Tightwads Guide for Saving on Seneca Car Insurance

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 South Carolina drivers. Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

Save big with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be asked about prior to getting the savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class if offered at their school.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Senior Citizens - Mature drivers may receive a small decrease in premiums.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Passive Restraints - Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Seneca, click here to view.

compare Seneca car insurance rates

How to Compare Car Insurance Costs in Seneca

Finding cheaper car insurance prices isn't really that difficult. You just have to take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes online from several insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.

  • The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for a different quote for each company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes .
  • A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a visit to the website of each company and request a quote. For example, let's assume you want rates from , and . You would have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in Seneca, click here.
  • The least recommended way of getting rate comparisons to insurance agents' offices. Shopping for car insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

It's up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using exactly the same coverage limits with every price quote. If you have differing limits you can't possibly find the best deal in Seneca.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Small claims can cost you - If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in South Carolina award cheaper rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Careers like lawyers, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates due to high stress levels and long work hours. Other professions such as farmers, historians and retirees get better rates.
  • Mature drivers pay less - Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive - Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates - A bad driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Even one moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. If you have dangerous violations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in South Carolina can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise about savings if you change your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted a more expensive rate and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

In the end, you save

Cheaper car insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Seneca, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

compare Seneca car insurance rates

Additional information can be found on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to download brochures, view a list of available companies, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.