It’s a fact that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look for a cheaper policy. Insureds who shop around for cheaper rates are very likely to switch car insurance companies because there is a high probability of finding a lower-priced policy. A recent car insurance study revealed that drivers who routinely compared quotes saved over $3,500 over four years compared to people who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If saving money on car insurance in Durham is your intention, then having a grasp of how to shop for auto insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
If you want to save money, the best way to get budget Kia Rio insurance in Durham is to regularly compare quotes from providers in North Carolina.
- Learn about how auto insurance works and the factors you can control to keep rates in check. Many risk factors that cause rate increases such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unacceptable credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes in your lifestyle. Later in this article we will cover more details to help prevent costly coverage and get bigger discounts.
- Compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the quotes to your existing rates and see if there is a cheaper rate in Durham. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
An important note is to compare the same amount of coverage on every quote and and to get rate quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure a level playing field and the best price selection.
If you are already insured or want to find a cheaper company, you will benefit by learning to reduce premiums without having to cut coverage. These techniques will let you in on the best methods to compare rates and also pocket some savings Drivers just have to use how to find the lowest price instantly.
Cheapest companies for Kia Rio insurance in North Carolina
The companies shown below have been selected to offer price quotes in North Carolina. To get cheap auto insurance in Durham, NC, we suggest you visit several of them to get the cheapest price.
Facts and figures for Kia Rio insurance
The premium table shown next outlines detailed analysis of insurance costs for Kia Rio models. Learning a little about how auto insurance premiums are figured can help you make smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Rio | $102 | $234 | $340 | $20 | $102 | $798 | $67 |
Rio LX | $102 | $234 | $340 | $20 | $102 | $798 | $67 |
Rio SX | $116 | $276 | $340 | $20 | $102 | $854 | $71 |
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Table data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact prices greatly.
Higher deductibles save money
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is which deductible level should you buy. The comparisons below lay out the premium difference when you buy lower versus higher physical damage coverage deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Rio | $168 | $324 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $899 | $75 |
Rio LX | $168 | $324 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $899 | $75 |
Rio SX | $192 | $382 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $981 | $82 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rio | $136 | $262 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $780 | $65 |
Rio LX | $136 | $262 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $780 | $65 |
Rio SX | $156 | $308 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $846 | $71 |
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Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in your specific Durham location which can lower or raise insurance rates considerably.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $10 more each month or $120 for a full year than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at least 25 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money going with the higher deductible.
The chart below shows how different deductible levels and can change Kia Rio insurance rates for each age group. The prices are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
Difference between full coverage and liability only rates
The diagram below shows the comparison of Kia Rio yearly insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. Data assumes no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no definitive guideline to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Kia Rio replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are a few cases where buying only liability insurance is not a good idea. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Six Tips to Get Lower-cost Durham Insurance Prices
Many different elements are used in the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, but some are less apparent such as your credit history and annual miles driven. When buying insurance it’s important to understand some of the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance. When consumers understand what determines premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that could help you find lower rates.
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Gender and insurance coverage rates – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. This data doesn’t prove that women are better drivers. Males and females cause auto accidents at about the same rate, but males cause more damage. Men also statistically get ticketed for serious violations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Kia Rio yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no violations or accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
- Prevent theft and save – Owning a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack help track and prevent vehicle theft.
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Drive a fast car, truck or SUV and pay more – The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Small economy passenger vehicles generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.
The data below uses these assumptions: married male driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Kia Rio rates compared to other vehicles that have different performances.
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Better drivers pay better premiums – Having a single ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records pay less for auto insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. People who have flagrant tickets such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
The information below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions influence Kia Rio annual premium costs for different insured age categories. The premiums assume a married male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
- Safeguard your assets with liability protection – Liability coverage will afford coverage if ever you are determined to be liable for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to other policy coverages, so do not cut corners here.
- Buy a safe car and pay less – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to be cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company which can result in lower premiums. If the Kia Rio has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may be receiving a better rate.
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Kia Rio insurance loss data – Companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle when setting premium prices. Models that the statistics show to have higher claim frequency or loss amount will cost more for coverage.
