How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Pendleton

No one likes having to buy auto insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

With consumers having so many online and local companies to choose from, it can be impossible to pick the right insurance company.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Pendleton can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Driving fewer miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Paperless Signup - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.
Senior Citizens - Mature drivers may qualify for reduced rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in South Carolina, click here to view.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

Comparing auto insurance rates can be a daunting task if you aren't aware of the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Pendleton, or you could save time and use the web to get the quickest rates.

Many insurance companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company returns a rated price based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is buyers cannot specifically choose which carriers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to request quotes from, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in South Carolina. Click here for list of insurance companies in South Carolina.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If you have different deductibles it will be impossible to determine the best price in Pendleton. Quoting even small variations in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Keep in mind that more quotes provides better odds of finding a lower rate.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Pendleton

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.

What are your deductibles? - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
The type of vehicle makes a difference - The type of car you are insuring makes a huge difference in your rates. The lowest rates are generally reserved for economy passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Cautious drivers pay less - Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Most insurers will award you with lower prices to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you switch to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Do the work, save more money

Cheaper auto insurance is available both online and with local Pendleton insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We covered many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .

As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

Even more information can be read at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

Additional helpful sites include this page for South Carolina auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Pendleton, SC.