Easy Methods to Spend Less on Raleigh North Carolina Car Insurance

Finding lower premiums on Raleigh car insurance is hard for beginners to shopping for insurance online. There are so many companies to choose from that it can be a real hassle to find lower rates in Raleigh.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Raleigh, NC

Lowering your car insurance rates is not rocket science. The only requirement is to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing price quotes online from several insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is an all-inclusive rate comparison click here to open form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating separate quotes for every car insurance company. A single, simple form will get you rate comparisons . This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.

A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online is to manually visit the website for every company you want to comare and request a quote. For examples sake, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from Allstate, Esurance and American Family. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Raleigh, click here.

The most time-consuming method to compare rates is to waste gas driving to local Raleigh insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you are comparing the exact same deductibles and coverage limits with each company. If you use different values for each quote it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Raleigh.

The car insurance bait and switch

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk could be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile must pay higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how insurance companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why it is so important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be asked for before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
• Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
• Accident Forgiveness – A few companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
• Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
• New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Driver’s Ed – Have your child take driver’s ed class in high school.

It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

Buying car insurance from a local agent

Some people just want to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is important particularly in Raleigh.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your insurance data is emailed to local insurance agents in Raleigh who will compete for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!

Pick the best insurance agency in Raleigh for you

When researching a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two types of agencies to choose from. Agencies in Raleigh are categorized either independent or captive. Both write coverage properly, but it’s important to know how they are different since it may influence the type of agent you choose

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When shopping rates, you should always contact at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. They often place coverage with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

The following are independent agents in Raleigh willing to provide rate quotes.

• Farm Bureau Insurance – 2809 Spring Forest Rd # 101 – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 850-2077
• Erie Insurance Group – 6701 Christabelle Cir – Raleigh, NC 27603 – (919) 771-0659
• John Moore Agency – 4237 Louisburg Rd # 104 – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 872-0130
• Protective Agency Inc – 3640 Capital Blvd – Raleigh, NC 27604 – (919) 876-2611
• Shane West Agency – 4208 Six Forks Rd # 134 – Raleigh, NC 27609 – (919) 783-8888

Agency Captives

These agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are very knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Below are Raleigh captive agents that are able to give price quote information.

• Farmers Insurance Group – 5925 Big Nance Dr – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 713-0340
• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 8816 Six Forks Rd # 105 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 676-1037
• Allstate Insurance – 4424 Louisburg Rd – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 876-0511
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 5211 Western Blvd – Raleigh, NC 27606 – (919) 851-4320
• State Farm Insurance – 6320 Capital Blvd # 134 – Raleigh, NC 27616 – (919) 790-3886

To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in Raleigh, simply jump to this page.

Deciding on an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in North Carolina?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• How long has their agency been open in Raleigh?

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your car insurance policy.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different.

For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• When would I need additional glass coverage?
• Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in North Carolina?
• Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Additional information is located on the North Carolina Department of Insurance website through this link. North Carolina consumers can read industry bulletins, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find out which companies have the most complaints, and learn about insurance regulations.

The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in Raleigh

• Guide to Finding an Insurance Agent in Raleigh

And the best car insurance company is…

Insureds switch companies for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions and even lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

Budget-conscious car insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to many Raleigh insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.