Find the Secrets to Cheaper Wilson, NC Car Insurance

Are you tired of being strong-armed to buy car insurance? You are no different than many other North Carolina consumers.

Popular companies such as GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all claim big savings with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s a good habit to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. If you had the best rates a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance online, so with this article, you’re going to get some great ideas on how to find cheap car insurance.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Finding the best rates in Wilson is easy if you know what you’re doing. Although North Carolina drivers must know how the larger insurance companies determine prices and apply this information to your search.

Comparison of Car Insurance in Wilson

The are a couple different ways to get quotes from car insurance companies in your area. One of the best ways to find the lowest rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This easy form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry to each individual car insurance company. Completing one form will return quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices.

A more time consuming way to compare rate quotes is going to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For examples sake, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from Farmers, Allstate and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Wilson, click here.

The least recommended method to compare rates is driving around to different Wilson agent offices. Shopping for car insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to obtain prices from the web but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits for every company. If each company quotes differing limits then you won’t be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Wilson. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company’s prices provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
How your age affects price – More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Young drivers tend to get distracted easily when driving therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
Poor driving leads to higher costs – Only having one citation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers with severe tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Some insurers will award you with lower prices to insureds who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. If you currently are using one company, you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in your rates. Low performance passenger vehicles receive the most favorable rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few need to be asked about before being credited.

Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Resident Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Accident Forgiveness – Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

What are North Carolina no-fault laws?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

Certain consumers just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local agencies is especially important in Wilson.

After completing this simple form, your insurance data is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Wilson who will compete to get your business. There is no need to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy! You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Insurance agents in Wilson come in two varieties

When finding a local agent, there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agents are either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part.

When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.

Listed below are independent agents in Wilson who may be able to give you comparison quotes.

Hallmart Agency – 3621 Airport Blvd NW – Wilson, NC 27896 – (252) 243-1063
Grady Agency – 107 Raleigh Rd W – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 243-2275
Nationwide Insurance – 2403 Wooten Blvd SW – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 291-7231
John Hackney Agency Inc – 608 Nash St W – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 291-3111
Thomas W Barnes Insurance – 1702 Anderson St NW – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 290-7101

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

Listed below are captive insurance agents in Wilson willing to provide price quote information.

State Farm Insurance – 2512 Ward Blvd – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 237-9018
Allstate Insurance Co – 2702 Forest Hills Rd SW – Wilson, NC 27893 – (252) 237-2377

To view a full list of Wilson captive agents, simply jump to this page.

Selecting a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?

After receiving reasonable responses to your questions and a low price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agent that will adequately provide car insurance.

One last thing

We’ve covered many tips how you can shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Discount car insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Wilson, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

For more North Carolina car insurance information

Additional information can be read on the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, read industry bulletins, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.