Amazingly, a large majority of consumers have purchased from the same company for at least four years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never compared rates from other carriers. The average driver in America could save 46.5% every year, but most tend to underestimate the amount of savings they would get if they just switched companies.
The easiest way to get budget Chevy Blazer insurance in Durham is to compare quotes once a year from insurers who can sell car insurance in North Carolina. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.
First, spend a few minutes and learn about the different coverages in a policy and the steps you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that result in higher rates such as your driving record and an unacceptable credit history can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives tips to find cheap prices and find more discounts that you may not know about.
Second, compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
Third, compare the quotes to your existing rates to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save some money, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, notify your current company of your intent to cancel the current policy and submit payment and a completed application to your new insurance company. Once the application is submitted, store the certificate verifying proof of insurance with your registration paperwork.
One important bit of advice is to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote request and and to get rate quotes from all possible companies. Doing this guarantees the most accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
The purpose of this article is to help you learn how car insurance works and how to save the most money. If you currently have insurance, you will surely be able to cut your premiums using these methods. Smart shoppers just have to understand the quickest way to compare company rates from many different companies.
Best Chevy Blazer insurance prices in North Carolina
The auto insurance companies shown below have been selected to offer price comparisons in North Carolina. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Durham, we suggest you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Do you qualify for these eight discounts?
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that you may not even know about. Certain credits will be shown when you quote, but some need to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Having worked for a branch of the government can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your auto and home policies and insure them both with the same insurance company you may earn as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Good Driver Discount – Drivers without accidents may save up to 50% more compared to accident prone drivers.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Insurance companies who offer life insurance give a lower price if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Telematics Data – Insureds who allow companies to analyze where and when they drive by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive may get a rate reduction as long as they are good drivers.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Maintaining low annual mileage can earn cheaper prices.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed in the military could mean lower auto insurance rates.
Discounts lower rates, but some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
Some of the larger companies that have most of the discounts above include:
When getting free Durham car insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to all companies you are considering to apply every possible discount. Savings may not apply to policies everywhere. For a list of insurance companies with discount rates in North Carolina, click here.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When it comes to choosing a policy for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
- How much will a speeding ticket raise my rates?
- Am I covered if I hit a deer?
- How much liability coverage do I need in North Carolina?
- Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
What if I want to buy from local Durham auto insurance agents?
Some consumers still like to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a smart move Professional insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and will help you if you have claims. A good thing about price shopping on the web is that you can find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And buying from local agencies is important especially in Durham.
Once you complete this simple form, your information is immediately sent to companies in Durham who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to leave your house because prices are sent to you instantly. If you need to compare prices for a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
Finding the right insurance company requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. A good agent in Durham will have answers to these questions.
- Can you contact them at any time?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- What kind of financial rating does the company have?
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Do you qualify for any additional discounts?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Durham?
Upon receiving positive responses for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an provider that can provide auto insurance coverage.
Auto insurance coverage information
Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as fire damage, a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane and falling objects. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for medical expenses
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses such as surgery, funeral costs and pain medications. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Chevy Blazer.
Since many North Carolina drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 30/60/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage covers damage to your Blazer resulting from a collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things such as backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Blazer in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Coverage for liability
This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
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 commonly see limits of 30/60/25 that translate to a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $60,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers things such as medical services, structural damage, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. North Carolina requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why low liability limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Quote often and quote early
Cheaper auto insurance in Durham is available online and also from your neighborhood Durham agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not have online rate quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agents.
We’ve covered some good ideas how you can find cheaper Chevy Blazer insurance in Durham. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest rates are with a smaller regional carrier. They can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
Additional information is available at the links below
- Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Durham Auto Insurance for Drivers with Accidents? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Durham Auto Insurance Rates for High Risk Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Government Employees in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21 in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Real Estate Agents in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Durham Auto Insurance Quotes for College Students? (FAQ)
- Five Steps to Filing an Auto Insurance Claim (Insurance Information Institute)
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)
- What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)