Learn How to Buy Anderson Car Insurance Like a Professional

No one in their right mind cherishes buying car insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. Insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.

You should take the time to price shop coverage yearly because insurance rates fluctuate regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn the best methods to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Companies don’t necessarily list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Safety Course Discount – Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Student in College – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

Make smart decisions and save

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors that factor into rates.

Teen drivers pay high rates – Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Young drivers tend to get distracted easily when behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
Pay less after the wedding – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your car insurance policy. Having a spouse means you’re more mature than a single person and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Protect yourself with liability coverage – Liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Multi-policy discounts can save money – Some car insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
Do men or women drive better? – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes are in accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
Performance influences rates – The performance level of the car you own makes a big difference in your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Poor credit can mean higher rates – Your credit rating is a important factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
Higher deductibles cost less – Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend before your car insurance pays a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.

Insurance agents can help

When buying coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.

When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Your insurance agent down the street

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you can get lower rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Anderson who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. Now that’s easy!

Selecting a company shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These questions are important to ask: save money concept

How are claims handled?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
Who are their largest clients?
Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
How long has their agency been in business in Anderson?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When searching for a good Anderson insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures that you can select. Anderson agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences since it may influence your agent selection.

Captive Agents

These agents can only write with one company such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

The following is a short list of captive agencies in Anderson willing to provide comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1816 E Greenville St # B – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 224-0803
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1308 Whitehall Rd – Anderson, SC 29625 – (864) 224-2548
State Farm Insurance – 2309 N Main St – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 224-2880

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part.

When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Anderson that can give you comparison quotes.

Worth Mason Insurance – 408 Pearman Dairy Rd # 14 – Anderson, SC 29625 – (864) 222-2320
Kenneth Rhodes Agency – 2712 N Main St – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 225-8865
Jordan and Mc Callum Insurance – 2315 N Main St – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 226-7399
Buffamoyer Agency – 1909 N Main St – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 224-7521
Direct General Ins Agency – 3300 N Main St – Anderson, SC 29621 – (864) 224-1401

For a full directory of Anderson insurance agents, visit this link.

After receiving positive feedback to all your questions and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide car insurance.

Ads can be misleading

Consumers can’t get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing about savings if you change your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. An example of a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

South Carolina insurance information

Additional detailed information is located at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on this online resource for free quotes in South Carolina and this page where you can research Anderson insurance agents.

Smart consumers save more

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

The cheapest car insurance can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in Anderson, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies don’t offer online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.