9 Tips to Save on Auto Insurance in Spartanburg

Are you sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other South Carolina consumers. Online insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance all promote huge savings with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

You should take the time to compare rates on a regular basis since rates tend to go up over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates two years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the things you must know in order to save on auto insurance.

If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can use these techniques to shop for the lowest rates and still get good coverage. Buying car insurance in Spartanburg is not that difficult. South Carolina drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to shop their coverage around over the internet.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Spartanburg?

There are a lot of ways you can shop for auto insurance but some are easier and takes less work. You could waste a few hours talking to insurance agencies in Spartanburg, or you could use the internet to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to complete one form, and each participating company returns a rated price determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating form submissions for every auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you cannot specify which companies you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in South Carolina. Click here for list of insurance companies in South Carolina.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use the exact same coverage information for each comparison quote. If each company quotes different liability limits it’s impossible to determine the best price in Spartanburg.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Companies don’t always list every discount very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
Own a Home – Owning a home in Spartanburg may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Distant Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

Car Insurance through a local agent

A small number of people would rather talk to a local agent. Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to insurance agents in Spartanburg who will give you bids for your business. There is no need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. Now that’s easy!

Picking an insurer requires more thought than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
What insurance company do they write the most business with?
Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?

The type of car insurance agent you choose is important

When looking for a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn how they are different since it can impact the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents can only write with one company such as State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are well schooled on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Shown below are Spartanburg captive agencies that are able to give price quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1524 John B White Sr Blvd – Spartanburg, SC 29301 – (864) 576-6367
State Farm Insurance – 841 E Main St # B – Spartanburg, SC 29302 – (864) 597-1200
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 775 Spartan Blvd # 200 – Spartanburg, SC 29301 – (864) 574-8010
Farm Bureau Insurance – 1412 John B White Sr Blvd – Spartanburg, SC 29306 – (864) 587-1717

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, we recommend you get quotes from at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from.

Listed below are Spartanburg independent insurance agencies who can help you get rate quotes.

Horace Mann Insurance Co – 2992 Reidville Rd – Spartanburg, SC 29301 – (864) 595-4810
Don Lester Agency – 1400 Boiling Springs Rd # 1 – Spartanburg, SC 29303 – (864) 578-3352
Don Mahaffey Agency – 1518 John B White Sr Blvd – Spartanburg, SC 29301 – (864) 574-9760
Mark Pace Insurance Svc – 1855 E Main St # 554 – Spartanburg, SC 29307 – (864) 597-1220
Mitchell Agency – 2400 Winchester Pl # 100 – Spartanburg, SC 29301 – (864) 587-7883

To view a complete directory of Spartanburg insurance agents, click here to link.

Once you have answers to your satisfaction as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

Even more information can be read at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. South Carolina drivers can learn about specific coverages, discover disciplinary actions, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about a company.

Information about specific coverages

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are the normal coverages available from auto insurance companies.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (South Carolina limits are 25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Collision coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers claims such as driving through your garage door, crashing into a building and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Auto liability insurance

Liability insurance protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000.

Liability coverage pays for claims like legal defense fees, loss of income, emergency aid, attorney fees and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible. South Carolina state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses for things like EMT expenses, chiropractic care and pain medications. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird, hitting a deer and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

More quotes mean more savings

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from the least-expected company. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available both online in addition to many Spartanburg insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. The aim is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.