Top 6 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance in Blythewood

Shopping for the lowest cost Blythewood car insurance on the web is intimidating for consumers new to online price comaprisons. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can you possibly compare the different rates to find the lowest price available?

It's important to get comparison quotes yearly since rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest rates six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the tricks you need to know to save on car insurance.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies don't always publicize all their discounts very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.

Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.
Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Safety Course Discount - Taking a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
College Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Everyone's situation is unique.

These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
What are South Carolina no-fault laws?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you change your policy. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher rates which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Even more information can be found at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and discover disciplinary actions.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheap car insurance is attainable from both online companies in addition to many Blythewood insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.

Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests and even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, switching car insurance companies is less work than it seems.