Tightwads Guide to Saving on Gastonia North Carolina Auto Insurance

I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially when their premiums are through the roof.

Because you have many online and local companies to choose from, it can be hard to pick the best car insurance company.

Finding the best rates in Gastonia is not that difficult. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Although North Carolina drivers must understand how the larger insurance companies compete online and apply this information to your search.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Gastonia, North Carolina

Most major insurance companies provide coverage price quotes on the web. This process doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in into a form. Upon sending the form, the company’s rating system will order your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information based on these factors. This helps simplify price comparisons, but the work required to visit multiple sites and complete many quote forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find the lowest price.

A more efficient way to lower your auto insurance bill uses one form to return rates from more than one company. It saves time, eliminates form submissions, and makes online price comparison a little more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, it is quoted and you are able to buy any of the quote results. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. It only takes a few minutes and may result in a nice savings.

In order to compare rates now, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you enter the insurance coverages as shown on your current policy. This makes sure you will get an apples-to-apples comparison for the exact same coverage.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Car insurance companies don’t always list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the best known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

• New Car Discount – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
• Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to bad drivers.
• Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Gastonia, click this link.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

The list below includes some of the items that factor into prices.

• Teen drivers pay high rates – Older drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be less responsible behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
• Your car’s features help determine rates – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
• Rural vs Urban Areas – Being located in a rural area has it’s advantages when it comes to auto insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Drivers who live in large North Carolina cities have to deal with congested traffic and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
• More claims means more premium – Companies in North Carolina award discounts to policyholders who do not file claims often. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
• More miles equals more premium – The more you drive each year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit. If your credit history is low, you could save money insuring your by repairing your credit.
• Protect your assets with liability insurance – The liability section of your policy provides coverage when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Online quotes with a local Gastonia insurance agent

Certain consumers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this short form, your information is sent to local insurance agents in Gastonia who will compete to get your business. There is no need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! Get lower rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Selecting a company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• How are they compensated?

Shown below are agents in Gastonia that are able to give price quotes.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 1337 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 867-5433
Erie Insurance Group – 1674 Lowell Bethesda Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056 – (704) 824-2053
Allstate Insurance – 1006 Union Rd # B, Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 867-7201
Nationwide Beam Insurance – 3330 Robinwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 867-2121
State Farm Insurance – 3204 Union Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056 – (704) 866-8102
Randy Walker Agency – 2519 E Ozark Ave, Gastonia, NC 28054 – (704) 864-0270

After getting answers to your satisfaction and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an insurance company that can provide auto insurance coverage.

More detailed North Carolina auto insurance information is located at the North Carolina Department of Insurance website. North Carolina consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and view a list of available companies.

Drivers who switch save $478 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you move your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who do not match the requirements will be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Affordable insurance is out there

You just learned many tips how you can shop for auto insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even discover the most savings is with the smaller companies. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.

Discount auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Gastonia insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.