It’s easy to assume that car insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Insureds who compare rates at least once a year are likely to switch to a new company because they stand a good chance of finding a lower-priced policy. A survey found that people who shopped around saved $72 a month compared to policyholders who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.
If finding the most affordable car insurance is why you’re here, learning the best ways to find and compare insurance can help make the process easier.
The recommended way to save money on car insurance rates is to start comparing rates regularly from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in Raleigh.
- Learn about the different coverages in a policy and the factors you can control to prevent high rates. Many factors that result in higher rates such as traffic violations, accidents, and a negative credit history can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple sources.
- Compare the price quotes to the premium of your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
One piece of advice is that you’ll want to compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to analyze as many companies as possible. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and a good representation of prices.
To find the cheapest Acura TSX rate quotes, there are several ways to compare prices from companies that offer insurance in North Carolina. The recommended way to find the cheapest insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison.
Comparison shopping quotes online is easy and it makes it obsolete to call or drive to each insurance agency near you. Comparing Acura TSX insurance rates online eliminates the middleman unless you want the trained advice that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to compare the best prices online but have a local agent actually write the policy.
When quoting insurance, remember that comparing a large number of companies helps increase your odds of locating more affordable insurance.
The companies shown below provide free rate quotes in North Carolina. To buy the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina, we recommend you click on several of them to get the most competitive price.
Cheaper rates by taking advantage of discounts
Some insurance providers do not advertise their entire list of discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Raleigh auto insurance online. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you could be getting lower rates.
- Memberships – Affiliation with qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on auto insurance.
- Sign Online – A few insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing digitally online.
- Life Insurance Discount – Larger insurance carriers have lower premium rates if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Driving Data Discount – People who choose to allow their company to track driving manner by using a telematic data system such as State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars and trucks equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your Raleigh auto insurance quote.
Don’t be surprised that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Even though the math looks like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
The information below compares Acura TSX annual premium costs with and without discounts applied. The price estimates are based on a female driver, no violations or accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.
Companies and a selection of discounts are:
- American Family may offer discounts for Steer into Savings, early bird, accident-free, air bags, multi-vehicle, and mySafetyValet.
- Farm Bureau offers premium reductions for youthful driver, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, safe driver, good student, and multi-policy.
- State Farm has discounts for anti-theft, good driver, student away at school, safe vehicle, defensive driving training, and good student.
- Travelers offers discounts for multi-policy, early quote, driver training, payment discounts, and hybrid/electric vehicle.
- The Hartford offers discounts including defensive driver, bundle, driver training, anti-theft, and air bag.
- GEICO has savings for air bags, five-year accident-free, seat belt use, defensive driver, and multi-vehicle.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-policy, good student, continuous coverage, online quote discount, online signing, and homeowner.
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies to give you their best rates. A few discounts might not be offered in Raleigh. For a list of insurance companies that offer many of these discounts in Raleigh, follow this link.
Coverage analysis
The premium information below showcases different insurance rates for Acura TSX models. Having a better idea how auto insurance prices are determined can help customers make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSX | $104 | $200 | $198 | $12 | $60 | $574 | $48 |
| TSX Technology Package | $104 | $200 | $198 | $12 | $60 | $574 | $48 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can raise or lower coverage prices significantly.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When buying car insurance, a common question is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparisons below outline the costs and benefits between high and low coverage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSX | $242 | $456 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $1,011 | $84 |
| TSX Technology Package | $242 | $456 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $1,011 | $84 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSX | $176 | $308 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $772 | $64 |
| TSX Technology Package | $176 | $308 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $772 | $64 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data 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, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in specific location information which can change insurance rates substantially.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible would cost the average driver about $20 more each month or $240 annually across all Acura TSX models than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go more than 20 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you decide on a higher deductible.
