Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Plymouth Car Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can dwindle your savings account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you are insured now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and still get good coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Plymouth is quite easy. North Carolina drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to find the lowest price online.

Plymouth Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, accidental death and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem good at first, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • More miles equals more premium - The more you drive in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your car insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies in North Carolina award cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • How's your driving record? - Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with severe tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.

car insurance in Plymouth

Compare Car Insurance Today

There are multiple methods to compare car insurance quotes, and some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in Plymouth, or you can utilize online quoting to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and every company provides a quote for coverage. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only downside to using this type of form is you cannot specify which providers to get pricing from. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare rates, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in North Carolina. View list of North Carolina insurance companies.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If you use different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to decipher which rate is best in Plymouth.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • New Car Discount - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education in high school.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
  • Good Student Discount - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
  • Student in College - Kids in college who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
  • Paperless Signup - A few companies will give a small break simply for signing digitally online.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose insurers with the best car insurance discounts in Plymouth, click here to view.

The car insurance bait and switch

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you move to their company.

How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer could be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the requirements must pay more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This illustrates why you need to get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Plymouth?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you're not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and find disaster information.

North Carolina car insurance quotes

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective car insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Plymouth agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.