Learn How to Shop For Chapel Hill Auto Insurance Like a Pro

Shopping for affordable Chapel Hill auto insurance on the internet is problematic for beginners to buying insurance on the web. When there are so many insurance companies available, how can anyone even start to compare the different rates to find the lowest price available?

It’s a good idea to get comparison quotes at least once a year due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. Even if you got the lowest rates two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but we’re going to give you some guaranteed methods to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Chapel Hill is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these tips. North Carolina consumers just need to know the best way to compare company rates online.

Discounts are basically free money

Auto insurance companies don’t always list every available discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive reduced rates.
Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings up to 30%.
Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.

Low Cost Chapel Hill Auto Insurance

There are a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices and some are more efficient than others. You could waste a few hours discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Chapel Hill, or you could save time and use the web to get the quickest rates.

Many popular insurance companies belong to a marketplace where prospective buyers submit their information once, and every company provides a quote based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for every auto insurance company.

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The single downside to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose the companies you want to price. So if you want to select from a list of companies to compare prices, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in North Carolina. Click here to view list.

Whichever way you use, ensure you are comparing the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be impossible to find the best deal in Chapel Hill.

Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate rates.

Discounts for multiple policies – Many insurers give discounts to policyholders who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. If you currently are using one company, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your car from being stolen.
Do you have enough liability coverage? – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in less populated areas can save you money when it comes to auto insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Drivers in populated North Carolina areas have to deal with traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means higher likelihood of an accident.
Little extras can really add up – There are a lot of extra coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
Marriage pays dividends – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. Marriage translates into being more mature and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
How credit affects auto insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with poor credit. If your credit history is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit.

Which insurance is the “right” coverage?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
How high should my medical payments coverage be?
Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Chapel Hill?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

More effort can pay off

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to get a better price on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Cheaper auto insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Chapel Hill, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, being labeled a high risk driver, policy cancellation and even high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

For more North Carolina auto insurance information

More detailed North Carolina auto insurance information can be found at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. North Carolina consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, view a list of available companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.