Comparing Cheap Chapel Hill Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than the majority of other car owners in Tennessee. There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save on auto insurance.

Buying car insurance in Chapel Hill is easy if you know what you're doing. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Tennessee vehicle owners just need to know the proper way to get comparison quotes online.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't always publicize all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

  • Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
  • Good Students Pay Less - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Chapel Hill may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in school.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

Tennessee auto insurance quotes

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into rates.

  • Lower miles equals lower premium - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
  • More claims means more premium - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Car insurance companies in Tennessee provide lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It usually means you are more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability insurance will protect you if ever you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • Your location is important - Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. City drivers tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population means reduced accidents.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Tennessee get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch your policy.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's why companies can make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Learn more today

More detailed Tennessee auto insurance information can be found at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, file complaints about a company, and get help finding coverage.

In the end, you save

While you're price shopping online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

We covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .