10 Best Methods to Cut Car Insurance Costs in Jefferson

I can't think of anyone who likes paying for car insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.

Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute lowest rate

It's important to compare prices periodically since rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we're going to show you the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on car insurance.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

Discount for Swiching Early - Select companies give a discount for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
Organization Discounts - Belonging to certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your policy.
Safety Course Discount - Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner may trigger a car insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Use Seat Belts - Requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose providers with discount car insurance rates in Jefferson, follow this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you change to their company. How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Insurance agents can help

When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no "perfect" insurance plan. Everyone's situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Additional North Carolina consumer information

Additional information can be found on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and discover disciplinary actions.

Shop smart and save

You just learned many ways to save on car insurance. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

Cheaper car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Jefferson agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.