Car Insurance in Stockbridge – 7 Ways to Better Rates

Have you fallen victim to overpriced car insurance? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. With so many choices, it can be impossible to pick the most cost effective provider.

Consumers should take time to check car insurance prices at least once a year because rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best deal two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the best ways to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Cut your car insurance rates with these seven discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t list all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
• Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
• 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
• Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
• Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
• Accident Forgiveness – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.

To choose providers offering car insurance discounts in Georgia, follow this link.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.

• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
• What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

What if I want to buy from a local Stockbridge agent?

Some people would rather talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Good agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.

After completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is instantly submitted to companies in Stockbridge who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox.

Picking an insurance company should depend on more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:

• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Who are their largest clients?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?

Best insurance agency in Stockbridge

If you’re trying to find local Stockbridge agents, you must know there are a couple types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either captive or independent. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences because it can impact your agent selection.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies can only write with one company such as Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They receive extensive training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below is a short list of captive agents in Stockbridge that are able to give price quote information.

State Farm Insurance – 73 Fairview Rd # A – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (770) 474-3646
Allstate Insurance – 175 Country Club Dr # 300a – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (678) 565-5720

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Shown below are independent insurance agents in Stockbridge that can give you comparison quotes.

Coggins Agency – 148 Burke St – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (770) 507-6181
Steve Roberts Agency Inc – 5530 N Henry Blvd – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (770) 474-3810
Peach State Auto Insurance – 32 Highway 138 E – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (678) 284-1717
Cooper Insurance and Assoc Inc – 117 E Atlanta Rd – Stockbridge, GA 30281 – (770) 389-0089

To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Stockbridge, visit this site.

Upon getting positive feedback to all your questions and a low price estimate, most likely you have located a car insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles. Just keep in mind policyholders can cancel your policy any time you want so never feel that you are obligated to any specific agency with no way to switch.

Do car insurance companies bend the truth?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you switch your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk might be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional detailed information is available at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Georgia consumers can learn about specific coverages, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include this site for rates in Georgia and this link where you can get more info about Stockbridge coverage.

Educate yourself about car insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Car insurance terms can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are the normal coverages found on most car insurance policies.

Collision – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for things such as scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like theft, damage from getting keyed and hitting a bird. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability – This coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims like medical expenses, bail bonds, attorney fees, legal defense fees and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Georgia state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

Insurance for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses for things like doctor visits, dental work and nursing services. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Keep this in mind

We just presented quite a bit of information on how to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. They often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.

Cost effective car insurance can be bought on the web and with local Stockbridge insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.