The easiest way to find affordable car insurance rates in Charlotte is to start doing an annual price comparison from companies that sell auto insurance in North Carolina. Drivers can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Take a little time to learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices like speeding tickets, accidents and bad credit can be eliminated by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Keep reading for instructions to lower rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Step 2: Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing rates to see if a cheaper price is available in Charlotte. If you can save some money and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
A good tip to remember is to try to compare the same level of coverage on every price quote and and to look at as many companies as possible. This enables a fair price comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
Astonishing but true, most insurance buyers in North Carolina kept their policy with the same company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of drivers have never compared rate quotes at all. Consumers in America can save as much as 47% each year, but most just don’t grasp how much money they would save if they replace their high priced policy.
Quoting the cheapest auto insurance policy in Charlotte is not as hard as you may think. If you have coverage now or just want cheaper coverage, you can use these tips to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to shop for auto insurance from multiple carriers.
How to find the cheapest Kia Sorento insurance in Charlotte
Finding a lower price on insurance is a great way to save money. Drivers just need to spend a little time comparing free Charlotte auto insurance quotes online from several insurance companies.
It’s so easy to compare rate quotes online that it takes the place of having to drive to local insurance agencies. Comparing online rate quotes has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the guidance of a local agent. Some companies do allow you to get the lowest quotes online but have a local agent actually write the policy.
The providers in the list below provide quotes in North Carolina. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you get rate quotes from several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
It may be expensive, but it’s not optional
Even though it can be expensive, paying for car insurance is mandatory in North Carolina but it also protects more than you think.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability if you drive a vehicle. 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 loan, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Kia for a much higher rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards both your car and your assets. It also can pay for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of buying car insurance outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. The average driver in North Carolina is currently overpaying as much as $700 annually so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every policy renewal to ensure rates are competitive.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When it comes to a policy, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your car insurance should be unique as well.
These are some specific questions may help highlight if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- How do I insure my teen driver?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- Should I get collision insurance on every vehicle?
- Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- What is GAP insurance?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Car insurance coverage information
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.
Coverage for liability
Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 30/60/25 that means you have a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims such as emergency aid, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical services. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford. North Carolina requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 but you should consider buying more coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be adequate coverage.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Kia Sorento.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (North Carolina limits are 30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Sorento resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things like crashing into a ditch, colliding with a tree, hitting a parking meter, sideswiping another vehicle and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Sorento in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Coverage for medical expenses
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for hospital visits, doctor visits, X-ray expenses, dental work and ambulance fees. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, falling objects, damage from flooding and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Lower rates by being persistent
In this article, we presented a lot of ways to lower your Kia Sorento insurance prices in Charlotte. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Cheap Kia Sorento insurance in Charlotte is attainable from both online companies and from local agencies, so you need to shop Charlotte auto insurance with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer rates over the internet and these smaller companies only sell through independent agencies.
Additional resources
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Good Students in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Business Use in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Homeowners in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for 18 Year Olds in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)