Searching for affordable Dalton car insurance over the internet can seem to be problematic for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. With so many choices of insurers available, how can consumers possibly compare every company to locate the lowest rates?
Locating cheaper car insurance in Dalton is quite easy. Just about every driver who carries car insurance will most likely be able to reduce their rates. But Georgia consumers need to have an understanding of how the larger insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.
Save money by taking advantage of these eight discounts
Car insurance is not cheap, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be manually applied before being credited.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
- Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
- Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
- One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Accident Free – Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to bad drivers.
- New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.
You may need specialized coverage
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions may help highlight whether you will benefit from professional help.
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Georgia?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Dalton?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Quote online but still have a local agent
Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you may find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. And supporting small agencies is especially important in Dalton.
Once you complete this quick form, your insurance data is sent to insurance agents in Dalton who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates and a licensed agent to work with.
Do you need an independent or captive insurance agent?
When searching for a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Agents are either captive or independent.
Independent Agents
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
Below are Dalton independent insurance agencies that are able to give pricing information.
- Alfa Insurance Corp – 207 W King St # A – Dalton, GA 30720 – (706) 272-0620
- Dan Cavender Agency – 855 Abutment Rd # 4 – Dalton, GA 30721 – (706) 259-7050
- Hill Pope Agency – 2685 Cleveland Hwy # 3 – Dalton, GA 30721 – (706) 278-2063
- Birchett Insurance – 1315 Cleveland Hwy – Dalton, GA 30721 – (706) 259-3371
- Starr-Matthews Agency – 101 E Crawford St # 401 – Dalton, GA 30720 – (706) 278-0707
Agency Captives
Captive agents are contracted to one company such as American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to purchase coverage from captives partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in Dalton that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 1509 Chattanooga Rd – Dalton, GA 30720 – (706) 278-9380
- State Farm Insurance – 1716 Cleveland Hwy # 100 – Dalton, GA 30721 – (706) 259-7466
- Allstate Insurance – 1209 W Walnut Ave # 9 – Dalton, GA 30720 – (706) 226-8500
For a full directory of car insurance agents in Dalton, visit this link.
Selecting an insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- How long has their agency been in business in Dalton?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
Once you have answers to your satisfaction to these questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles. But remember, you can always cancel coverage whenever you wish so don’t assume that you are obligated to a policy for the full term.
Do car insurance companies bend the truth?
State Farm, Allstate and Geico constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you switch your coverage to them. How does each company make almost identical claims?
Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will be quoted more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings.
This emphasizes why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Additional consumer information websites
Additional information can be found on the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Click here for link. Georgia drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.
Also read more on this site for rates in Georgia and this page on QuoteClickInsure.com.
The coverage is in the details
Learning about specific coverages of car insurance helps when choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Liability auto insurance – Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against things like repair costs for stationary objects, emergency aid and legal defense fees. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Georgia requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but you should consider buying more coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills for rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since many Georgia drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive protection – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like hail damage, hitting a deer, damage from flooding, rock chips in glass and a broken windshield. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as backing into a parked car, rolling your car and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.
Do the work, save more money
Consumers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions, policy cancellation or even poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider can be pretty painless.
We just covered a lot of tips how to lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the most savings is with the least-expected company.
While you’re price shopping online, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.