Do you need a better way to compare more competitive Chevy Captiva Sport insurance in Charlotte? If you are new to getting Charlotte car insurance quotes online, most likely you are bewildered due to the large selection local agents and online companies selling insurance in Charlotte.
Everyone knows that car insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. Consumers who compare other rates will probably buy a different policy because they stand a good chance of finding a lower rate. A recent survey found that consumers who routinely shopped for cheaper coverage saved approximately $860 a year compared to policyholders who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the lowest rates on Chevy Captiva Sport insurance is your objective, then having a grasp of how to shop and compare insurance coverage can make the process more efficient.
Lower rates by qualifying for these six discounts
Some companies don’t always list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so the list below contains some of the best known in addition to some of the lesser obvious ways to save on auto insurance. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.
- Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts could cut 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Early Signing – Some insurance companies provide a discount for signing up early. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Vehicles with ABS and/or traction control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings of 20 to 30 percent.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn a discount if you purchase some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you combine your auto and home policies with one company they may give you a discount of up to 20% and get you inexpensive Chevrolet Captiva Sport insurance in Charlotte.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A few popular companies and some of the discounts can be found below.
- Progressive offers discounts for good student, online quote discount, online signing, homeowner, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
- GEICO has savings for five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, good student, anti-theft, driver training, emergency military deployment, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm offers discounts including Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, anti-theft, driver’s education, and good driver.
- Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including renters, anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, Pac-12 alumni, DriveSense, Switch & Save, and good driver.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for anti-theft, defensive driver, vehicle fuel type, bundle, driver training, and air bag.
It’s a good idea to ask every insurance company to apply every possible discount. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in your area. To choose auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in North Carolina, click here to view.
Just remember that comparing more quotes increases your odds of finding the best price. Some smaller insurers do not give Charlotte Captiva Sport insurance quotes over the internet, so you also need to get rates from those companies as well.
The providers in the list below can provide free rate quotes in North Carolina. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
When in doubt talk to an agent
Always keep in mind that when comparing your policy, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
For example, these questions could help you determine whether you will benefit from professional help.
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Is my Chevy Captiva Sport covered if I use it for business?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in North Carolina?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in North Carolina?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
- When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Local Charlotte auto insurance agents
Certain consumers still like to buy from a licensed agent. One of the best bonuses of comparing auto insurance online is that you can find cheaper rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from local insurance agents is definitely important in Charlotte.
Upon completion of this simple form, your information is transmitted to agents in your area that give free quotes for your business. You won’t need to leave your computer since rate quotes are delivered to you. You can find better rates without a big time investment. If you want to quote rates from a specific insurance company, feel free to search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
The difference between Charlotte auto insurance agents
If you want a reliable insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can either be exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents that elect to be independent are appointed with more than one company so they can write business with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If premiums increase, your policy is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rate quotes, we highly recommend that you get quotes from several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with different regional companies who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a small list of independent agents in Charlotte who may provide free auto insurance 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 - The Hoffman Agency, LLC
2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd – Charlotte, NC 28273 – (704) 280-8585 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive insurance agents can only provide one company’s prices like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They are unable to compare rates from other companies so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are trained well on what they offer which aids in selling service over price. Consumers sometimes buy from exclusive agents primarily because of the brand name and solid financial strength.
Below are Charlotte exclusive insurance agencies that can give you price quote information.
- Brian McCaw – State Farm Insurance Agent
5950 Fairview Rd #220 – Charlotte, NC 28210 – (704) 554-0144 – View Map - Sarah Highfill – State Farm Insurance Agent
7845 Colony Rd – Charlotte, NC 28226 – (704) 541-9999 – View Map - Matt “Woody” Woodford – State Farm Insurance Agent
501 S Sharon Amity Rd #200 – Charlotte, NC 28211 – (704) 971-3030 – View Map
Selecting an car insurance agent should include more criteria than just the premium amount. Any good agent in Charlotte should know the answers to these questions.
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in North Carolina?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Charlotte?
- Is coverage determined by price?
- What company do they have the most business with?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
Why you need quality insurance for your vehicle
Despite the high insurance cost for a Chevy Captiva Sport in Charlotte, paying for auto insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific level of liability protection in order to drive the car legally. 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 took out a loan on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will force you to have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If the policy lapses, the bank may buy a policy for your Chevy at an extremely high rate and make you pay the higher price.
- Insurance protects not only your Chevy but also your assets. Insurance will pay for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of having auto insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver overpays more than $865 each year so compare rate quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
Auto insurance coverage information
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your Captiva Sport resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for things such as colliding with a tree, rolling your car, scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible on your Captiva Sport in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 30/60/25 that translate to $30,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things such as attorney fees, bail bonds, medical services, legal defense fees and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but you should buy as much as you can afford. North Carolina state minimum liability requirements are 30/60/25 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The chart below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate.
Comprehensive protection – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as a broken windshield, hail damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and hitting a deer. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for things like nursing services, dental work and rehabilitation expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This coverage provides protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Captiva Sport.
Due to the fact that many North Carolina drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (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. Frequently the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Quote often and quote early
When getting Charlotte car insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where someone dropped physical damage coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Insureds change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, unfair underwriting practices, high rates after DUI convictions and even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies can be pretty painless.
Lower-priced Chevy Captiva Sport insurance in Charlotte can be purchased from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you need to quote Charlotte car insurance with both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not have rate quotes online and these small insurance companies sell through local independent agencies.
How to find better rates for Chevy Captiva Sport insurance in Charlotte
If you want to save the most money, the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from providers in Charlotte.
- Try to learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many factors that result in higher rates such as speeding and a not-so-good credit rating can be remedied by paying attention to minor details.
- Request rate estimates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide prices for many different companies.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and see if you can save money. If you can save money, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Provide written notification to your current company to cancel your current policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application to the newly selected company. Once coverage is bound, safely store the certificate verifying coverage in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
One thing to point out is to make sure you enter identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many different companies as possible. Doing this guarantees the most accurate price comparison and a complete selection of prices.
Helpful articles
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Safe Drivers in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for High School Students in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Versa in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Charlotte Car Insurance Quotes for Felons? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Charlotte Auto Insurance Quotes for 16 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Learn About Car Insurance (GEICO)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Help Your Teen Be a Better Driver (State Farm)