How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in North Augusta

Are you sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in South Carolina.

Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with catchy ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in North Augusta is quite easy. Nevertheless, South Carolina drivers do need to know the way companies sell insurance online.

Fast and Easy North Augusta Auto Insurance Quotes

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes and find the best price. The recommended way to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for separate quotes to each individual auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will return quotes instantly.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is to take the time to go to the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let's say you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in North Augusta, click here.

Whichever way you use, double check that you are using exactly the same coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If the quotes have different deductibles you can't possibly determine the best price in North Augusta. Just a small difference in coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. It's important to know that getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

compare North Augusta auto insurance rates

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

  • More claims means more premium - Companies in South Carolina provide cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Having a bad credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
  • Your car's features help determine rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • Little extras can really add up - There are many extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Please use or commuting - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - A bad driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even one ticket can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. If you have serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

  • Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
  • Passive Restraints - Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Defensive Driver - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in North Augusta, follow this link.

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance found here. South Carolina consumers can download brochures, find disaster information, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.

compare North Augusta auto insurance rates

Do the work, save more money

In this article, we presented many ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .

Cost effective auto insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood North Augusta agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.