If online auto insurance comparisons are new to you, you can be bewildered by the confusing number insurance agents and companies selling insurance in Clayton.
Performing a rate comparison can be exhausting if you aren’t aware of the fastest way to get free quotes. You could waste time talking about coverages with insurance companies in Clayton, or you can stay home and use the internet to get prices fast.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system where prospective buyers only type in their quote data once, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on that information. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each company.
To find out what other companies charge click here (opens in new window).
One minor caviat to pricing coverage this way is you don’t know exactly the companies you want to price. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have a page of auto insurance companies in North Carolina. View list of North Carolina insurance companies.
Take whichever approach you prefer, but make sure you compare exactly the same information for each comparison quote. If your comparisons have different values for each quote you can’t possibly find the best deal in Clayton.
These six discounts can slash auto insurance rates
Some insurance providers do not advertise their entire list of discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below gives a summary of some of the best known and the harder-to-find credits available to bring down your rates.
- College Student – Any of your kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy with the same company you may save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Participating in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than drivers with accident claims.
- Home Ownership Discount – Just owning your own home can get you a discount because of the fact that having a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off the medical payments premium.
One last thing about discounts, some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, that’s just not realistic.
To view insurers with discount rates in North Carolina, click here.
When do I need an agent’s advice?
When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.
- Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
- How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
- If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Coverage specifics
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills like EMT expenses, dental work, hospital visits and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like falling objects, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many North Carolina drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (30/60/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as hitting a parking meter, driving through your garage door and rolling your car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Auto liability
This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims like court costs, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, funeral expenses and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. North Carolina requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/25,000 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
Best coverage at the best price
You just learned some good ideas how to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get premium rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with the smaller companies.
When searching for , it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
People who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, lack of trust in their agent, delays in responding to claim requests or even policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.
North Carolina auto insurance information
More information can be read on the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, read industry bulletins, and download brochures.
The following information may also be useful.