The table below demonstrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Kia Rio vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is a value of 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while percentages above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Auto Insurance Loss Data for Kia Rio Models Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Kia Rio 90 109 81 141 158 127 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEData Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lower-cost Durham insurance rates with discounts
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts to help bring down the price. Many discounts should be triggered at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before being credited. If you do not check that you are getting every discount possible, you could be saving more on your insurance.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not necessarily a discount, but a few companies such as GEICO, Progressive, and Allstate will allow you to have one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
- Theft Deterrent – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more on Rio insurance in Durham.
- Student in College – Children living away from Durham attending college without a vehicle on campus may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Organization Discounts – Belonging to certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your policy.
- Renewal Discounts – A few insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy prior to your current Rio insurance policy expiration. You may see this discount when you get Durham car insurance quotes online.
- 55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get lower premium rates.
- Government Employee Discount – Simply working for the federal government may qualify for a discount when you quote Durham car insurance with select insurance companies.
- Safe Driver Discount – Accident-free drivers could pay up to 40% less than their less cautious counterparts.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed in the military could qualify you for better rates.
One thing to note about discounts is that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The chart below compares Kia Rio car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The data is based on a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, marriage, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.
The best insurance companies and their offered discounts are:
- GEICO may have discounts that include daytime running lights, multi-vehicle, good student, military active duty, and five-year accident-free.
- MetLife has discounts for multi-policy, claim-free, accident-free, good student, and good driver.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online quote discount, and online signing.
- Travelers has savings for multi-car, driver training, IntelliDrive, hybrid/electric vehicle, payment discounts, new car, and good student.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for anti-theft, accident prevention training, safe driver, bundle discounts, homeowner, drive less, and teen safe driver.
- AAA may include discounts for multi-policy, multi-car, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, pay-in-full, and good driver.
If you are trying to find affordable Durham car insurance quotes, ask every insurance company how many discounts you can get. Some discounts may not apply to policyholders in Durham. If you would like to see a list of companies offering insurance discounts in North Carolina, click this link.
Local Durham auto insurance agents
Some consumers would prefer to sit down with an agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Professional insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. One of the benefits of getting free rate quotes online is that you can find lower prices and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local agents is important particularly in Durham.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who can give free rate quotes to get your business. You never need to drive around since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. If you need to compare prices from a specific company, just search and find their rate quote page and submit a quote form there.
If you’re trying to find a local Durham insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of agencies and how they function. Agents in Durham may be either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Both types can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth learning the subtle differences because it may have an impact on which agent you choose.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents can quote rates with many companies and that gives them the ability to insure through many companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, an independent agent can move your coverage which is easy for the insured. When comparing auto insurance rates, you definitely need to include price quotes from a few independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which could offer lower prices.
Below is a partial list of independent insurance agents in Durham that can give you competitive price quotes.
- Mike Embree Insurance Agency
3813 University Dr – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-7336 – View Map - Herring and Bickers Insurance
2344 Operations Dr Suite 101 – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 479-9900 – View Map - Joshua E. Matthews Insurance Agency, Inc.
2144 Page Rd Suite 106 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 598-6800 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive write business for a single company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies are usually well trained on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents mostly because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.
Listed below is a list of exclusive insurance agents in Durham that can give you price quotes.
- Rollie Olin – State Farm Insurance Agent
4810 Hope Valley Rd #116 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-6008 – View Map - John Moore – State Farm Insurance Agent
1107 W Main St #201 – Durham, NC 27701 – (919) 598-7900 – View Map - Farm Bureau Insurance
4021 Stirrup Creek Dr #220a – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 469-3191 – View Map
Finding the right insurance agency is decision based upon more than just the bottom line cost. Any agent in Durham should be willing to answer these questions.
- How are claims handled?
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Does the agency have a positive business rating?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
Upon receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions as well as affordable Kia Rio insurance rates in Durham quotes, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that meets the criteria to properly insure your vehicles.
When in doubt talk to an agent
Always remember that when buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all type of policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed.
These are some specific questions can help discover whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Can good grades get a discount?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- When should I remove my kid from my policy?
- Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- How much cheaper are high deductibles?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Persistence pays off
When you buy Durham car insurance online, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.
You just learned a lot of tips how to lower your Kia Rio insurance auto insurance rates in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive Durham car insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from an unexpected company. Regional companies may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
Additional car insurance information can be found at these links:
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a GMC Sierra in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Welfare Recipients in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Nissan Sentra in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Much are Durham Car Insurance Rates for a Chevrolet Equinox? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Safe Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)