It’s hard to believe, but the vast majority of consumers kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared quotes from other companies. With the average premium in North Carolina being $1,000, drivers could save up to 10% each year just by getting comparison quotes, but most tend to underestimate the large savings they would see if they just switched companies.
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to find cheaper Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Durham is to compare prices once a year from insurers who can sell car insurance in North Carolina.
- Get a basic knowledge of what coverages are included in your policy and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases like careless driving and a less-than-favorable credit history can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can provide price quotes from many different companies. View a list of agents
- Compare the new quotes to your current policy and determine if cheaper C-Max Hybrid coverage is available in Durham. If you find a lower rate quote, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Tell your current agent or company of your intention to cancel the current policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new company or agent. As soon as you can, place your new proof of insurance certificate along with your vehicle registration.
One tip to remember is that you use the same level of coverage on each price quote and and to get quotes from as many different companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.
There are several ways of comparing rates from many different North Carolina insurance companies. The simplest method to find cheaper Ford C-Max Hybrid rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. When price shopping your coverage, comparing more quotes helps improve the odds of finding more affordable rates.
The companies shown below can provide free rate quotes in North Carolina. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Cheaper rates on Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Durham with these nine auto insurance discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t list every policy discount in an easy-to-find place, so the list below gives a summary of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available.
- Home Ownership Discount – Owning a house in Durham may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Distant Student – College-age children living away from Durham attending college without a vehicle on campus could qualify for this discount.
- E-sign Discounts – A handful of larger companies provide a small discount for completing your application on the web.
- Braking Control Discount – Cars and trucks that have anti-lock braking systems can stop better under adverse conditions and will save you 10% or more on C-Max Hybrid insurance in Durham.
- Buy New and Save – Insuring a vehicle that is new can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for lower premium rates.
- Government Employee Discount – Active or retired federal employment may qualify for a discount when you quote Durham auto insurance but check with your company.
- Life Insurance – Not every insurance company offers life insurance, but if they do you may earn a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A few of the larger companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.
- State Farm has discounts for safe vehicle, accident-free, good student, multiple policy, defensive driving training, driver’s education, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- American Family offers discounts including defensive driver, good driver, early bird, mySafetyValet, and multi-vehicle.
- AAA may include discounts for good student, education and occupation, AAA membership discount, multi-policy, pay-in-full, and good driver.
- GEICO may offer discounts for seat belt use, defensive driver, daytime running lights, anti-theft, military active duty, and driver training.
- Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for age of vehicle, anti-theft, good driver, good student, location of vehicle, ease of repair, and annual mileage.
- Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including business and professional, mature driver, bundle discounts, youthful driver, good student, and early shopping.
- Progressive offers discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online quote discount, online signing, and homeowner.
If you need inexpensive Durham auto insurance quotes, ask all the companies which credits you are entitled to. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policyholders in your area. If you would like to view insurance companies who offer discounts in North Carolina, click this link.
Independent versus exclusive car insurance agents
Some people just want to have an agent’s advice. A good thing about price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from local agencies is especially important in Durham.
After completing this quick form, your information gets sent to local insurance agents who will return price quotes to get your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to find an agent on your own since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates and a licensed agent to work with. In the event you want to get a price quote from a specific insurance company, just navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
When finding an insurance agent, there are two different agency structures and how they work. Auto insurance agents in Durham are classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent are not restricted to one company so they can quote policies with many different companies and find the cheapest auto insurance rates. If they find a cheaper price, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.
When shopping rates, you will want to get quotes from at least one independent agent so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Many write coverage with companies that do not advertise much that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
The following are Durham independent insurance agents that can give you price quotes.
- Joshua E. Matthews Insurance Agency, Inc.
2144 Page Rd Suite 106 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 598-6800 – View Map - Bull City Insurance
121 Sherron Rd #302 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 596-0671 – View Map - Superior Insurance Durham North
3808 Guess Rd Suite J – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 973-1507 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents can only provide pricing for a single company like Allstate, State Farm and Farm Bureau. Exclusive agents cannot compare rates from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which aids in selling service over price. Some people will only purchase coverage from exclusives primarily because of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
The following are Durham exclusive agencies willing to provide price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance Agent: Michael D. Maffeo
2705 N Duke St Ste 203 – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 479-5085 – View Map - Debbie Leonard – State Farm Insurance Agent
3702 Hillsborough Rd #2b – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 383-3887 – View Map - Allstate Insurance Agent: Cody Holliday
4324 S Alston Ave – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 249-7291 – View Map
Deciding on a insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap quote. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Do you qualify for any additional discounts?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in North Carolina?
Everyone needs different auto insurance coverages
When selecting the right insurance coverage, there really isn’t a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your situation may require specific advice.
- Will damage be repaired with OEM parts?
- Is my son or daughter covered when driving my car?
- Does rental coverage apply when I am renting a car?
- How high should deductibles be on a Ford C-Max Hybrid?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?
- Am I missing any policy discounts?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Choosing vehicle insurance is an important decision
Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford C-Max Hybrid in Durham, auto insurance is required in North Carolina but also provides important benefits.
First, the majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means the state requires specific limits of liability 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 your vehicle has a loan, almost every bank will make it a condition of the loan that you buy insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Ford at a significantly higher premium and require you to pay the higher price.
Third, insurance safeguards both your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will pay for many types of medical costs that are the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense in the event you are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your auto insurance policy will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. But the average driver in North Carolina is overpaying over $865 each year so compare rate quotes at least once a year to ensure rates are inline.
Auto insurance coverage information
Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hail damage, falling objects, rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane and vandalism. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Liability car insurance – This coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. It protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 30/60/25 which means $30,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $60,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability can pay for things such as structural damage, pain and suffering and medical services. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. North Carolina state law requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/25 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below demonstrates why buying minimum limits may not be enough.
Medical expense insurance – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for X-ray expenses, dental work and pain medications. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for things such as scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door, crashing into a building and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible on your C-Max Hybrid in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Ford C-Max Hybrid.
Since many North Carolina drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (30/60/25 in North Carolina), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Cheap auto insurance rates are possible
We just covered many ideas to find cheaper Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Durham. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.
As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. Your objective should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
To read more, feel free to visit these articles:
- Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Durham, North Carolina? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Police Officers in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in Durham? (FAQ)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)