Proven Ways to Save on Ladson Auto Insurance

Paying for high-priced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparison shopping is a smart way to tighten up your finances. Having so many different company options, it can be hard to find the most affordable insurer.

It's important to compare prices quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal two years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Traffic citations inflate rates - Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teenage drivers in South Carolina are known to be less responsible when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a young driver to your auto insurance policy can break the bank. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Where you live can impact rates - Residing in a rural area has it's advantages when buying auto insurance. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - Many companies give discounts to people who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Car features impact rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Ladson, South Carolina

Reducing your insurance rates doesn't have to be difficult. Consumers just need to invest a little time comparing rates from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method keeps you from doing multiple quote forms for every auto insurance company. One form gets rate comparisons from multiple low-cost companies.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is spending the time to visit each company website and complete a new quote form. For instance, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Ladson, click here.
The least efficient way to get comparison rates is to spend your day driving to and from local Ladson insurance agencies. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the trained guidance of a local Ladson agent. You can, however, find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll touch on that later.

Whichever way you use, make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples information on every quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles it's impossible to make a fair comparison in Ladson.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every available discount very well, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Good Student Discount - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
Resident Student - Children who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in South Carolina, follow this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

South Carolina drivers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads say the same thing about savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. That is why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Insurance agents can help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Carolina?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Ladson?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you don't know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Even more information is available at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina drivers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view agent and company licensing information, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Ladson South Carolina.

A tidy conclusion

In this article, we covered many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

When buying insurance coverage, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.