Tired of paying out the nose to insure your vehicles every month? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in South Carolina.
Insurance companies such as State Farm, Geico and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to avoid their marketing magic and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Finding affordable coverage in Clemson is not rocket science. But South Carolina consumers need to have an understanding of how companies determine prices.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Clemson, South Carolina
Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you don’t know the most efficient way to do it. You can spend countless hours driving to insurance companies in Clemson, or you could save time and use the internet to get prices fast.
Many of the larger companies belong to a marketplace where prospective buyers send in one quote, and each company provides a quote. This saves time by eliminating form submissions for every auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).
The one downside to pricing coverage this way is buyers cannot specifically choose the providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in South Carolina. Click here to view list.
Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using identical information for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have differing limits it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Clemson. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.
Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?
Auto insurance companies such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise that you’ll save big after switching your policy. How does each company claim to save you money?
Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who don’t meet these standards will have to pay higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s why companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Do you qualify for discounts?
Companies don’t necessarily list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.
- Senior Citizens – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
- Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your information is immediately sent to participating agents in Clemson who will battle for your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.
Choosing an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
Insurance agent types
When searching for a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.
Agency Captives
These agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.
Below are captive agents in Clemson that can give you rate quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 1388 Tiger Blvd # 1 – Clemson, SC 29631 – (864) 654-2420
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Clemson who can help you get price quotes.
Don Scott Insurance – 1376 Tiger Blvd # 200 – Clemson, SC 29631 – (864) 654-8236
Upstate Insurance Inc – 1011 Tiger Blvd # 600 – Clemson, SC 29631 – (864) 654-8112
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Clemson, click here to link.
Once you have received satisfactory answers to any questions you have and an affordable coverage quote, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.
Even more information is available at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, read consumer alerts, and get help finding coverage.
Additional helpful sites include NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and this list of insurance agents in Clemson, SC.
Quote more, save more
In this article, we presented many ways to get a better price on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.