It’s hard to believe, but almost 70% of drivers have remained with the same auto insurance company for more than four years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never quoted auto insurance rates at all. North Carolina drivers could save an average of $100 each year just by shopping around, but they don’t understand how simple it is to shop around.
The best way we recommend to save money on auto insurance rates is to compare quotes annually from different companies who sell insurance in Charlotte.
- Learn about how companies set rates and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that cause rate increases like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a poor credit rating can be rectified by paying attention to minor details.
- Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Charlotte. If you can save some money and make a switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A crucial key to this process is that you use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get prices from as many carriers as you can. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and many rates to choose from.
Auto insurance providers offering affordable rate quotes in North Carolina
The providers in the list below provide quotes in Charlotte, NC. If you wish to find the cheapest car insurance in Charlotte, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Analysis of Toyota Yaris rates
The price information below showcases estimates of policy rates for Toyota Yaris models. Being more informed about how auto insurance prices are figured can be of help when making decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $130 | $270 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $760 | $63 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $130 | $270 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $718 | $60 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $130 | $270 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $718 | $60 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $148 | $270 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $778 | $65 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $148 | $270 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $736 | $61 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $148 | $270 | $234 | $14 | $70 | $736 | $61 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in your specific Charlotte location which can raise or lower coverage rates greatly.
An analysis of deductible level
One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparison tables below determine the price difference when you select higher and lower physical damage deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second pricing table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $168 | $324 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $899 | $75 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $168 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $855 | $71 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $168 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $855 | $71 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $192 | $324 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $923 | $77 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $192 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $879 | $73 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $192 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $879 | $73 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaris 2-Dr Hatchback | $104 | $204 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $690 | $58 |
Yaris 4-Dr Hatchback | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Yaris 4-Dr Sedan | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
Yaris S 2-Dr Hatchback | $118 | $204 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $704 | $59 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Hatchback | $118 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $660 | $55 |
Yaris S 4-Dr Sedan | $118 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $660 | $55 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can change coverage prices considerably.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible costs roughly $17 more each month or $204 annually averaged for all Yaris models than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 44 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible.
How to determine if higher deductibles are a good idea
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $73 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $56 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $17 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $17 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 44 months |
One thing to be aware of is that increasing deductibles to save money means you pay more out-of-pocket when you have a physical damage claim. It will be required that you have some money saved in the event you have to pay the deductible to have repairs made.
Bad driving habits will cost you more
The illustration below illustrates how violations and accidents can influence Toyota Yaris car insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Car insurance rates by gender and age in Charlotte
The information below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Yaris auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data is based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.
Do you need full coverage?
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Yaris premium costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The prices are based on no claims, a clean driving record, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
When to drop full coverage
There is no specific rule to drop full coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Toyota Yaris settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $2,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing you more than $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not remove full coverage.
Charlotte car insurance discounts
Car insurance is expensive, but there may be some discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but some must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you could be getting lower rates.
- Student Discounts – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Participating in a course that instructs on driving safety may get you a small discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
- Sign Early and Save – Select insurance companies give a discount for switching companies before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new model year vehicles are generally safer.
- Low Mileage – Driving less may enable drivers to earn substantially lower car insurance rates.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a professional or civic organization is a simple method to lower premiums on your policy.
You should keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.
The information below illustrates the difference between Toyota Yaris auto insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.
A list of car insurance companies and the discounts they provide are outlined below.
- GEICO may offer discounts for membership and employees, daytime running lights, anti-theft, seat belt use, defensive driver, and air bags.
- MetLife policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driver, accident-free, good student, multi-policy, and good driver.
- State Farm has savings for passive restraint, good driver, student away at school, multiple autos, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- Progressive may have discounts that include good student, multi-policy, online signing, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
- Mercury Insurance includes discounts for location of vehicle, good student, annual mileage, accident-free, and multi-car.
- 21st Century has discounts for driver training, teen driver, 55 and older, theft prevention, and early bird.
- Allstate offers premium reductions for premier discount, eSmart discount, 55 and retired, teenSMART discount, good student, farm vehicle, and auto/life discount.
