Getting Cheap Chapel Hill Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you many Chapel Hill consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Compare Quotes for Chapel Hill Auto Insurance

Most major insurance companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO provide prices online. Getting online quotes is quite easy as you simply type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their system will obtain your driving and credit reports and returns pricing information based on these and other factors. Quoting online simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find the best price on auto insurance.

A less time-consuming method to lower your rates requires only one form to obtain quotes from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates repetitive work, and makes rate comparisons much more efficient. Once the form is submitted, it gets priced and you are able to buy any one of the returned quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To quickly find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you enter your coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will have comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Careers like lawyers, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from high stress levels and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as actors, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Liability coverage is cheap - The liability section of your policy provides coverage when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Do you know your deductibles? - The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Lower miles equals lower premium - The more you drive in a year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - Having a bad credit rating is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores. If your credit can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared to frequent claim filers.
Club Memberships - Affiliation with a qualifying organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
Homeowners Discount - Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Just because you may think it's possible to get free car insurance, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in North Carolina, click here.

Even more information can be found at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. North Carolina drivers can read industry bulletins, find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available on the web and also from your neighborhood Chapel Hill agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.