It goes without saying that insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. Drivers who shop around for cheaper rates are likely to switch to a new company because the odds are good of finding a lower-priced company. A study showed that drivers who compared rates annually saved as much as $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who never compared prices.
If finding budget-friendly Suzuki XL-7 insurance is the reason you’re here, learning how to shop and compare coverage rates can save money and time.
The recommended way to find low-cost prices for Suzuki XL-7 insurance in Durham is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from providers that insure vehicles in North Carolina. You can compare rates by following these steps.
- Gain an understanding of policy coverages and the factors you can control to keep rates down. Many rating factors that result in higher prices like high-risk driving behaviors and a less-than-favorable credit rating can be improved by being financially responsible and driving safely. Continue reading for additional tips to get affordable coverage and get additional discounts that may have been overlooked.
- Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One piece of advice is to try to compare similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get prices from all possible companies. This enables a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.
How do Insurers Determine Suzuki XL-7 Insurance Premiums?
Consumers need to have an understanding of a few of the rating criteria that play a part in calculating your policy premiums. When you understand what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that could result in cheaper rates. Many factors are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving record, but other factors are not as apparent such as your credit history or how safe your car is.
The following are a partial list of the pieces that factor into prices.
Low stress job equals lower rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like lawyers, air traffic controllers, and accountants usually pay higher rates than the rest of us due to high stress levels and incredibly demanding work hours. Conversely, careers such as actors, engineers and homemakers generally pay rates lower than average.
Theft deterrents lowers car insurance rates – Selecting a car model with a theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart vehicle theft.
Higher physical damage deductibles are cheaper – Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and damage caused by road hazards. The more damage repair cost you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the less your car insurance will be.
Save money by eliminating add-on coverages – There are many additional extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t diligent. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage, and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good at first, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so eliminate them to save money.
Does insurance coverage cost more for guys? – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown females are less aggressive when driving. It does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but males have accidents that have higher claims. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
Pleasure use or commuting – The more you drive in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies apply a rate partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the right rating data, because it can save money. An incorrectly rated XL-7 may be costing you higher rates.
Better rates on safer cars – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and fewer injuries means less claims paid which can mean better rates for you. If your Suzuki XL-7 has at least four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it may cost less to insure.
Combine policies with the same company – Most larger insurance companies apply discounts to people that have more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. The discount can be ten percent or more. If you currently are using one company, consumers should still get quotes from other companies to verify if the discount is saving money.There is a chance you can find better rates even if you insure with multiple companies
There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The quickest method to comparison shop consists of shopping online.
It’s so easy to compare rate quotes online that it makes it a waste of time to spend your day driving to and from local Durham insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the middleman unless you prefer the professional abilities that only a licensed agent can provide. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web but have a local agent actually write the policy. When comparison shopping, comparing a wide range of rates helps increase your odds of locating a lower rate than you’re paying now. Not every company allows you to get rate quotes online, so it’s important to compare price estimates on coverage from those companies, too.
The providers in the list below are ready to provide comparison quotes in Durham, NC. To buy the best auto insurance in Durham, NC, we recommend you click on several of them to find the lowest auto insurance rates.
Choosing Suzuki XL-7 insurance is an important decision
Despite the potentially high cost of Suzuki XL-7 insurance, insurance is mandatory in North Carolina but it also protects more than you think.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability in order to drive the car. 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 your Suzuki has a loan, most banks will make it mandatory that you buy insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may insure your Suzuki for a much higher rate and make you pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance preserves your Suzuki and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical expenses incurred in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance are definitely more than the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. The average driver in America is overpaying over $855 a year so compare rate quotes at every policy renewal to save money.
Car insurance rates and discounts
Some insurers do not list every available discount very clearly, so below is a list a few of the more common and the more hidden credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Early Renewal Discounts – Some larger companies give discounts for switching to them early. Ten percent is about the average savings.
- Driving Data Discount – People who choose to allow driving data submission to study vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if they are good drivers.
- New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can save you some money because new model year vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Durham Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Factory options such as air bags can qualify for discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Despite the appearance that all the discounts add up to a free policy, you aren’t that lucky. Any amount of discount will lower your premiums.
If you would like to view companies that offer some of these discounts in Durham, click here.
Insurance agencies near you
A small number of people still like to talk to an insurance agent and we recommend doing that One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap insurance rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from and supporting local agencies is still important in Durham.
After completing this short form, your coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Durham who will give you quotes for your coverage. You won’t even need to contact any agents as quotes are delivered to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates without having to waste a lot of time. In the event you want to compare prices from a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.
Selecting an company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- How long has their agency been open in Durham?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
After getting acceptable answers to these questions and locked in a price quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found a company that meets your needs to provide insurance coverage. Just keep in mind it’s your policy and you can cancel coverage whenever you wish so never assume that you are permanently stuck with a specific agent with no way out.
North Carolina auto insurance companies
Insuring your vehicle with the best insurance provider can be difficult considering how many different companies insure vehicles in North Carolina. The ranking data displayed below can help you pick which auto insurers to look at when looking for cheaper rates.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
| The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
| GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
| Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
| 21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
| Liberty Mutual | 79 | 87 | 95 | 78% | A | 85.3 |
| Farmers Insurance | 77 | 80 | 80 | 84% | A | 80.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
In Summary
Discount Suzuki XL-7 insurance in Durham can be found online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
We’ve covered a lot of tips how to lower your Suzuki XL-7 insurance prices in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even be surprised to find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Progressive and GEICO.
Additional information can be read below:
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Handicapped Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Police Officers in Durham? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)