Compare Chevy HHR Insurance Quotes in Durham

Everyone knows that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Drivers who shop around for the cheapest rate are inclined to switch auto insurance companies because of the good chance of finding discount prices. A survey found that people who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved $70 a month compared to policyholders who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.

If finding the cheapest price for Chevy HHR insurance is why you’re reading this, then learning a little about how to compare cheaper coverage can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.

The recommended way to get affordable Chevy HHR insurance is to do an annual price comparison from insurers who provide car insurance in Durham.

• First, try to learn a little about what is in your policy and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that cause high rates such as accidents, careless driving, and a low credit score can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Continue reading for tips to prevent rate hikes and find missing discounts.
• Second, compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple companies. Begin your rate comparison
• Third, compare the new quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find better rates, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
• Fourth, notify your company or agent to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a signed application and payment for the new policy. As soon as you have the new policy, store the certificate verifying coverage along with the vehicle’s registration papers.

An essential thing to point out is to use identical coverage information on each quote request and and to look at every insurance company. This provides an accurate price comparison and a thorough selection of prices.

Verify you’re receiving every discount

Some companies don’t always publicize every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the best known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to bring down your rates.

• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories are rewarded with significantly better rates on Durham car insurance quote when compared with accident-prone drivers.
• Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the personal injury premium cost.
• Save over 55 – Seniors may receive a small discount on rates.
• Durham Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Durham can get you a discount because maintaining a house means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
• Driver Training Discounts – Taking a course teaching safe driver skills could save 5% or more depending on where you live.

Don’t be shocked that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.

The example below shows the difference between Chevy HHR yearly insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The data assumes a female driver, no violations or accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, homeowner, and claim-free discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are included below.

• Progressive offers premium reductions for online quote discount, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, good student, homeowner, online signing, and continuous coverage.
• GEICO offers discounts including daytime running lights, multi-policy, membership and employees, good student, seat belt use, anti-theft, and military active duty.
• State Farm has savings for driver’s education, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, and passive restraint.
• Esurance includes discounts for anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, online shopper, multi-policy, and renters.
• The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including driver training, anti-theft, bundle, vehicle fuel type, good student, and air bag.

Check with every prospective company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not apply to policyholders in your area. For a list of companies who offer free Chevy HHR insurance quotes in Durham, click here.

Most of the larger companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO make it easy to get prices for coverage from their websites. Doing online quotes for Chevy HHR insurance in Durham is quite easy as all you need to do is type in the coverages you want on the page. When the form is submitted, their system requests your driving and credit reports and returns pricing information based on these factors. This helps simplify price comparisons, and it is imperative to perform this step in order to find the most affordable possible premiums on car insurance.

To compare rates now, check out the car insurance providers below. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input the coverages identical to your current policy. This guarantees you will have rate quotes based on similar coverages.

The companies shown below are ready to provide price quotes in Durham, NC. To get the cheapest auto insurance in Durham, we suggest you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Rates and data analysis

The premium information shown next covers a range of insurance premium costs for Chevy HHR models. Understanding how policy rates are calculated can assist in making informed purchases.

Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Durham which can decrease or increase insurance rates greatly.

Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?

One common question asked by Durham drivers is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The data tables below highlight the price difference of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific location which can affect premium rates noticeably.

We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible costs approximately $19 more each month or $228 every year across all Chevrolet HHR models than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have more than 21 months between claims, you would save more money if you choose the higher deductible. Here’s a better example of how you can do this calculation yourself.

One important note is that raising deductibles results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. That will force you to have some extra savings in the event you need to pay the deductible.

Rate increases following a ticket or accident

The diagram below highlights how traffic violations and accident claims can increase Chevy HHR premium costs for different ages of insureds. The rates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

Age, gender, and Chevrolet HHR insurance

The illustration below shows the comparison of Chevy HHR car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no violations or accidents, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.

Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies

The information below illustrates the difference between Chevy HHR car insurance costs with and without full coverage. The premiums are based on no violations or claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.

When to drop comp and collision

There isn’t a steadfast formula to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s say your Chevy HHR replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $5,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $500 annually for full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not opt for liability only.

Durham Insurance Prices are Influenced by These Factors

Multiple criteria are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, but other factors are less apparent such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.

What are good liability protection limits? – The liability coverage on your policy is the coverage that protects you when a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. This coverage provides for a legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability is cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

More than one policy can earn a discount – Lots of insurers give a discount to people that have more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. The discount can be 10 percent or more. Even though this discount sounds good, consumers should still compare other Durham HHR insurance rates to help guarantee you have the best rates. It’s possible to still find a better deal by buying car insurance from a different company.

Lower rates come with age – Teenage drivers in North Carolina have a tendency to be easily distracted behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Older drivers have been proven to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and are safer drivers.

The following chart uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

Vocation stress can make you pay more – Do you have a high-stress occupation? Occupations such as judges, airline pilots, and stock brokers usually pay higher rates than the rest of us attributed to stressful work requirements and extremely grueling work hours. Conversely, occupations like professors, athletes and performers have the lowest average rates.

Cut car insurance rates and deter theft – Choosing to buy a car with an alarm system can earn a premium discount. Theft prevention features like OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.

High performance equals high premiums – The make and model of the car you need to insure makes a big difference in your premium level. The lowest performance passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

The following chart uses these assumptions: married male driver age 40, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates Chevrolet HHR rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performances.

Physical damage deductibles – Protection for physical damage, aka comp and collision, covers your vehicle from damage. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, hitting a deer, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles tell how much the insured will be required to pay if you file a covered claim. The more money you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the bigger discount you will receive.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique and your auto insurance should unique, too. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
• Do I need to call my car insurance company before buying a new car?
• How can I get the company to pay a claim?
• Can good grades get a discount?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my Chevy HHR?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required North Carolina minimum liability coverage?
• How much liability coverage do I need in North Carolina?
• Should I pay a claim out-of-pocket?
• How do I insure my teen driver?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

When to talk to an agent

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Experienced insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find the best rates and still have a local agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the quote information is sent to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to contact any insurance agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to you. In the event you want to quote rates from a specific insurance provider, you can always jump over to their website and complete a quote there.

Finding the right insurer requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. Any agent in Durham should have no problem answering these questions:

• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
• Has the agent ever had any license suspensions?
• Where are claims handled?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?

If you get positive feedback to all your questions and low cost Chevrolet HHR insurance quotes, most likely you have located an insurance company that meets the criteria to provide insurance coverage. Just be aware that consumers can cancel your coverage any time you want so never assume that you are permanently stuck with your new company for the full term.

Insuring your HHR just makes sense

Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Chevy in Durham, buying car insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.

First, the majority of states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance in order to be legal. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you have a loan on your vehicle, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it a condition of the loan that you have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Chevy at a significantly higher premium and force you to pay for it.

Third, car insurance protects both your Chevy HHR and your assets. It will also pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your car insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of insuring your HHR are definitely more than the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is currently overpaying as much as $830 a year so it’s recommended you shop around at every policy renewal to make sure the price is not too high.

Compare. Compare. Compare.

Discount Chevy HHR insurance in Durham can be found from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent agents.

We just showed you some good ideas how to get a better price on Chevy HHR insurance in Durham. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from an unexpected company. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.

More detailed auto insurance information can be read in these articles:

• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Santa Fe in Durham? (FAQ)
• Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)