Save Money on Chevy Equinox Insurance in Charlotte

A recent insurance study revealed that a large majority of consumers kept buying from the same company for well over three years, and nearly the majority have never shopped around. Drivers in North Carolina could save up to 10% each year, but most undervalue the amount of savings they would get if they switched.

If you want to save money, the best way to get affordable Chevy Equinox insurance is to start doing an annual price comparison from providers in Charlotte.

Step 1: Try to comprehend how insurance companies determine prices and the measures you can take to keep rates low. Many things that result in higher rates like traffic citations, accidents, and an unacceptable credit score can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle.

Step 2: Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of companies.

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Charlotte. If you can save money and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

Step 4: Provide notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy and submit a completed policy application and payment to the new insurer. Once received, safely store the certificate verifying coverage with your registration paperwork.

One tip to remember is to try to compare similar limits and deductibles on each quote and and to compare as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures an accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.

Companies offering affordable Chevy Equinox prices in Charlotte, NC

The companies shown below provide quotes in Charlotte, NC. To locate cheap auto insurance in North Carolina, we recommend you visit as many as you can to find the cheapest auto insurance rates.

Chevy Equinox insurance rates and statistics

The coverage information below highlights a range of insurance costs for Chevy Equinox models. Having a better idea how policy rates are formulated can assist in making smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.

Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in specific Charlotte garaging location which can alter price quotes noticeably.

Policy deductible comparison

The hardest decision when buying coverage is how low should you set your deductibles. The following insurance rates may aid in understanding how much more rates are between low and high coverage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.

Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can modify rates considerably.

Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $100 deductible costs about $17 more each month or $204 annually across all Chevrolet Equinox models than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have more than 24 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you choose a higher deductible.

The diagram below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can affect Chevy Equinox insurance prices for different age groups. The rates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Accidents and violations increase rates

The diagram below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents raise Chevy Equinox premium costs for different ages of insureds. Data assumes a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

Chevrolet Equinox insurance costs by age and gender

The information below compares Chevy Equinox insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.

Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only

The example below compares Chevy Equinox annual premium costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The rate quotes are based on no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.

When to stop paying for full coverage

There is no exact formula to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let’s pretend your Chevy Equinox settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premium cost is more than $700 a year to have full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

There are some circumstances where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.

Save a ton with these ten discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize every policy discount in an easy-to-find place, so the list below details both the well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available.

• No Claims – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims are rewarded with significantly better rates on Charlotte auto insurance quote in comparison to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
• Multi-car Discount – Drivers who insure multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new is cheaper because new vehicles keep occupants safer.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Own a Home and Save – Owning a home in Charlotte may trigger a policy discount on insurance because it is proof of financial responsibility.
• Club Memberships – Having an affiliation with qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on your bill.
• Military Deployment Discount – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
• ABS Braking Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
• Accident Forgiveness Coverage – Not a discount per se, but some companies like GEICO, Allstate and Liberty Mutual will let one accident slide without raising rates if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Chevy could qualify for lower insurance rates on the low mileage vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you could get a free insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

The example below illustrates the comparison of Chevy Equinox insurance costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, and marriage discounts applied.

Some of the larger companies that have many of the previously listed discounts may include but are not limited to:

• Progressive
• MetLife
• Mercury Insurance
• Nationwide
• GEICO
• AAA

Before buying, ask each insurance company how many discounts you can get. All car insurance discounts may not be offered in your state. To see insurance companies who offer discounts in North Carolina, click here.

Independent versus exclusive auto insurance agents

Many people just prefer to buy from a local agent and that can be a smart move Professional agents will help you protect your assets and give you someone to call. A good thing about getting online price quotes is that you can find cheap auto insurance rates and still have a local agent. Supporting neighborhood insurance agencies is important particularly in Charlotte.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will gladly provide quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. If you wish to get a price quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.

If you are wanting to purchase auto insurance from a reputable agency, there are two different types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Both types can write policy coverage, but it is important to understand why they differ since it may influence the type of agent you choose.

Independent Auto Insurance Agents

Agents of this type do not work for one specific company so as a result can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and find you cheaper rates. If premiums increase, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to switch agencies.

If you are comparing rate quotes, we recommend you include price quotes from a couple of independent agencies to get the best comparison.

Featured below are independent insurance agencies in Charlotte that may be able to provide free price quotes.

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Exclusive Agents

Agents that elect to be exclusive work for only one company such as Farmers Insurance, Allstate, or State Farm. They are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are usually well trained on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.

The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Charlotte that can give you comparison quotes.

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Finding the right insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:

• Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• What discounts might you be missing?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?

Specific coverages for a Chevy Equinox

Understanding the coverages of car insurance can help you determine the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverage types available from car insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, fire damage and damage from flooding. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Equinox resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible on your Equinox to save money on collision insurance.

Insurance for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits, surgery and nursing services. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Equinox.

Since many North Carolina drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (North Carolina limits are 30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally these coverages are set the same as your liability limits.

Liability insurance

This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 30/60/25 which means a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers things like court costs, structural damage, repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy as much as you can afford. North Carolina requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.

The chart below demonstrates why buying low liability limits may not provide you with enough coverage.

How much can you save?

Budget-conscious Chevy Equinox insurance can be bought both online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide internet price quotes and most of the time these smaller providers work with independent agents.

When you buy Charlotte auto insurance online, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your objective should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, but do not skimp to save money.

Helpful information

• How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 50 in Charlotte? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Charlotte Car Insurance for Drivers with a DUI? (FAQ)
• Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Red Light Cameras (State Farm)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)