Things You Must Know Before Shopping for Myrtle Beach South Carolina Car Insurance Online

Finding lower rates for Myrtle Beach car insurance can seem to be nearly impossible for beginners to buying insurance online. There are so many options that it can easily become a big hassle to compare prices in Myrtle Beach.

You need to shop coverage around periodically because insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the best rates on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to find out how to use the internet to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Myrtle Beach Car Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways to compare car insurance quotes, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You could waste a few hours driving to insurance agencies in Myrtle Beach, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Most of the best insurance companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and every company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual car insurance company. To access this free quoting program, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to using this type of system is that consumers can’t choose the providers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in South Carolina. View list of South Carolina insurance companies.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you’re using the exact same information on every quote you get. If each company quotes differing limits it’s impossible to make a fair comparison in Myrtle Beach. Having just a slight variation in limits can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.

Multi-car Discount – Having more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
Club Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Discount for Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

For a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Myrtle Beach, follow this link.

Can’t I compare rates from local Myrtle Beach agents?

A small number of people would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your business. There is no need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates AND a local agent.

Selecting a company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in South Carolina?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Will your rates increase after a single accident?
How are claims handled?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?

The following are agents in Myrtle Beach that may be able to provide comparison quotes.

Tilghman Insurance – 5501 Woodside Ave # A, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 497-9523
State Farm Insurance – 1341 44th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 448-2420
Allstate Insurance – 4883 Highway 17 Byp S, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 293-4444
Farm Bureau Insurance – 534 Broadway St # A, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 444-0851
Jefferson-Pilot Insurance – 4603 Oleander Dr # 2, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 449-0152

To view a full list of insurance agents in Myrtle Beach, visit this link.

Upon receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a company that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

When should I talk to an agent?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you may require specific advice.

Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Myrtle Beach?
At what point should I drop full coverage?
Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
Should I buy only the required South Carolina minimum liability coverage?
Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Protect your assets with liability insurance – The liability section of your policy is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Do you know you’re credit rating? – A driver’s credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit ratings. Therefore, if your credit is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating.
Rates may be lower depending on your job – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like lawyers, social workers and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates due to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and performers pay the least.
Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for car insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
More than one policy can earn a discount – Some insurers will give a discount to policyholders who carry more than one policy 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 in your best interest to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Your age impacts your rates – Teen drivers in South Carolina have a tendency to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.

Do drivers who switch really save $396 a year?

Car insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings after switching to them. How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who don’t meet this ideal profile will be quoted higher premiums and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why you need to compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Online plus local equals savings

Affordable car insurance is attainable from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Myrtle Beach agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can reduce car insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the best prices are with the smaller companies.

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.