Pricey auto insurance can stress out your personal savings and force you to make tough financial choices. Many insurers vie for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates and uncover the absolute best rate
Smart consumers take time to compare rates quite often because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn the best methods to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
The best way we recommend to compare car insurance company rates is to understand most of the larger companies have advanced systems to provide you with a free rate quote. The only thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information such as if you are currently licensed, if you’re married, an estimate of your credit level, and how much education you have. Those rating factors is automatically sent to insurance companies and they return quotes very quickly.
To get price quotes for your car now, click here and enter your zip code.
Brand name doesn’t guarantee savings
North Carolina consumers can’t avoid all the ads that promise big savings for switching by State Farm and Allstate. They all advertise claims that people will save if you just switch to their company.
Is it even possible that every company can lower your car insurance rates? This is the trick they use.
Auto insurance companies give the best rates for the driver that will most likely be profitable. A good example of a desirable risk might have to be over the age of 50, has never had a policy lapse, and has a short commute. Someone who fits that profile gets the lowest prices and most likely will cut their rates if they switch.
Consumers who fall outside these criteria will probably be forced to pay a more expensive rate and this results in business not being written. If you pay attention, the ads say “customers that switch” not “all people who quote” save the amount stated. That’s why companies can make the claims of big savings. This really drives home the point why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. It is just not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest prices.
Get lower rates with these seven discounts
Some companies don’t always publicize the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the list below details a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available.
- Theft Deterent System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and earn discounts up to 10% off your .
- Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- New Car Discount – Buying auto insurance coverage on a new vehicle may earn a small discount due to better safety requirements for newer models.
- Early Renewal Discounts – Select insurance companies give a discount for signing up before your current policy expires. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- Federal Government Employee – Having worked for a branch of the government can save as much as 8% but check with your company.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Driver Safety – Successfully completing a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could save 5% or more if you qualify.
As is typical with insurance, many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, that’s just not realistic.
Companies and their offered discounts are:
- Farm Bureau discounts include 55 and retired, safe driver, renewal discount, youthful driver, good student, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
- Liberty Mutual has discounts for exclusive group savings, multi-car, new graduate, multi-policy, safety features, new vehicle discount, and newly married.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for good driver, defensive driving training, multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, accident-free, and good student.
- Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for paid in full, safe vehicle, anti-theft, group or association, multiple vehicles, safe driver, and company car.
- Geico may offer discounts for five-year accident-free, multi-vehicle, good student, defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, and multi-policy.
- SAFECO offers discounts for homeowner, bundle discounts, drive less, accident prevention training, and multi-car.
If you want , ask all the companies how many discounts you can get. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policyholders in Lumberton. For a list of insurance companies who offer online auto insurance quotes in Lumberton, click here.
Independent or captive insurance agents
Some people would rather sit down with an agent and that is a smart decision Experienced insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can find cheap auto insurance quotes and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your insurance data gets sent to local insurance agents in Lumberton who want to provide quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to do any legwork since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. If you need to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Picking an company requires you to look at more than just a low price. Any good agent should know the answers to these questions.
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Does the company have a solid financial rating?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
- How often do they review coverages?
If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, it helps to know the two types of agencies to choose from. Lumberton agents are either independent agents or captive agents depending on their employer. Both types of agents can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in the companies they write for since it can affect your agent selection.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents can only quote rates from one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which aids in selling service over price.
Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Lumberton willing to provide price quote information.
Allstate Insurance – 589 Farringdon St – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 738-2122
State Farm Insurance – 4904 Fayetteville Rd # F – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 738-4611
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be independent are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If your premiums go up, your agent can switch companies and the insured can keep the same agent. If you are comparing auto insurance prices, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Lumberton who can help you get price quote information.
Josh Whitley Insurance – 480 E 9th St – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 739-8129
Carolina Insurance Sales and Svc – 700 S Roberts Ave # 102 A – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 738-1680
Andy Bleggi Agency – 582 Farringdon St # C – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 628-7117
Protective Agency Inc – 400 N Walnut St – Lumberton, NC 28358 – (910) 739-3217
For more licensed insurance agents in Lumberton, see this full listing of auto insurance agents in Lumberton.
After receiving positive feedback to any questions you may have as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an insurance agency that is reputable and can properly insure your vehicles.
Everyone needs different auto insurance coverages
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
- Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.
The coverage is in the details
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types offered by auto insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird, damage from flooding and hail damage. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Coverage for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, pain medications, nursing services and ambulance fees. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (30/60/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers things such as rolling your car, colliding with a tree, sideswiping another vehicle and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability insurance
This protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability coverage protects against claims like medical services, repair costs for stationary objects, legal defense fees, loss of income and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. North Carolina state minimum liability requirements are 30,000/60,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Additional detailed information can be found at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. North Carolina drivers can get help finding coverage, read state legal mandates and laws, and report car insurance fraud.
Quote often and quote early
The cheapest auto insurance is available on the web and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies work with independent agencies.
When trying to cut insurance costs, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your objective should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.