Tightwads Tips for Saving on Isle Of Palms Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, you're not the only one.

You have multiple to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have a choice, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons every six months because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal last year you may be paying too much now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

How to Compare Auto Insurance in Isle Of Palms, South Carolina

Most major insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate provide pricing directly from their websites. This process is pretty easy as you simply enter the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the system will obtain your driving record and credit report and returns a price based on these and other factors. This makes comparing rates easy, but having to visit multiple sites and complete many quote forms is repetitive and time-consuming. 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 uses one form that analyzes rates from many companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes quoting online a little more enjoyable. After sending your information, it gets priced and you can select any one of the returned quotes.

If you find a better price it's easy to complete the application and buy the new coverage. The whole process takes just a few minutes to complete and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you duplicate as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will receive a rate comparison based on similar coverages.

South Carolina auto insurance

Why some people pay less for insurance in Isle Of Palms

It's important that you understand the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even one moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more money you're willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Where you live can impact rates - Choosing to live in a small town has it's advantages when talking about auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
  • Do men or women drive better? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Men and women are in accidents at about the same rate, but men have costlier accidents. Men also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and thus pay the highest rates.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts - Many insurers give discounts to insureds who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before they will apply.

  • Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies allow you one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Drivers Education - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
  • Driver Safety - Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in South Carolina, click here to view.

Additional information is available on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, view agent and company licensing information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Isle Of Palms South Carolina.

Affordable insurance is out there

We covered many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .

Cheaper auto insurance can be purchased both online and with local Isle Of Palms insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.