It’s an obvious conclusion that insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. People who shop around for cheaper prices will most likely buy a different policy because there is a good probability of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent study showed that people who routinely shopped around saved on average $3,450 over four years compared to those who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the lowest rates on Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance is your target objective, understanding how to shop for insurance can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to save on auto insurance rates in Durham is to compare prices regularly from different companies who provide car insurance in North Carolina.
- Take a little time to learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can control to lower rates. Many rating criteria that increase rates such as your driving record and a lousy credit rating can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Read the full article for more details to find cheap rates and find overlooked discounts.
- Request rate estimates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. View prices
- Compare the quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide written notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current coverage and submit a signed application and payment to your new agent or company. Immediately keep the new certificate verifying coverage with your registration paperwork.
A key point to remember is to make sure you enter the same coverage limits and deductibles on every price quote and to quote with all possible companies. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and maximum price selection.
When looking for affordable Durham car insurance quotes, there are a couple ways to obtain and compare prices from many available car insurance companies in North Carolina. The best method to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. When comparing car insurance rates, know that having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding the best rates. Some smaller insurers do not give Durham MX-5 Miata insurance quotes over the internet, so you also need to get rates from them as well.
The car insurance companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in North Carolina. If you want to find cheap car insurance in Durham, we recommend you visit several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
Rates and detailed analysis
The premium information below highlights detailed analysis of insurance prices for Mazda MX-5 Miata models. Having a good understanding how rate quotes are established is important to be able to make smart buying decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $118 | $210 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $654 | $55 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $134 | $256 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $716 | $60 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $134 | $256 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $716 | $60 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific zip code location which can impact premium rates noticeably.
Can higher deductibles save money?
When buying insurance, a common question is at what level do you set your deductibles. The following tables can help you understand the costs and benefits when you choose different policy deductibles. The first table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $186 | $318 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $817 | $68 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $214 | $386 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $913 | $76 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $214 | $386 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $913 | $76 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 Miata Sport 2-Dr Convertible | $136 | $214 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $638 | $53 |
| MX-5 Miata Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $156 | $262 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $706 | $59 |
| MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2-Dr Convertible | $156 | $262 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $706 | $59 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can alter auto insurance rates substantially.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs approximately $16 more each month or $192 each year than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go more than 25 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead if you choose the higher deductible. The table below shows an example of how this determination is made.
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $73 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $57 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $16 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $16 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 25 months |
An important thing to remember is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You will want to have some extra savings in the event you have to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.
The illustration below shows how choosing a deductible and can impact Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance costs for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Difference between full coverage and liability only rates
The illustration below shows the comparison of Mazda MX-5 Miata car insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The information is based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no specific rule for dropping full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Mazda MX-5 Miata book value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $4,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $400 a year for physical damage coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are a few situations where only buying liability is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not opt for liability only.
Auto insurance does more than just protect your car
Even though Durham MX-5 Miata insurance rates can get expensive, auto insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability protection if you want to drive legally. 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.
- If you took out a loan on your Mazda, almost all lenders will force you to have physical damage coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Mazda at an extremely high rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Auto insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It will also pay for all forms of medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your Mazda gets damaged, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially when you need to use it. As of last year, the average driver in North Carolina is wasting up to $865 each year so you should quote and compare rates once a year at a minimum to save money.
Informed Consumers Save on Insurance
Many things are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like an MVR report, although others are less apparent like your vehicle usage or your commute time. One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of the rating factors that aid in calculating car insurance rates. When you understand what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may result in better car insurance rates.
The itemized list below are some of the major factors companies use to determine your premiums.
Prices increase with policy add-ons – There are a ton of extra add-on coverages that can waste your money on your car insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, death and dismemberment, and Farm Bureau memberships may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good when discussing your needs, but if you have no use for them get rid of them and save.
A policy lapse can increase prices – Driving with no insurance is a big no-no and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your insurance expire. In addition to paying higher premiums, being ticketed for driving with no insurance could result in a steep fine or even jail time.
Poor driving means higher premiums – Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one chargeable violation could increase your next policy renewal substantially. People who have dangerous tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to maintain a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
The chart below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault claims raise Mazda MX-5 Miata auto insurance rates for different age categories. The prices are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
When should you file insurance claims? – Insurance companies in North Carolina generally give discounts to policyholders who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Mazda MX-5 Miata claim data – Auto insurance companies analyze the history of losses when setting premium prices. Models that statistically have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have higher rates for specific coverages. The next table shows the actual insurance loss data for Mazda MX-5 Miata vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, equals 100. Numbers below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while percentage values above 100 show a trend for more claims or tendency to have higher losses.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible | 76 | 61 | 74 | 72 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Earn discounts on Durham car insurance
Some insurance providers don’t always advertise every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Durham car insurance online.
- Federal Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your car insurance provider.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you can combine your home and auto policy with the same company you will save nearly 15% which can help you find cheaper MX-5 Miata insurance.
- Driver’s Ed – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to use a seat belt can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Telematics Discount – Drivers that enable data collection to look at vehicle usage by installing a telematics device like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might get better premium rates if their driving habits are good.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- Memberships – Affiliation with qualifying clubs or civic groups can get you a small discount on car insurance.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
- Own a Home – Being a homeowner can save a few bucks since home ownership is proof of financial responsibility.
- Paperless Signup – A handful of larger companies will provide an incentive for signing up digitally online.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance prices with and without policy discounts. Data assumes a male driver, no claims or driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in North Carolina, click here.
Special considerations
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different and your car insurance should be unique as well.
These are some specific questions can aid in determining if you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Am I covered while delivering pizza?
- Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage?
- Should I rate my Mazda MX-5 Miata as pleasure use or commute?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in North Carolina?
- Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
- Can good grades get a discount?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
When should I get advice from an agent?
Many drivers just want to buy from a licensed agent and doing so can bring peace of mind One of the benefits of comparing rates online is that you can find cheaper prices but still work with a licensed agent. Putting coverage with neighborhood agents is definitely important in Durham.
After completing this short form, your coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents that can provide free Durham car insurance quotes to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, feel free to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.
When looking for a local Durham insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different types of agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Durham can be classified as either exclusive or independent.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Independent agents are not restricted to one company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and get you the best rates possible. If they find a lower price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you can keep the same agent.
When comparing car insurance prices, it’s recommended you get some free quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection. Many write coverage with mutual insurance companies who may have lower rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Durham who may provide free price quotes.
- Hix Insurance Center
1533 Glenn School Road, Building C Unit A-14 – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 220-3031 – View Map - Around The Corner Insurance Agency, Inc.
1431 Broad St – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 286-9500 – View Map - Tyson Insurance
3814 N Duke St # A – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 471-8222 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents of this type can only provide one company’s prices like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive insurance agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some insured continue to buy from the same agent for years mainly due to the brand rather than low price.
Listed below are exclusive insurance agents in Durham willing to provide rate quotes.
- Nationwide Insurance: All About Insurance
2605 Guess Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 479-8200 – View Map - Allstate Insurance Agent: Ava Brownlee
14 Consultant Pl Ste 150 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 490-6667 – View Map - Allstate Insurance Agent: Caufield Agency
4845 Industry Ln Ste D – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 493-7471 – View Map
Selecting a car insurance agent should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Who are their largest clients?
- How would your car be valued if totaled?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
If you get answers to your satisfaction to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agent that will insure your vehicles. But keep in mind you can always cancel coverage at any point so never assume you are locked into any specific agency for the entire policy term.
Affordable car insurance premiums are out there
Some car insurance companies do not offer rate quotes online and these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agents. Lower-priced Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance in Durham can be sourced from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Durham agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture.
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your Mazda MX-5 Miata insurance rates in Durham. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get auto insurance rates for, the better your chances of lowering your auto insurance rates. You may even find the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company. Some small companies may have significantly lower auto insurance rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, but do not skimp to save money.
More information is available at these links:
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- How Much are Durham Car Insurance Quotes for Ride Shares? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Veterans in Durham? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Company Car in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Rogue in Durham? (FAQ)
- What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
- Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)
- Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)