We don’t have to point out that fact that car insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Consumers who perform rate comparisons are very likely to buy a different policy because there is a good chance of finding discount prices. A survey found that people who compared prices once a year saved an average of $3,450 over four years compared to policyholders who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding the best price on auto insurance in Charlotte is the reason you’re reading this, then learning a little about how to shop and compare cheaper coverage can help make the process easier.
The most effective way to find discount Suzuki SX4 insurance in Charlotte is to regularly compare quotes from companies that sell auto insurance in North Carolina. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.
- First, take a little time to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many rating factors that cause high rates like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and an imperfect credit score can be amended by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Read the full article for additional tips to get cheaper coverage and find additional discounts.
- Second, get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide prices for many different companies.
- Third, compare the quotes to your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money and buy the policy, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and a thorough price selection.
It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies will enable you to find the best price. Some companies don’t provide price estimates online, so you also need to get quotes on coverage from those companies, too.
The providers in the list below offer quotes in Charlotte, NC. To get the cheapest auto insurance in NC, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them to get the most affordable price.
Why you need insurance for your vehicle
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Suzuki in Charlotte, paying for auto insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific level of liability protection 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 you have a loan on your SX4, most lenders will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the lender may insure your Suzuki for a much higher rate and require you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Auto insurance preserves not only your car but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for all forms of medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your Suzuki gets damaged, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a recent study, the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $825 a year so shop around every year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Insurance coverage analysis
The coverage information displayed below covers a range of insurance rates for Suzuki SX4 models. Learning more about how insurance quotes are established can assist in making informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $182 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $908 | $76 |
SX4 2WD | $208 | $312 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $866 | $72 |
SX4 Sport S | $208 | $446 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $1,000 | $83 |
SX4 Sport SE | $208 | $446 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $1,000 | $83 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $208 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $934 | $78 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $208 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $934 | $78 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $208 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $934 | $78 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $208 | $446 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $1,000 | $83 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $234 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $960 | $80 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $234 | $380 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $960 | $80 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in specific location information which can alter price quotes substantially.
How high should deductibles be?
One frequently asked question is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The following insurance rates may help you to understand the premium difference between high and low policy deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $168 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $855 | $71 |
SX4 2WD | $192 | $266 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $821 | $68 |
SX4 Sport S | $192 | $382 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $937 | $78 |
SX4 Sport SE | $192 | $382 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $937 | $78 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $192 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $879 | $73 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $192 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $879 | $73 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $192 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $879 | $73 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $192 | $382 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $937 | $78 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $218 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $905 | $75 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $218 | $324 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $905 | $75 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX4 LE | $104 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $646 | $54 |
SX4 2WD | $118 | $168 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $624 | $52 |
SX4 Sport S | $118 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $696 | $58 |
SX4 Sport SE | $118 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $696 | $58 |
SX4 Technology 2WD | $118 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $660 | $55 |
SX4 Sportback 2WD | $118 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $660 | $55 |
SX4 AWD AWD | $118 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $660 | $55 |
SX4 Sport GTS | $118 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $696 | $58 |
SX4 Technology AWD | $134 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $676 | $56 |
SX4 Touring AWD | $134 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $676 | $56 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in your specific Charlotte location which can decrease or increase coverage rates significantly.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $18 more each month or $216 a year than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at least 42 months between claims, you would save money going with the higher deductible.
The chart below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Suzuki SX4 annual premium costs for different insured age categories. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Auto insurance rates based on gender
The illustration below shows the comparison of Suzuki SX4 insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data assumes no claims or violations, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Do you qualify for discounts on Suzuki SX4 insurance in Charlotte?
Some companies don’t always publicize the complete list of policy discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both the well known as well as some of the hidden savings tricks you should be using when you buy Charlotte auto insurance online. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.
- Drivers Education – Teen drivers should participate in a local driver’s education class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Discount for Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Payment Method – By paying your entire bill at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
- Military Deployment Discount – Having an actively deployed family member could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Drive Safe and Save – Accident-free drivers could pay up to 40% less as compared to drivers with claims.
- Multiple Vehicles – Insuring primary and secondary vehicles on the same car insurance policy can get a discount for every vehicle.
- Government Employee Discount – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your car insurance provider.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
The chart below illustrates the difference between Suzuki SX4 insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the premium. The data assumes a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of companies who offer discounts in North Carolina, click here.
Local insurance agents
A small number of people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a smart decision The best thing about comparing auto insurance online is the fact that drivers can get better rates and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from neighborhood insurance agencies is especially important in Charlotte.
Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to companies in Charlotte that can give you free Charlotte auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to search for an agent due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you have a need to get a price quote from a specific company, you would need to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
Compare rates from both independent and exclusive car insurance agents
If you are wanting to find a good Charlotte insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents from which to choose. Auto insurance agents in Charlotte are categorized either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies often have affiliation with several companies so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and find the cheapest auto insurance rates. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a few independent agents to get the best comparison.
The following is a small list of independent insurance agencies in Charlotte that may be able to give you free auto insurance quotes.
Honeycutt Insurance Agency
3121 Springbank Ln F – Charlotte, NC 28226 – (704) 752-8233 – View Map
Nationwide Insurance: Ed Cantey Insurance Agency Inc
5534 Albemarle Rd Ste 105 – Charlotte, NC 28212 – (704) 563-7777 – View Map
O H Walker Insurance Agency Inc
2210 Crownpoint Executive Dr – Charlotte, NC 28227 – (704) 814-4343 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only place business with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. They are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
The following are exclusive insurance agencies in Charlotte who can help you get comparison quotes.
State Farm: Rob Heath
6215 Brookshire Blvd – Charlotte, NC 28216 – (704) 392-4166 – View Map
Sarah Highfill – State Farm Insurance Agent
7845 Colony Rd – Charlotte, NC 28226 – (704) 541-9999 – View Map
David Stroman – State Farm Insurance Agent
210 East Trade Street, C-340 – Charlotte, NC 28202 – (704) 332-1970 – View Map
Choosing the best insurance agency requires you to look at more than just a cheap quote. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Will the agent or a CSR service your policy?
- Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
After you get good answers to all your questions and the cheapest Suzuki SX4 insurance in Charlotte quotes, most likely you have located an insurance agency that meets the requirements to properly service your auto insurance policy. But keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel coverage at any point so never feel that you are permanently stuck with a specific agent for the entire policy term.
Specific coverage details
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
Liability car insurance
This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see values of 30/60/25 that translate to a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible. North Carolina state minimum liability requirements are 30/60/25 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below shows why minimum state limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Insurance for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses like prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses, surgery and rehabilitation expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Collision insurance
This pays for damage to your SX4 from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your SX4 to bring the cost down.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Suzuki SX4.
Due to the fact that many North Carolina drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Normally the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as theft, vandalism and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Quote more and you will save more
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. Too many times, an insured cut physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.
Affordable Suzuki SX4 insurance in Charlotte can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Charlotte agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies work with local independent agencies.
More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at these sites:
- How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)