Searching for low-cost insurance for a Saturn SC could be an all-consuming task, but you can learn our auto insurance buying tips to find lower rates. There are both good and bad ways to find auto insurance online so we’re going to tell you the absolute fastest way to compare rates for your Saturn and get the lowest possible price either online or from local insurance agents.
You should take the time to price shop coverage every six months because prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you had the best rates on SC insurance a year ago there may be better deals available now. You can find a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some tested techniques to find affordable auto insurance.
Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. Basically, anyone who shops for auto insurance most likely will be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, car owners need to learn the way insurance companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.
Compare the Market for Auto Insurance
There are several ways of comparing rates from auto insurance companies in your area. The easiest way to find the cheapest Saturn SC insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.
One of the simplest ways to get quotes for comparison would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for every auto insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form gets rate comparisons from all major companies. This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time.
A different way to obtain and compare quotes online consists of visiting the website of each company and request a quote. For example, let’s say you want rates from Allstate, State Farm and GMAC. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.
For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is to waste gas driving to and from local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the personal advice only provided by licensed agents. However, consumers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we’ll cover that in a bit.
It’s up to you which method you use, but make sure you use the exact same coverage information for every quote you compare. If the quotes have differing limits it’s impossible to truly determine the lowest rate. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Keep in mind that having more price comparisons gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.
The fine print in auto insurance ads
21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential insureds who do not match the “perfect” profile will be charged higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the savings. That is why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Why your Saturn SC insurance rates may be high
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.
- Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse translates into being more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- More than one policy can earn a discount – Most auto insurance companies provide better rates to people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
- How your age affects price – Young drivers have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
- Please use or commuting – Driving more miles each year the higher your rates will be. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. If your policy improperly rates your SC can cost quite a bit. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
- More people means more accidents – Living in less populated areas can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers regularly have traffic congestion and longer commute times. Higher commute times translates into higher accident risk.
- Liability coverage is peace of mind – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage if you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
- Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your Saturn earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may qualify for a discount.
Don’t pay full price with these discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every available discount very well, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as the least known auto insurance savings.
- Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
- Good Student – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Select companies give a discount for signing up prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
- Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
- Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a qualifying organization may earn a discount on auto insurance on SC insurance.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts, click here to view.
But buying car insurance online seems impersonal
Some consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you may find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your information gets sent to participating agents who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! It’s the lowest rates and work with a local agent.
Picking an insurance company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in your state?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Types of insurance agencies
When looking for a local agent, there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive insurance agents work for only one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, you should always contact at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
To view a complete directory of insurance agencies, click here.
Upon receiving positive feedback to all your questions and a low price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy.
A tidy conclusion
The cheapest Saturn SC insurance is available both online and with local insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
In this article, we covered many ways to get a better price on Saturn SC insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small local company.
When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