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The information below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault collisions raise Acura TSX insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Full coverage versus liability only rates
The example below compares Acura TSX car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The rates are based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There is no specific rule for eliminating physical damage insurance, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your Acura TSX claim settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $2,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $200 annually to have full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where removing full coverage is not advised. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage in place.
Seven Tips to Get Cheaper Raleigh Insurance Premiums
It’s important that you understand some of the factors that play a part in calculating the level of your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that could result in better insurance rates. Many things are considered when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as your driving history, but other factors are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.
The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate your rate level.
If you don’t need it don’t buy it – Policies have extra coverages that can waste your money on your insurance policy. Insurance for things like personal injury protection, towing coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships are probably not needed. They may sound like good ideas when deciding what coverages you need, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
Bundling policies can get discounts – Most larger insurers apply better rates to clients that purchase more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. The discount can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even with this discount applied, you may still want to check prices from other companies to help ensure you have the lowest rates.
Low credit history equals high costs – Your credit rating will be a significant factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims than those with poor credit scores. If your credit rating is low, you could save money insuring your Acura TSX if you clean up your credit.
Safeguard your assets with liability protection – The liability section of your policy kicks in when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
No policy gaps is important – Not having insurance is against the law and as a result your rates will increase for letting your insurance expire. Not only will you pay higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.
Premiums impacted by your city – Being located in less populated areas has definite advantages when trying to find low car insurance rates. Fewer drivers and short commutes means less chance of accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large North Carolina cities tend to have more road rage incidents and much longer commute distances. Higher commute times means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
Claim-free discounts can add up – If you frequently file small claims, you can expect much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance companies in North Carolina award most affordable rates to people who do not file claims often. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of claims that pose a financial burden.
Get rate quotes but buy from a local Raleigh insurance agent
Many drivers still like to visit with an insurance agent and that can be a great decision One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find cheaper rates but also keep your business local. Buying insurance from local agents is important especially in Raleigh.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents in Raleigh that provide free Raleigh auto insurance quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to even leave your home because prices are sent immediately to you. You can find better rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.
If you need to find a good insurance agency, it helps to know the two types of agencies and how they can write your policy. Agencies in Raleigh are classified as either exclusive or independent.
Independent Car Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be independent do not have single company limitations so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and find you cheaper rates. To move your coverage to a new company, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. If you need cheaper car insurance rates, you will definitely want to get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to have the best price comparison.
Shown below is a partial list of independent agents in Raleigh who may be able to give you price quotes.
Wade S Dunbar Insurance
7951 Monument Ln # 201 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 720-2290 – View Map
Chapman Insurance Agency, Inc.
6829 Falls of Neuse Rd #103 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 676-5066 – View Map
Bagwell and Bagwell Insurance
2626 Glenwood Ave #300 – Raleigh, NC 27608 – (919) 832-6667 – View Map
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies can only place business with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They generally cannot provide other company’s prices so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which aids in selling service over price.
Listed below is a list of exclusive agencies in Raleigh that are able to give comparison quotes.
GEICO Insurance Agent
5011 Falls of Neuse Rd A – Raleigh, NC 27609 – (919) 862-1300 – View Map
Gina Tickle – State Farm Insurance Agent
8212 Creedmoor Rd #101 – Raleigh, NC 27613 – (919) 847-9774 – View Map
John Hill – State Farm Insurance Agent
7320 Six Forks Rd #200 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 848-0644 – View Map
Selecting an auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. You should also get answers to these questions.
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating in Raleigh?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your car insurance should unique, too.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you will benefit from professional help.
- How many claims can I have before being canceled?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- How do I buy GAP insurance?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
- Is my state a no-fault state?
- How much will a speeding ticket raise my rates?
- Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Will damage be repaired with OEM parts?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
What is YOUR best insurance company?
When searching for affordable Raleigh auto insurance quotes, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but do not skimp to save money.
Lower-priced auto insurance in Raleigh is definitely available on the web and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not have the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent agents.
More resources
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Honda CR-V in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Honda Accord in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Active Military in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
- Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)
- Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)