Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Clinton Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can empty your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to cut your insurance bill.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Own a Home - Owning a home in Clinton can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck.

auto insurance in Clinton

Clinton Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

  • Add-on coverages can add up - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and term life insurance may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
  • High deductibles save money - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as doctors, business owners and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates due to high stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Auto insurance companies in South Carolina award lower rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - The majority of insurers will award you with lower prices to customers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you move to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer could possibly be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. A driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards must pay a higher premium and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Additional detailed information is available at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina consumers can discover disciplinary actions, report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, and learn about insurance regulations.

Do the work, save more money

Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Clinton agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.