Compare Hilton Head Isle Auto Insurance Prices With These Methods

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of auto insurance options in Hilton Head Isle? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find better rates.

It's important to price shop coverage at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance is not cheap, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you will receive the discount. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Defensive Driver - Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
  • Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Hilton Head Isle, click here to view.

Hilton Head Isle auto insurance quote

How to Compare Hilton Head Isle Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways to compare auto insurance prices and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance companies in Hilton Head Isle, or you could use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Many insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and each participating company can give them a price based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to doing it this way is you can't choose which carriers you want to price. So if you want to select specific providers to compare prices, we have assembled a list of companies who write auto insurance in South Carolina. Click here for list of insurance companies in South Carolina.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If each company quotes different liability limits then you won't be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Hilton Head Isle.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into your rates.

  • More than one policy can earn a discount - Most insurers give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are many extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single moving violation may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Battle of the sexes - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage. Men also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
  • Your job and insurance rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like lawyers, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average due to high stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and homemakers pay the least.
  • Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

South Carolina consumers can't get away from ads that promise big savings from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save if you switch your policy.

How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't meet the "perfect" profile will be charged higher premiums and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the savings.

That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

In the end, you save

When you buy insurance online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be found online in addition to many Hilton Head Isle insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

People switch companies for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests or unfair underwriting practices. It doesn't matter what your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

auto insurance in Hilton Head Isle

More information can be found on the South Carolina Department of Insurance website found here. South Carolina consumers can read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and find disaster information.