10 Discounts Greenville Consumers Forget when Shopping for Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to buying car insurance, especially when their premiums are too high.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates periodically since rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a year ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the easiest ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies don't always publicize every available discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Sign Early and Save - Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Resident Student - Youth drivers who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • New Car Discount - Insuring a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in high school.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
  • Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.

Keep in mind that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

Georgia car insurance

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • What are Georgia no-fault laws?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you move to their company. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk could be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can make those claims. That is why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional Georgia consumer information

Additional detailed information is located at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Georgia car insurance

Affordable insurance is out there

You just learned a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company. Regional companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.