No one in their right mind looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a provider to discover the definitive lowest cost out there.
It’s important to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis since rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Even if you got the lowest price six months ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate how to quote online to get good coverage at a lower rate.
If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to find the best rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in Durham is not that difficult. North Carolina drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to shop over the internet.
Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Durham, North Carolina
All the larger auto insurance companies provide prices for coverage online. Getting online rates is fairly straightforward as you just type in the coverage amounts you desire as requested by the quote form. Once entered, the company’s rating system pulls your driving record and credit report and gives you a price quote determined by many factors. Quoting online streamlines rate comparisons, but having to visit a lot of sites and fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step in order to get better auto insurance pricing.
The quickest way to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that gets price quotes from several companies at one time. It saves time, reduces the work, and makes comparison shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. As soon as you send your information, it is rated and you are able to buy your choice of the resulting price quotes.
If you find a better price it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The entire process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.
In order to find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended that you enter the coverages exactly as they are listed on your policy. This makes sure you will get an apples-to-apples comparison using the exact same coverages.
Switch companies and save? Really?
North Carolina drivers constantly see and hear ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and Geico. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you switch your coverage to them.
How do they all say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.
All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured could be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.
Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile must pay more money which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.
This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Do you qualify for a discount?
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Low Mileage – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.
To see a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in North Carolina, click this link.
Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent
Some consumers just want to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local businesses is especially important in Durham.
After completing this short form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Durham who will give you bids for your business. There is no need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!
Is a captive or independent car insurance agent right for you?
When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Durham agents are either independent or captive. Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they differ because it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, we recommend you contact several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.
The following is a short list of independent insurance agents in Durham that are able to give competitive price quotes.
Frank Ascott Agency – 3690 Guess Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 471-0876
Direct General Ins Agency – 1605 Maple Ave – Durham, NC 27701 – (919) 226-5887
Ellis Insurance – 1903 Guess Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 286-5402
Independent Agency Svc – 4020 Stirrup Creek Dr – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 361-4760
Hix Insurance Ctr – 2000 Avondale Dr # O – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 220-3031
Agency Captives
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company such as Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captives are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Durham that can give you comparison quotes.
Farm Bureau Insurance – 4516 N Roxboro St – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 477-9861
Allstate Insurance – 3727 Lake Forest Hwy – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 596-0977
State Farm Insurance – 3823 Guess Rd # J – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 477-7300
To view a complete directory of Durham captive agencies, please go to this site.
Choosing a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
Upon getting good answers to all your questions and a good coverage price, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets your needs to service your policy.
Different people need different coverages
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
- Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
More information can be read on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance located here. North Carolina drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
Other useful links include this page for North Carolina auto insurance and this list of agents in Durham, NC.
In the end, you save
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Durham agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.