How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Franklinton

No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. You have so many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

Tips to Get Lower Franklinton Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate premiums.

Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
Traffic violations increase rates - Only having one speeding ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with dangerous tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven each year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies apply a rate based on their usage. Autos used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes cause accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.

More discounts equal less premium

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
Braking Control Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in North Carolina, click this link.

Switch companies and save? Really?

North Carolina consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim that you can save if you change your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who do not match these standards must pay higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

It's not one size fits all

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you might need an agent's assistance.

Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Should I buy additional glass protection?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Additional North Carolina consumer information

More information is available on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance found here. North Carolina consumers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include this resource for North Carolina auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Franklinton agent.

A tidy conclusion

Affordable auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Franklinton, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we presented many ideas to save on auto insurance. It's most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as .

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.