Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced car insurance? Believe me when I say you’re not alone. Numerous auto insurance companies battle to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the cheapest price
Components of your insurance rates
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.
- Poor credit can mean higher rates – Credit score is a large factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower ratings. So if your credit is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit.
- Rural vs Urban Areas – Choosing to live in less populated areas can be a good thing when buying car insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers in populated South Carolina areas tend to have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
- One company can mean more discounts – The majority of insurance companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
- Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Even one ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and membership fees may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good at first, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
- Marriage brings a discount – Having a wife or husband can get you a discount when buying car insurance. Marriage usually means you are more mature and responsible and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Free North Augusta Car Insurance Quotes
Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be challenging if you don’t utilize the easiest way. You could waste time talking to agents in North Augusta, or you can utilize online quoting to get rates in a matter of minutes.
Most of the best insurance companies participate in an industry program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company provides a quote based on that information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual car insurance company.
To get comparison pricing now click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly the companies to get quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a listing of companies who write car insurance in South Carolina. Click to view list.
Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using exactly the same coverages with each company. If each company quotes differing limits it’s not possible to determine the best price in North Augusta.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every discount very well, so we break down both well-publicized and the more hidden car insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive reduced rates.
- Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
- Discount for New Cars – Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance.
- Sign Online – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application online.
- Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
- Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.
To choose providers who offer car insurance discounts in North Augusta, click here to view.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina consumers can read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, find a variety of consumer forms, and read consumer alerts.
A tidy conclusion
Low-cost car insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood North Augusta agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.