If you want to save money, the best way to get more affordable car insurance rates in Charlotte is to regularly compare quotes from insurers who sell auto insurance in North Carolina. Drivers can shop around by following these steps.
Step 1: Read about how auto insurance works and the things you can change to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices such as inattentive driving and poor credit can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Read the full article for the details to prevent high prices and find overlooked discounts.
Step 2: Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Charlotte. If you can save money and decide to switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
The key aspect of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to analyze every company you can. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and the best rate selection.
It’s an obvious conclusion that car insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Consumers who get price quotes annually will, in all likelihood, move their business because there is a high probability of finding better rates. A recent survey discovered that people who shopped around saved on average $865 a year compared to other drivers who never compared rates.
If finding the best rates on car insurance is why you’re reading this, then learning a little about the best ways to shop for cheaper coverage can save time, money, and frustration.
Buying the cheapest insurance in Charlotte seems hard but is not really that difficult. If you have coverage now, you will surely be able to lower your rates using this information. But North Carolina vehicle owners do need to learn how big insurance companies calculate your policy premium because it can help you find the best coverage.
Cheapest companies for Ford Freestar insurance
The providers in the list below have been selected to offer price quotes in Charlotte, NC. If multiple companies are listed, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.
Affordable Ford Freestar insurance quotes in Charlotte
Some providers do not advertise all possible discounts very clearly, so below is a list a few of the more common and the harder-to-find credits available to you.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower rates.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more on Freestar insurance in Charlotte.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying in monthly installments you may reduce your total bill.
- Homeowners Savings – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings since owning and maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Low Miles Discount – Low mileage vehicles can earn substantially lower rates.
- Paperless Signup – Some of the larger companies will give you a small discount for signing up on the web.
- Driver Education Discount – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in high school.
- Safety Course Discount – Participating in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
- Distant College Student Discount – Kids who are attending college and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
As a footnote on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. But all discounts should help lower the cost of your policy.
Insurance companies who might offer some of the discounts shown above include:
If you need lower rates, check with every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Discounts may not be available in your area.
Will just any policy work for me?
When selecting the right insurance coverage, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Your financial needs are unique so your insurance needs to address that.
These are some specific questions may help you determine if you may require specific advice.
- Should I buy full coverage?
- Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
- Should I rate my Ford Freestar as pleasure use or commute?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in North Carolina?
- Will my Ford Freestar be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- What exactly is covered by my policy?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- How can I get the company to pay a claim?
- How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
- Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
You may need advice from an insurance agency
Some people still prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a smart decision An additional benefit of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates and still choose a local agent.
Upon completion of this short form, your insurance data is transmitted to participating agents in Charlotte who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to even leave your home because prices are sent immediately to you. You can find lower rates and a licensed agent to talk to. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from a specific insurance company, you would need to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
Choosing the best provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price quote. Any good agent in Charlotte should know the answers to these questions.
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Does the company have a solid financial rating?
- Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
Choose the right auto insurance agent
When searching for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you should know the types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Agencies in Charlotte can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive insurance agents can only write with one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only use the same exclusive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agents in Charlotte who can help you get price quotes.
- Alex Williamson – State Farm Insurance Agent
4108 Park Rd #106 – Charlotte, NC 28209 – (704) 525-9995 – View Map - Kyle Fadeley – State Farm Insurance Agent
13551 Steelecroft Pkwy #120 – Charlotte, NC 28278 – (704) 588-5585 – View Map - GEICO Insurance Agent
4651 South Blvd Suite B – Charlotte, NC 28209 – (704) 523-2886 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agencies
Independent agencies are not locked into one company and that enables them to quote your coverage through many companies and potentially find a lower price. If they find a cheaper price, they simply switch companies in-house and the insured can keep the same agent.
If you are comparing insurance prices, it’s recommended you get some free quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection. Many write coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.
Below are Charlotte independent insurance agencies who can help you get comparison quotes.
- O H Walker Insurance Agency Inc
2210 Crownpoint Executive Dr – Charlotte, NC 28227 – (704) 814-4343 – View Map - Honeycutt Insurance Agency
3121 Springbank Ln F – Charlotte, NC 28226 – (704) 752-8233 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Timothy G Hausmann Agency
2313 Randolph Rd – Charlotte, NC 28207 – (704) 332-0011 – View Map
If you get good responses to any questions you have as well as offering an affordable quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found an insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.
Educate yourself about insurance coverages
Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like rock chips in glass, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability coverages
This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 30/60/25 that translate to $30,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability insurance covers claims like bail bonds, court costs, pain and suffering, attorney fees and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. North Carolina requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/25 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
The chart below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Ford Freestar.
Since many North Carolina drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (North Carolina limits are 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Insurance for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses such as ambulance fees, surgery, pain medications, prosthetic devices and nursing services. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for collisions
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Freestar resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims such as backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Freestar to save money on collision insurance.
More comparisons equals affordable rates
More affordable insurance in Charlotte is available on the web 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 companies may not have rates over the internet and usually these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent agencies.
When you buy Charlotte auto insurance online, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone sacrificed full coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
In this article, we covered quite a bit of information on how to shop for Ford Freestar insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding the cheapest Ford Freestar rate quotes. You may even find the lowest premium rates come from an unexpected company. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
Additional information
- If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Lyft Drivers in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for 19 Year Olds in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Dodge Grand Caravan in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)