001 N Cannon Blvd # C – Kannapolis, NC 28083 – (704) 932-1007
Schattner Agency – 1811 S Main St – Kannapolis, NC 28081 – (704) 933-8080
K and K Insurance Inc – 1425 W A St # A – Kannapolis, NC 28081 – (704) 938-6221
Kannapolis Insurance Inc – 1460 Dale Earnhardt Blvd – Kannapolis, NC 28083 – (704) 857-7092

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Kannapolis, simply jump to this page.

Once you have received positive responses to all your questions and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that meets your needs to adequately provide auto insurance.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions could help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • What is the minimum liability in North Carolina?
  • Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Auto insurance coverage specifics

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Auto liability

This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage protects against things like bail bonds, legal defense fees and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible. North Carolina state law requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (North Carolina limits are 30/60/25), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for nursing services, doctor visits and hospital visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Auto collision coverage

This pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims like hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hail damage, fire damage and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Smart shoppers get results

Cost effective auto insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Kannapolis agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Additional consumer information websites

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.