Tightwads Tips for Saving on Society Hill Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Doing a price comparison is a great way to cut your insurance bill.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have a selection, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates yearly since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best rates a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to save money.

This article will teach you the most effective way to quote insurance. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. But South Carolina vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to determine prices.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be asked about in order for you to get them.

Anti-lock Brakes - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Senior Discount - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
Multi-policy Discount - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Government Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in South Carolina, click here.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Society Hill, SC

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but there is one way that is less time-consuming than others. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with agents in Society Hill, or you could use online quotes to quickly compare rates.

Many insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and every company can give them a price determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is that you can't choose which carriers you want to price. If you wish to select specific providers for rate comparison, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in South Carolina. View list of South Carolina insurance companies.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you use identical deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If your comparisons have different values for each quote you can't possibly decipher which rate is best in Society Hill. Slightly different insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that getting more free quotes helps locate better pricing.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit rating is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit ratings. Therefore, if your credit can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Please use or commuting - The more you drive in a year's time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping auto theft.
Sex matters - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men cause accidents at a similar rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Having a spouse can save you money - Getting married actually saves money on auto insurance. Marriage means you're more mature than a single person and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
What are the financial responsibility laws in South Carolina?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like Allstate and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. All the ads have a common claim that you'll save big if you move to their company. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will be charged more money and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers must compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Final considerations

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Society Hill agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Much more information about auto insurance in South Carolina can be read on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance found here. South Carolina drivers can find out industry alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, and learn about insurance regulations.