How to Get Low-Cost Old Fort Auto Insurance

Purchasing affordable Old Fort auto insurance on the web can seem to be rather challenging for beginners to price shopping online. When there are so many online companies, how can consumers have a chance to compare every one to find the best price?

It's important to shop coverage around quite often because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn one of the best ways to find better coverage at a better price.

Shopping for the cheapest protection in Old Fort is easy if you know what you're doing. Just about anyone who has to buy auto insurance should be able to lower their premiums. Nevertheless, North Carolina consumers do need to know how big insurance companies compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Old Fort Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Cautious drivers pay less - Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one citation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get flagrant violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
  • With age comes lower rates - Youthful drivers in North Carolina are known to be less responsible when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a teen driver onto a policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount - Many auto insurance companies give discounts to insureds who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of add-on coverages you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Things like rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. They may seem good at first, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes are in accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Men also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

North Carolina auto insurance

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you get the savings.

  • Good Student Discount - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
  • Resident Student - Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • Organization Discounts - Being a member of a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in North Carolina, click this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads make the same claim of big savings after switching your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

That is why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Different people need different coverages

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different.

For instance, these questions may help you determine whether you might need professional guidance.

  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Old Fort?
  • What are North Carolina no-fault laws?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

More sites with auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information is located on the North Carolina Department of Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Old Fort North Carolina.

Old Fort auto insurance comparison

Final considerations

We covered many ideas to save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the best prices are with an unexpected company.

When you buy insurance online, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Cost effective auto insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Old Fort, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.