Anyone knows that car insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Insureds who shop around will probably switch insurance companies because there is a significant possibility of finding lower prices. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that drivers who shopped around saved an average of $72 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If saving the most money on car insurance is the reason you’re reading this, then having a good understanding how to quote and compare auto insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
The preferred way to find lower priced Buick Rainier insurance in Charlotte is to regularly compare price quotes from insurance carriers in North Carolina.
- Spend some time learning about how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price like speeding tickets, accidents and a not-so-good credit score can be rectified by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to determine if you can save on Rainier insurance. If you find better rates and make a switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Notify your current company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to your new agent or company. Once received, place the new certificate of insurance in your glove compartment.
The most important part of shopping around is to try to compare similar coverage information on every quote request and and to get quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible. This ensures a fair price comparison and a complete rate analysis.
Car insurance rates and discounts
Companies don’t always list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous credits available to you. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you may be paying too high a price.
- Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to fasten their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Driver Education Discount – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning a home in Charlotte can save you money since home ownership demonstrates responsibility.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
To find providers that offer multiple discounts in North Carolina, click here to view.
All major insurance companies give insurance quotes from their websites. Doing online quotes for Buick Rainier insurance in Charlotte is fairly simple as you simply enter your coverage information into the form. Behind the scenes, their system sends out for your driving record and credit report and returns pricing information based on these factors. Quoting online for Buick Rainier insurance in Charlotte streamlines rate comparisons, and it’s absolutely necessary to do this in order to get the best rate on insurance.
To save time and compare pricing, take a look at the companies shown below. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you complete the form with the insurance coverages as shown on your current policy. Doing this assures you will have a price comparison using the exact same coverages.
The companies shown below are ready to provide quotes in Charlotte, NC. To buy the best cheap car insurance in NC, we suggest you visit several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.
Learn How to Quote Auto Insurance for Less
Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are obvious like your driving record, but other factors are less obvious like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is.
The itemized list below are some of the most common factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
- Bundle policies to earn discounts – Most auto insurance companies afford better rates to clients who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to shop around to guarantee you are still saving the most.
- Where you live factors in – Being located in less populated areas is a positive aspect when trying to find low car insurance rates. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. Fewer drivers on the road means reduced accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
- Prevent auto insurance policy lapses – Going without insurance can be a quick way to increase your renewal premiums. Not only will rates go up, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in fines and jail time.
- How’s your driving record? – Having a clean driving record influences premium rates substantially. Just one driving citation could increase your next policy renewal by as much as twenty percent. Attentive drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with severe citations like reckless driving or DUI may be required to complete a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Don’t skimp on liability insurance – Liability insurance kicks in when you are determined to be liable for physical damage or personal injury to other. It provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. This coverage is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
- Pay less with a high safety rating – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates. If your Buick Rainier has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it may cost less to insure.
Local neighborhood Charlotte car insurance agents
Many drivers would rather sit down with an agent and that can be a great decision Good insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that you can find cheaper rates but also keep your business local. And buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Charlotte.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is submitted to insurance agents in Charlotte who will give you bids and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go instantly to you. If you wish to get a price quote from a particular provider, just find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.
If you are wanting to find a local Charlotte insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents to choose from. Auto insurance policy providers can either be exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either one can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s important to point out the differences because it can influence your selection of an agent.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be independent are normally appointed by many insurers and that allows them to write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you can keep the same agent. If you are comparing auto insurance prices, you need to get insurance quotes from a couple of independent agencies to maximize your price options.
Shown below are Charlotte independent insurance agencies that may be able to give pricing information.
A1 Insurance
537 W Sugar Creek Rd # 104B – Charlotte, NC 28213 – (704) 598-4442 – View Map
Nationwide Insurance: Michael Bare Agency
2300 Sardis Rd N a – Charlotte, NC 28227 – (704) 248-8000 – View Map
Lawing – Elvington Insurance Agency
6132 Brookshire Blvd b – Charlotte, NC 28216 – (704) 391-8483 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive work for only one company such as Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so you might not find the best rates. Exclusive insurance agents are usually well trained in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Charlotte that are able to give rate quotes.
David Stroman – State Farm Insurance Agent
210 East Trade Street, C-340 – Charlotte, NC 28202 – (704) 332-1970 – View Map
Roger Craig – State Farm Insurance Agent
1427 Emerywood Dr – Charlotte, NC 28210 – (704) 553-2327 – View Map
Joe Pomykacz – State Farm Insurance Agent
2730 E W.T. Harris Blvd #202 – Charlotte, NC 28213 – (704) 535-3700 – View Map
Choosing the best insurance agency is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Where are claims handled?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
Three reasons auto insurance is important
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Buick in Charlotte, paying for auto insurance is mandatory in North Carolina but it also protects more than you think.
- Almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your vehicle has a lienholder, most banks will make it mandatory that you have insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the lender will be forced to insure your Buick at a more expensive rate and force you to pay for it.
- Insurance safeguards your Buick Rainier and your assets. It also can pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially if you ever need it. But the average driver in North Carolina overpays as much as $810 a year so compare quotes from several companies each time the policy renews to save money.
Persistence is the key to cheaper rates
We just covered many tips how you can reduce Buick Rainier insurance car insurance rates online in Charlotte. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding affordable Charlotte auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to find out that it was a big error on their part. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
Additional detailed information can be read at these sites:
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for a Ford Explorer in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance After a Speeding Ticket in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for College Graduates in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
- Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)