New Methods for Saving Money on on West Columbia South Carolina Auto Insurance

Paying for high-priced auto insurance can overdraw your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Online insurance companies like Progressive, State Farm and GEICO all claim big savings with fancy advertisements and it is difficult to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before they will apply. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

• Memberships – Belonging to a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
• Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
• One Accident Forgiven – Some insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
• Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
• Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
• Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to frequent claim filers.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in South Carolina, follow this link.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions could help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

• Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
• Do I need higher deductibles?
• When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
• Should I buy only the required South Carolina minimum liability coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

Can you really save that much by switching?

South Carolina consumers can’t ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big if you switch your policy.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. Any driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile must pay higher prices and this can result in business not being written. The ads say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional information can be read on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out industry alerts.

Smart consumers save more

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be found both online and with local West Columbia insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.