Tightwads Tips for Saving on Whittier Auto Insurance

Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are too high. Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the fastest and easiest way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Shopping for the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Whittier is easy if you know what you're doing. If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can learn to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. North Carolina consumers only need to know the proper methods to buy auto insurance online.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but less common discounts must be inquired about before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
More Vehicles More Savings - Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
College Student - Youth drivers who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

Whittier Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Men fork out a little more - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Credit rating is a important factor in determining your rates. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as scientists, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in North Carolina tend to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a teen driver to your auto insurance policy can break the bank. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need professional guidance.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

North Carolina consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you move to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional information is located on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance located here. North Carolina consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

And the best car insurance company is...

The cheapest auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Whittier agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

You just read a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the best prices are with the least-expected company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .