5 Must-Know Techniques When Comparing Myrtle Beach South Carolina Car Insurance

Consumers who are new to the process of comparing insurance rates online can find purchasing cheap Myrtle Beach car insurance quite difficult.

How to Compare Myrtle Beach Car Insurance Costs

There are multiple methods to compare car insurance quotes, but some are easier and takes less work. You could waste a few hours driving to insurance agencies in Myrtle Beach, or you could save time and use the internet to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most car insurance companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and every company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions for each company.

To participate in this free quote system, click to open in new window.

The single downside to comparing rates this way is that consumers can’t choose which insurance companies to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to compare prices, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in South Carolina. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure you use the exact same coverages and limits on every quote you get. If each company quotes different values for each quote it’s impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Myrtle Beach. Slightly different coverage limits could mean much higher rates. And when quoting car insurance, remember that having more price comparisons helps you find better pricing.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but a few must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

• Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Myrtle Beach may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
• Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
• Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
• New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will cut your premiums.

What determines how much you pay?

It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining car insurance rates. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

• Drive a safer car and pay less – Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
• Liability insurance protects assets – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever you are found liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a lot of add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
• Never go without insurance – Driving with no insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage can result in a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
• Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance companies in South Carolina award better rates to drivers who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Pay less after the wedding – Getting married actually saves money when buying car insurance. It translates into being more responsible and it’s statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
• Battle of the sexes – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents at a similar rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
• Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in a small town can save you money when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers in populated South Carolina areas have to deal with traffic congestion and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.

Are insurance agents obsolete?

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain better rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local agencies is especially important in Myrtle Beach.

By using this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your business. You never need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! Get lower rates AND a local agent.

Different types of auto insurance agents in Myrtle Beach

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agents are either independent or captive.

Independent Agents

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. Many write coverage with different regional companies which may provide better rates.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Myrtle Beach who can help you get price quote information.

• Prudential Insurance Co – 7400 N Kings Hwy # 202 – Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 – (843) 449-8504
• Sun Insurance Assoc – 574 Wildflower Trl – Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 – (843) 347-1800

Captive Agents

This type of agents write business for a single company such as American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captives are well schooled on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

The following is a list of captive insurance agents in Myrtle Beach that are able to give comparison quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – 1341 44th Ave N – Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 448-2420
• Allstate Insurance – 605 18th Ave N – Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 626-3111
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 534 Broadway St # A – Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 – (843) 444-0851

To view a full list of captive agents in Myrtle Beach, go to this page.

Choosing an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in South Carolina?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?

After getting answers to your satisfaction in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your car insurance policy.

Will just any policy work for me?

When buying coverage, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions might help in determining whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.

• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
• When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.

More information is available on the South Carolina Department of Insurance website through this link. South Carolina drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read consumer alerts.

Affordable insurance is out there

We just covered many tips how you can compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a small mutual company.

Insureds who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver, delays in paying claims or even denial of a claim. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is less work than it seems.

Discount car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and with local Myrtle Beach insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.