Do you want to learn to get low-cost auto insurance rates in Charlotte, NC? Charlotte buyers have many options when searching for the lowest priced Ford C-Max Energi insurance. They can either spend hours calling around trying to get quotes or utilize the internet to compare rates.
There is a right way and a wrong way to shop for auto insurance so we’re going to tell you the proper way to price shop coverage on a Ford and obtain the lowest price.
It’s a fact that insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who shop around for a cheaper policy will presumably buy a different policy because there is a good chance of finding a lower-priced company. A recent study showed that people who regularly compared price quotes saved on average $865 a year compared to other drivers who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding the lowest price for auto insurance is your objective, learning how to choose a company and compare cheaper coverage can save time and make the process easier.
Many insurance companies give coverage prices online. Obtaining pricing for Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Charlotte is quite easy as all you need to do is type in the coverage amounts you desire on the page. After you submit the form the quote system automatically retrieves information on your driving record and credit history and generates a price based on the data you entered.
Quoting online for Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Charlotte makes it a lot easier to compare rates and it is important to have as many quotes as possible in order to find lower-cost auto insurance pricing.
To quickly compare pricing, compare rates now from the companies shown below. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you input the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you will get a price comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.
The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Charlotte, NC. If you want to find the cheapest car insurance in Charlotte, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Why you need C-Max Energi insurance in North Carolina
Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford C-Max Energi in Charlotte, maintaining insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy a specific level of liability protection in order to drive the car. 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 vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will require that you have full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Ford at an extremely high rate and require you to pay for it.
- Insurance protects both your assets and your Ford. Insurance will pay for all forms of medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your Ford as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of buying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. Unknowingly, the average driver is overpaying more than $865 each year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at every renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Eight factors that influence insurance rates
It’s important that you understand some of the factors that go into determining your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find lower rates.
- High comp and collision deductibles lower rates – Physical damage insurance, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, covers your vehicle from damage. Some coverage claims could be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and damage caused by flying debris. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles are how much you are required to spend if a claim is determined to be covered. The larger the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less money you will pay for insurance.
- Safety ratings are a factor – Safe vehicles get lower rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries means less claims paid and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Ford C-Max Energi is rated at a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it may cost less to insure.
- Your address can affect price – Choosing to live in areas with lower population has definite advantages when trying to find low car insurance rates. Drivers in populated areas tend to have more road rage incidents and much longer commute distances. Less people means reduced accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.
- Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven each year the higher the price you pay to insure it. Almost all companies charge rates determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage receive lower rates than those that get driven frequently. It’s always a good idea to double check that your vehicle rating is rated on the right rating data. Improper usage on your C-Max Energi may be wasting your money.
- How much liability coverage – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in if you are ruled to be at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. This coverage provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is relatively inexpensive compared to other policy coverages, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
- Continuous insurance coverage lowers prices – Having a gap between insurance policy dates can be a sure-fire way to increase your renewal premiums. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage might get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
- Lower stress equals lower rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as doctors, air traffic controllers, and miners generally pay higher premium rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like actors, students and retirees get better rates.
- Drivers with excellent credit save on insurance – Credit score is a big factor in determining premium rates. Insureds with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit score leaves room for improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your Ford C-Max Energi by taking the time to improve your credit score.
A little work can save a LOT of money
As you shop your coverage around, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Consumers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, policy cancellation, policy non-renewal or even poor customer service. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.
Cheaper car insurance in Charlotte is available both online as well as from independent agents in Charlotte, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not have price quotes online and these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.
Steps to finding low-cost Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Charlotte
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find cheaper prices for car insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from insurance carriers in Charlotte. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.
- Try to understand how car insurance works and the factors you can control to keep rates low. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases like speeding tickets, careless driving and a low credit score can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Compare rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple companies.
- Compare the quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Charlotte. If you can save money and buy the policy, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing similar limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees a fair rate comparison and a thorough price selection.
Other resources
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Who Has the Cheapest Charlotte Auto Insurance for a Toyota Highlander? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Escape in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Versa in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21 in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Charlotte Car Insurance Quotes for Felons? (FAQ)
- Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)