If you are trying to find affordable Charlotte car insurance quotes, ask every prospective company the best way to save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be available to policyholders everywhere. To find companies that offer the discounts shown above in North Carolina, follow this link.
Toyota Yaris Insurance Prices Can Be Lower
A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. When you understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find better car insurance rates. Many different elements are considered when pricing auto insurance. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but some are more transparent such as your marital status or your commute time.
- Drivers with responsible credit save on car insurance – Credit rating can be an important factor in determining your rates. So if your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your Toyota Yaris if you improve your credit rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
- High comp and collision deductibles equal low rates – Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your Toyota. Some coverage claims could be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and burglary. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles represent how much money you are required to pay if a covered claim is submitted. The more you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
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Insurance is expensive for youthful drivers – Beginning drivers in North Carolina have a tendency to be inattentive and easily distracted when behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Older, more experienced drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and usually have better credit.
The data below uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Your address can affect price – Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas is a good thing when talking about car insurance. Drivers in populated areas tend to have more aggressive driving styles and more severe claims. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
- Better premiums for being claim-free – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you shouldn’t be surprised to get higher rates. Insurance companies in North Carolina generally give the lowest premiums to drivers who do not file claims often. Your car insurance is intended for larger claims.
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Toyota Yaris claim statistics – Companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle in order to profitably underwrite each model. Models that are shown to have higher number or severity of losses will have a higher premium rate. The table below outlines the collected loss data for Toyota Yaris vehicles.
For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, without regard to make or model, is considered to be 100. Values that are below 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while values over 100 point to more losses or larger claims.
Toyota Yaris Insurance Claim Statistics Specific Toyota Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Toyota Yaris 94 88 92 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
When quoting and comparing coverage online or from an agent, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Your financial needs are unique.
For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
- Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Insurance agent or online?
A small number of people would rather talk to a local agent and that is not a bad decision Good insurance agents can help you build your policy and will help you if you have claims. A good thing about comparing rate quotes online is that you can find lower car insurance rates and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to find an agent as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific insurance provider, just search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Deciding on an insurer needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent in Charlotte should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Charlotte?
Two different types of auto insurance agents
When looking for a reliable insurance agent, you should know the different agency structures and how they can write your policy. Insurance agents in Charlotte are categorized either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Both can write insurance policies, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence buying decisions.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive insurance agents can usually just insure with one company and some examples include Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. They usually cannot compare rates from other companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are trained well on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Drivers often buy from the same agent for years partially due to the brand instead of buying on price only.
Shown below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Charlotte who can help you get price quotes.
- Gene Haynes – State Farm Insurance Agent
8316 Medical Plaza Dr a – Charlotte, NC 28262 – (704) 549-1515 – View Map - State Farm: Happy Mullen
2201 South Blvd #420 – Charlotte, NC 28203 – (704) 362-0800 – View Map - Kyle Fadeley – State Farm Insurance Agent
13551 Steelecroft Pkwy #120 – Charlotte, NC 28278 – (704) 588-5585 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
These agents can quote rates with many companies and that gives them the ability to insure with lots of companies and find you the best rates. If your premiums go up, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to do anything. When comparison shopping, you will definitely want to get rate quotes from independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison. Many independent agencies also insure through companies you’ve never heard of which can save you money.
Below are independent insurance agents in Charlotte that can give you rate quotes.
- Mark McDuffie Insurance Agency
6101 Carnegie Blvd #415 – Charlotte, NC 28209 – (704) 364-9227 – View Map - Southeast Insurance Agency
212 S Tryon St #1605 – Charlotte, NC 28281 – (704) 885-8006 – View Map - Pegram Insurance Agency
9010 Glenwater Dr #103 – Charlotte, NC 28262 – (704) 494-9495 – View Map
Cheap car insurance rates are possible
Low-cost Toyota Yaris insurance in Charlotte can be purchased on the web and from local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your objective should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost and still be able to protect your assets.
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider can be less work than you think.
Additional detailed information is available by following these links:
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Used Cars in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Good Drivers in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21 in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Retired Military in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)