Are you a resident of Raleigh that’s on the hunt for new car insurance coverage? Do you have an interest in getting better coverage without paying top dollar for it? If so, then you need to learn more about how to find the best car insurance Raleigh.
Doing so can help you find your ideal car insurance rates, premiums, deductibles, coverage, and provider to work with. You simply need to know what to look out for during your search.
See below for a detailed guide on how to find the best North Carolina insurance and have more confidence while you’re out on the open road.
1. Understand State Requirements
Being a resident of North Carolina, there are a few state regulations on car insurance coverage that you need to familiarize yourself with.
Not only are you legally required to have car insurance on your vehicle, but there are things like state minimums that you need to abide by as well. These are meant to protect yourself and others from a financial loss due to a car accident.
The state of North Carolina specifically requires that your coverage has minimum amounts such as:
- $25,000 or over for Property Damage
- $30,000 or over for Bodily Injury (involving one person)
- $60,000 or over for Bodily Injury (involving two or more people)
You’re not allowed to have policies under an out-of-state provider. So, if you’ve recently moved to Raleigh from another state, you need to find a trusted North Carolina insurance company to invest in.
North Carolina takes car insurance more seriously than most. In fact, the state’s Department of Transportation recommends that you not cancel your insurance until you’ve turned in your license plates.
The penalties are steep. You could receive a $50 fee for your 1st insurance lapse, a $100 fee for a second occurrence, and $150 for any lapses thereafter. Make sure you find a good provider to avoid these fines entirely.
2. Understand How Providers Assess Risk
When shopping around for car insurance in the past, you may have heard the word “risk” thrown around on several occasions.
Risk is a key factor in determining your monthly premiums. It’s how car insurance providers assess how much they need to be compensated for covering you and your likelihood/unlikelihood of getting in an accident.
If your risk is lower, then you’ll receive lower rates, as you aren’t considered a risky investment. If your risk is higher, then you’ll most likely only receive higher premium offers or the provider will choose not to cover you.
There are many things that insurance companies use to determine risk. They view your age, marital status, driving history, zip code, and the car that you drive as insightful factors of your risk.
For those of you that are classified as high-risk drivers, your options will be somewhat limited. However, you’ll still be able to find a good provider that will take you on as a client.
Knowing whether insurance companies consider you high or low risk will help you as you shop around. You can jump on a great deal whenever you find one.
3. Find a Trustworthy Insurance Provider
Car insurance premiums aren’t everything. It’s more important to find a provider that you can trust whenever you’re in a pinch.
The reality is that you’ll most likely need to file a claim with your car insurance company one day. When that day comes, you want to have full confidence that your provider will come through.
Otherwise, you could be left paying for hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in damage. Always read up on the car insurance company that you’re considering investing in.
Take the time to read through a few online reviews. Do their previous and current clients seem satisfied with their service? Do those that have had to file a claim seem happy with the coverage they received?
4. Find a Balance
Should you be focused on monthly premiums? Is it more constructive to set up a lower deductible? Should you pay more each month to get more coverage? Odds are, you find yourself asking a few of these questions.
The truth is that you should find a mixture between the three: premiums, deductibles, and coverage.
Often, you can raise one to lower the other. For example, if you’re wanting to lower your monthly premium a bit, you can raise the deductible amount that you’d pay if you needed your coverage to pay for repairs.
There isn’t necessarily a “correct formula” for this. Simply find a balance that you are comfortable with. If you can do that, you’ll be satisfied with your coverage.
5. Reach Out to Inquire
Too many people purchase insurance online without ever talking to a rep. Be sure to buck that trend by reaching out to the provider to schedule a time to chat.
That way, you can learn more about each other. You can tell them your situation and they will be able to help you find different ways to save on car insurance without sacrificing the coverage.
It’s okay to admit if you don’t know much about car insurance. As long as you’re working with a trustworthy provider, they’ll be happy to fill you in.
Find the Best Car Insurance Raleigh for Your Needs
Now that you have seen several ways to find the best car insurance Raleigh and invest in a policy that you can feel confident in, start your search the right way.
Be sure to read this article for more information on how to get the best price on auto insurance and meet your budget.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we will be happy to assist you further.