Easy Ways to Cut Costs on Hartsville Auto Insurance

Buying the most affordable Hartsville auto insurance on the web can be intimidating for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. Since there are so many online companies, how can consumers even start to compare them all to find the best pricing?

It's important to compare rates yearly because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies don't always advertise all their discounts very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.

It's important to note that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Rural vs Urban Areas - Residing in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
Cautious drivers pay less - Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Only having one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have serious citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Being married can save on auto insurance - Getting married can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. It means you're more mature and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - Credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.
High numbers of claims are not good - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance companies in Tennessee give discounts to drivers who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What are the best liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers in Tennessee get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save if you switch to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Learn more about auto insurance in Tennessee

Additional detailed information can be read at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and get help finding coverage.

Also read more on Wikipedia and this page where you can research Hartsville insurance agents.

Best coverage at the best price

While you're price shopping online, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

We covered many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Lower-priced auto insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Hartsville agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.