Charleston Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Purchasing the lowest cost Charleston auto insurance on the web can be challenging for people who are new to comparing rates online. With dozens of companies in the marketplace, how can you even start to compare them all to find the best available price?

Where Can I Get Cheap Charleston Auto Insurance?

There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is more efficient than others. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with agents in Charleston, or you could save time and use online quoting to get prices fast.

All the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and at least one company returns a rated price. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The single downside to getting quotes like this is you can't choose which companies you want pricing from. If you wish to select individual companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of auto insurance companies in West Virginia. Click to view list.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use identical quote information for each comparison quote. If you compare mixed coverages it's impossible to determine the lowest rate in Charleston.

Tips to Get Lower Charleston Rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The following are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate premiums.

Higher deductibles cost less - Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Proper usage rating affects rates - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies apply a rate based on their usage. Autos that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Discounts for married couples - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse translates into being more mature and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability coverage is the protection if a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. 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 drivers should carry high limits.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Only having one citation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates so long as you haven't had any claims for a certain period of time.
Club Memberships - Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn't work that way.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in West Virginia, click this link.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's situation is a little different.

For example, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
What are the financial responsibility laws in West Virginia?
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?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Should I buy only the required West Virginia minimum liability coverage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form. It's fast, free and can help protect your family.

Additional detailed information is located at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. West Virginia consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and get help finding coverage.

Other useful links include this page for West Virginia auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Charleston, WV.

In the end, you save

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Charleston, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don't offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just read some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.