Paying for high-priced car insurance can drain your bank account and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
Since consumers have many insurance companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to locate the cheapest car insurance in Raleigh.
It’s smart to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because rates are usually higher with each renewal. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the proper way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Take advantage of discounts
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known car insurance savings.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
- No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers may receive a small decrease in premiums.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of more than 20%.
- Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
To see a list of companies with the best car insurance discounts in North Carolina, click here to view.
Compare Car Insurance Today
Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you don’t utilize the fastest way to get free quotes. You can spend countless hours talking about coverages with insurance companies in Raleigh, or you could use the internet to get prices fast.
Most of the larger companies enroll in a system where prospective buyers submit one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on that information. This eliminates the need for form submissions to every company.
To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here (opens in new window).
The only drawback to using this type of system is you can’t choose which providers you will receive quotes from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies to compare, we have assembled a list of companies who write car insurance in North Carolina. View list of North Carolina insurance companies.
It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use identical coverage information for each price quote. If your comparisons have different values for each quote it’s impossible to determine the best price in Raleigh. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. And when quoting car insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps you find a lower rate.
Your local neighborhood insurance agent
Certain consumers prefer to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your information is submitted to local insurance agents who will compete for your coverage. You never need to leave your house since price quotes are sent to your email. You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Choosing an provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Types of insurance agents
When finding a good Raleigh insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Agencies in Raleigh are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies write business for a single company and examples are Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. These agents are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Below are captive insurance agents in Raleigh that can give you price quote information.
State Farm Insurance – 3029 Capital Blvd # 111 – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 875-1955
Allstate Insurance Co – 6330 Falls Of Neuse Rd # 101 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 850-9970
Farmers Insurance Group – 5925 Big Nance Dr – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 713-0340
Farm Bureau Insurance – 2809 Spring Forest Rd # 101 – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 850-2077
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 3120 Highwoods Blvd # 310 – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 872-4700
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, we recommend you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.
The following is a list of independent insurance agencies in Raleigh willing to provide comparison quotes.
Protective Agency Inc – 3640 Capital Blvd – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 876-2611
John Moore Agency – 4237 Louisburg Rd # 104 – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 872-0130
Gene Pleasants Agency Ins – 3820 Merton Dr # 100 – Raleigh, NC 27609 – (919) 834-7937
Federated Mutual Insurance Co – – Raleigh, NC 27617 – (919) 765-0450
American Republic Insurance Co – 7501 Creedmoor Rd – Raleigh, NC 27613 – (919) 518-2232
To view a full list of car insurance agents in Raleigh, click here to link.
Upon receiving good answers to these questions and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles. Keep in mind policyholders can cancel your policy any time you want so don’t assume that you are obligated to any specific agency for the entire policy term.
Specifics of your car insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the normal coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Coverage for collisions
This covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things such as hitting a parking meter, damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a building, rolling your car and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as rock chips in glass, falling objects and theft. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This gives you protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (30/60/25 in North Carolina), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Liability car insurance
This can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as emergency aid, structural damage and attorney fees. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible. North Carolina state minimum liability requirements are 30,000/60,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for surgery, nursing services, dental work, ambulance fees and EMT expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Quote more, save more
When you buy insurance online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Cheap car insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Raleigh agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Consumers can download brochures, read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and read state legal mandates and laws.