Buy Hickory North Carolina Car Insurance Like a Tightwad

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, there are many Hickory consumers feeling the pinch from expensive car insurance. There are many insurers to choose from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to get the best deal.

The purpose of this article is to help educate you on how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. North Carolina vehicle owners only need to know the tricks to get comparison rates on the web.

Discounts are basically free money

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Hickory can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
Driver Safety – Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in North Carolina, click this link.

Cheap Hickory Car Insurance Comparisons

There are multiple methods to compare car insurance quotes, and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can waste hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in Hickory, or you can utilize the web for quick rates.

Many of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace where insurance shoppers submit one quote, and each participating company can provide price quotes. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to every company.

To find out what other companies charge click here to start a free quote.

The one downside to doing it this way is you are unable to specify the companies to get pricing from. If you would rather choose individual companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of the cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina. Click to view list.

It’s up to you which method you use, but compare the exact same coverage limits on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different values for each quote it will be impossible to find the best deal in Hickory.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining the price you pay for car insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Credit scores impact car insurance rates – A driver’s credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit rating is low, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Your age impacts your rates – Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers tend to get distracted easily when behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
Liability coverage is peace of mind – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart auto theft.
Being married is a good thing – Having a spouse actually saves money on car insurance. Marriage is viewed as being more responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Allowing your car insurance policy to lapse is a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will rates go up, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.

Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in North Carolina?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
What can I do if my company denied a claim?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

Some people would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local businesses is definitely important in Hickory.

After filling out this quick form, your insurance data is sent to participating agents in Hickory who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. How cool is that?!

Insurance agent types

When researching a good insurance agency, there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can impact the selection process.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, we recommend you include price quotes from several independent insurance agents for the best price selection.

Listed below is a short list of independent agents in Hickory that are able to give price quotes.

Direct General Ins Agency – 332 Us Highway 70 SW – Hickory, NC 28602 – (828) 322-7002
Catawba Valley Insurance – 1138 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd SE – Hickory, NC 28602 – (828) 267-1100
Broome Associated Insurance – 630 4th St SW – Hickory, NC 28602 – (828) 328-5671

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents can only write with one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.

Shown below are Hickory captive agents that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance Co – 1825 N Center St – Hickory, NC 28601 – (828) 324-6787
State Farm Insurance – 1156 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd SE – Hickory, NC 28602 – (828) 324-9333

For a full directory of Hickory captive insurance agencies, click here to link.

Selecting an insurance agency should depend on more than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:

Do they assist clients in filing claims?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?

After getting reasonable responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.

Shop smart and save

Cheap car insurance can be bought both online in addition to many Hickory insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

We just presented many ways to get a better price on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from the smaller companies. Some small companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

North Carolina insurance information

Much more information about car insurance in North Carolina is located on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Click here for link. North Carolina consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on this resource for North Carolina car insurance prices and this page on QuoteClickInsure.com.