Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Hanahan? Here’s How to Save!

Comparing Hanahan car insurance rates online might seem complicated at first if you’ve never compared online price comparisons. But don’t let that discourage you because it’s actually quite easy.

It’s a great practice to compare prices on a regular basis since insurance rates change regularly. Even if you got the best deal two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to learn the proper way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

The purpose of this post is to teach you how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. South Carolina drivers just need to know the proper way to buy car insurance over the internet.

Discounts can save BIG

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied when you complete an application, but a few must be asked for before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
• Save over 55 – Older drivers may qualify for better car insurance rates.
• Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up prior to your current policy expiring. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared with accident-prone drivers.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of companies with discount car insurance rates in Hanahan, click here to view.

Buy Cheaper Car Insurance with These Tips

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” that factor into premiums.

• How many coverages with the same company – Most insurers will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
• An active claims history can cost you – Insurance companies in South Carolina award cheaper rates to people who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
• Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Theft prevention devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
• Lower deductibles cost more – Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
• A clean driving record saves money – Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
• High credit ratings translate to low rates – Credit score is a big factor in calculating your car insurance rates. So if your credit is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.

• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Carolina?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Buying car insurance from a local agent

Some people would rather buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. Professional agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get better rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local businesses is especially important in Hanahan.

By using this quick form, your coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will compete for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy!

If you want to contact a specific insurance agent in Hanahan, visit this site.

Choosing a company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?

Upon receiving positive responses to these questions and a good coverage price, it’s possible that you found an insurer that is a good match to provide car insurance coverage.

Don’t listen to company ads

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you change to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside these standards must pay a higher premium which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That is how companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Additional South Carolina car insurance resources

Additional information is available on the South Carolina Department of Insurance website found here. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, and get help finding coverage.

Final thoughts

Affordable car insurance can be purchased online and with local Hanahan insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Drivers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including poor customer service, denial of a claim, questionable increases in premium or unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company can be pretty painless.