Sad but true, most North Carolina insurance customers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for over three years, and 38% of drivers have never shopped around. With the average insurance premium being $1,847, American drivers can cut their rates by almost $860 a year by just comparing quotes, but most just don’t grasp the benefits if they switched to a cheaper policy.
If you want to save money, the best way to find low-cost prices for car insurance rates in Raleigh is to start doing a yearly price comparison from providers in North Carolina.
First, read and learn about how car insurance works and the changes you can make to keep rates low. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases like careless driving and a less-than-favorable credit score can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Second, compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. Compare rates
Third, compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a better price and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
The critical component of shopping around is to use identical coverage information on every quote request and to quote with every insurance company. Doing this guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Obtaining price quotes for affordable protection in Raleigh is not as time-consuming as you think. If you already have coverage or just want a better rate, you can use these tips to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Drivers just need to learn the least time-consuming way to compare rate quotes from many companies at once.
Cutting your Raleigh insurance rates is a great way to save money. Consumers just need to invest a few minutes to compare rate quotes provided by online insurance companies.
The companies shown below can provide free quotes in North Carolina. If you wish to find the best cheap auto insurance in NC, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
Five factors that determine insurance premiums
Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that aid in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. If you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices. Lots of things are used in the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving record, but others are not as apparent such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility.
Consolidate policies with the same company – Most major insurers give discounts to buyers who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to check prices from other companies to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still save more without the discount by buying insurance from more than one company.
High deductibles equal low rates – Protection for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, is used to repair damage to your Nissan. Some examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, or theft. The deductibles you choose are how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more money you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the lower your rates will be.
Drive a fast vehicle and pay more – The make and model of the vehicle you need to insure makes a huge difference in your rates. Low performance passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but your final cost has many other factors.
Small coverages can add up – There are a lot of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your car insurance policy. Coverage for things like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and extra equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem good initially, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so think about removing them and cutting costs.
Proper usage rating affects costs – The higher the miles on your Nissan in a year’s time the higher your rate. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how much you drive. Vehicles that are left in the garage can be on a lower rate level than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Improper usage on your Quest can cost quite a bit. Make sure your car insurance policy is rated on annual mileage, because it can save money.
Insurance loss data for a Nissan Quest – Insurance companies take into consideration historical loss data for every vehicle to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Vehicles that the statistics show to have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will cost more for coverage.
The table below illustrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Nissan Quest vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is set at 100. Values that are below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while values over 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or an increased chance of a larger loss.
| Specific Nissan Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Quest | 96 | 103 | 94 | 120 | 115 | 98 |
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Why you need to buy insurance
Even though it can be expensive, paying for insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
- Most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability insurance in order to license the vehicle. 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 Nissan has a lienholder, almost all lenders will require that you have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Nissan at a much higher rate and force you to pay for it.
- Insurance preserves not only your Nissan Quest but also your financial assets. It will also provide coverage for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of insuring your Quest more than cancel out the cost, especially with large liability claims. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver overpays as much as $855 a year so we recommend shopping around every year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Raleigh auto insurance companies ranked
Selecting the top car insurance provider is difficult considering how many companies provide coverage in North Carolina. The company information shown next could help you select which car insurance companies to look at comparing prices from.
Top 10 Raleigh Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- American Family
- Esurance
- Titan Insurance
- AAA Insurance
Top 10 Raleigh Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- Mercury Insurance
- Travelers
- American Family
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- The Hartford
- The General
- 21st Century
- Esurance