Best 7 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Charleston

Overpriced car insurance can empty your personal savings and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to cut your insurance bill.

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 on a regular basis since rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. So ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the only way to save on car insurance.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies don't always advertise every available discount very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • E-sign - A few companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Own a Home - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

Charleston car insurance quote

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged a more expensive rate which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. That is why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

For more Tennessee car insurance information

Additional detailed information is available at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and report car insurance fraud.

Final considerations

When you buy insurance online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable car insurance can be sourced both online in addition to many Charleston insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.