Timmonsville Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Cutting costs on Timmonsville auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. Drivers have so many options that it can easily become a lot of work to find lower rates in Timmonsville.

It's important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best rates last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Timmonsville

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes some of the items companies use to determine rates.

  • The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates attributed to high stress and long work hours. Other occupations like farmers, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
  • Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in South Carolina generally give cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more expense you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Your credit rating is important - Credit rating is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Just one ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Liability insurance protects assets - The liability section of your policy will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

South Carolina auto insurance quotes

Cheap Timmonsville Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with insurance companies in Timmonsville, or you can utilize the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and at least one company then returns a price quote based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests for each company you want a rate for.

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

The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which providers you want to price. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in South Carolina. View list of South Carolina insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, ensure you're using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you have different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the lowest rate in Timmonsville.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance companies don't necessarily list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
  • Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same company could earn a price break for each car.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Timmonsville, click here.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

South Carolina consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move to them.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't meet the requirements will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you need to compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Additional detailed information can be read at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, and download brochures.

In the end, you save

As you prepare to switch companies, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like delays in paying claims, high rates after DUI convictions, extreme rates for teen drivers or even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn't matter what your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

Lower-priced auto insurance is possible online and with local Timmonsville insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.