Tightwads Guide for Saving on Raleigh, NC Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the number of auto insurance options in Raleigh? Lot’s of other consumers are too. Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into a challenge to find the lowest price.

Buying the cheapest car insurance in Raleigh is not rocket science. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these tips. But North Carolina car owners benefit from understanding the way insurance companies market on the web and apply this information to your search.

Make smart decisions and save

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are some of the items that factor into rates.

• Lower rates with optional equipment – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.
• Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance of the vehicle you drive makes a significant difference in your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles generally receive the lowest base rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
• High deductibles save money – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
• Where you live is a factor – Being located in a small town can be a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large North Carolina cities have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
• Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as doctors, architects and accountants have higher rates than average because of stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations such as pilots, athletes and performers get better rates.
• Drive a safer car and pay less – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Raleigh, NC?

There are a variety of methods to compare auto insurance prices but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You could waste time discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Raleigh, or you can utilize online quotes to get pricing more quickly.

All the larger companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and each company provides a quote based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To find out what other companies charge click to open in new window.

The one downside to doing it this way is buyers cannot specifically choose the companies you want pricing from. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in North Carolina. View list of North Carolina insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples information on every quote. If you are comparing different deductibles it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Raleigh. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. It’s important to know that comparing more company’s prices helps you find lower pricing.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

• Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application online.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Raleigh may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
• Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
• Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
• Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions could help you determine if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Am I covered when driving a rental car?
• Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Who is covered by my policy?
• Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Additional detailed information is available at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, find disaster information, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this list of insurance agents in Raleigh, NC.

A tidy conclusion

We just showed you a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies.

The cheapest auto insurance is definitely available online in addition to many Raleigh insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like delays in responding to claim requests, questionable increases in premium, high prices or even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies is not as difficult as it may seem.