9 Ways to Save on Auto Insurance in Carrollton, GA
People who are new to comparing rates online can find purchasing the cheapest Carrollton auto insurance quite difficult.
If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. This article will help educate you on how car insurance quotes work. But Georgia car owners can benefit by having an understanding of how companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.
Discounts can save BIG
Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Most are applied when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically in order for you to get them.
- Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
- Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Paperwork-free – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
- Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a break if you buy life insurance from them.
- No Charge for an Accident – Some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
- Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
- Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your medical payments premium.
- Club Memberships – Participating in a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Carrollton, follow this link.
Can’t I compare rates from local Carrollton agents?
A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! The best thing about price shopping on the web is you may find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local businesses is important particularly in Carrollton.
Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to companies in Carrollton who will battle for your coverage. You never need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.
Captive agents vs. Independent agents
If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Carrollton agents can either be captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Agents
Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, you should always include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller companies which can be an advantage.
The following is a list of independent agents in Carrollton who may be able to give you pricing information.
- Direct General Ins Agency – 1004 Bankhead Hwy – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 830-9419
- R Allan Miles Insurance – 111 College St – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 836-8981
- Tina Cross Agency – 111 College St – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 830-0700
- Tina Cross Agency – 210 Shadow Lake Dr – Carrollton, GA 30116 – (770) 214-2768
- Synovus Insurance Svc – 203 College St – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 836-6900
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. Captive agencies receive extensive training on the products they sell which can be an advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a short list of captive agents in Carrollton that are able to give price quote information.
- State Farm Insurance – 300 Glen Eagle Ct – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 830-0106
- Allstate Insurance – 503 Bankhead Hwy – Carrollton, GA 30117 – (770) 832-3275
To view a complete directory of Carrollton captive insurance agencies, visit this site.
Selecting a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
Upon receiving good answers to your questions and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that will service your policy.
More information can be read on the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website located here. Georgia consumers can get help finding coverage, read state legal mandates and laws, and view agent and company licensing information.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Carrollton
The coverage is in the details
Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive auto insurance – This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from getting keyed, falling objects, theft and rock chips in glass. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses like funeral costs, chiropractic care, dental work and pain medications. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage protects against things like loss of income, emergency aid and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Georgia requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Georgia limits are 25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Normally these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision coverages – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things like driving through your garage door, crashing into a ditch, crashing into a building, colliding with a tree and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.
The cheapest auto insurance is available both online and with local Carrollton insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
In this article, we covered many ideas to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.