5 Tricks to Save on Car Insurance in Smithfield North Carolina
Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of car insurance companies in Smithfield? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options available that it can turn into a real challenge to find the lowest price.
Quick Smithfield Car Insurance Quotes
Effectively comparing car insurance prices can take time and effort if you don't understand the easiest way. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Smithfield, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get prices fast.
Most of the larger companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit one quote, and every company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to each individual car insurance company.
To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.
One minor caviat to using this type of form is that consumers can't choose which providers to get quotes from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina. Click to view list.
It's up to you which method you use, but compare identical coverage information with each company. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Smithfield. Quoting even small variations in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just keep in mind that more quotes helps you find the best offered rates.
Don't pay full price with these 5 discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don't list every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.
- Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
- Driver Safety - Taking part in a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
- Distant Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
- Multiple Policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
- Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky.
To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in North Carolina, click here to view.
The car insurance bait and switch
Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise about savings after switching to them. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.
Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Even more information is located at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
Other informative sites include this site for car insurance rates in North Carolina and this list of insurance agents in Smithfield, NC.
Shop smart and save
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund or even policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason, switching car insurance companies is easier than you think.
Cheaper car insurance can be bought from both online companies and with local Smithfield insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.
When shopping online for car insurance, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
