While many residents of Hilton Head Island, SC, have wide access to better auto insurance deals, they are not aware of these provisions because they assume that all policies are similar. As a result, the majority of car insurance shoppers purchase their policies based on a single factor which is the price. However, the best car insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC, wants you to purchase a product that meets your insurance needs.
So, understanding various car insurance options and companies will help you obtain the most affordable car insurance quotes the Hilton Head Island SC area has. It’s important to know that each insurer offers a selection of incentives, discounts, and coverage options. That means you should shop around to see what different insurance providers in your area offer and pick the best quote and coverage.
You will discover that the insurance companies set their policies based on each driver’s profile which comprises their age, marital status, driving history, credit score, and more. Further, insurance quotes fluctuate based on the company providing it, coverage amounts, the type of policy, the model, and the make of your car. Therefore continue reading this guide, and in the end, you will understand how to find the best auto insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC has in terms of rates, coverage, and discounts.
The Best Cheapest Hilton Head Island SC Car Insurance Companies
Drivers are looking for cheap car insurance Hilton Head Island SC company offering the best insurance coverage. However, finding such a company will require you to shop around and compare quotes from different companies. You have to consider other factors besides the price, which comprises the quality of the insurance coverage policy, the health and reliability of the company.
Every insurer calculates its insurance premiums differently because there are several factors that are considered when setting the rate. The common factors are the driver’s age, driving record, credit history, location, model and make of their car, and marital status. So each company has what they consider a priority when pricing their policies, hence why there are different rates in the market.
Besides prioritizing the cost of your insurance policy, you should pick one that will offer you adequate protection against road accidents. A full-coverage policy can sufficiently cover you against on the road and off the road accidents because it has a higher liability limit comprehensive and collision insurance. This option costs more than the minimum coverage, but you can compare quotes from multiple insurance companies and pick the best Hilton Head Island car insurance. You will discover that you can save up to $528 when you shop around.
The table below shows some of the most popular insurance companies in the Hilton Head Island, SC area.
Rank | Company | Annual Payment |
1 | State Farm | $871 |
2 | Allstate | $984 |
3 | USAA | $1,179 |
4 | Geico | $1,241 |
5 | Auto-Owners | $1,289 |
6 | Progressive | $1,365 |
7 | Safeco | $1,471 |
8 | Travelers | $1,543 |
9 | MetLife | $1,587 |
10 | Nationwide | $1,684 |
11 | Liberty Mutual | $1,793 |
12 | National General | $1,896 |
Average Cost Of Car Insurance In Hilton Head Island SC
Nearly 13,900 people live in Hilton Head Island, SC, and all Americans find the area a popular vacation spot. It is important to have good insurance coverage when driving on South Carolina’s road because, during the summer months, the idyllic resort town can have nearly 150,000 people enjoying its 12 miles of beachfront property as they play golf, fest, or taste wine.
Hilton Head Island has a lower average compared to the state or national average annual premiums. For instance, a motorist in Hilton Head island pays an average yearly premium of $1,149 while the state’s average annual premium is $1,210 and the national average annual premium is $1,318.
Insurance providers in Hilton Head Island consider factors such as the driver’s age and driving history, the make and model of their vehicle, the deductible amount, the coverage type and the benefit amounts, the vehicle’s condition, age, and mileage.
On the other hand, the best Hilton Head Island auto insurance companies offer discounts that can significantly lower your insurance premium. These are:
- Good student
- Low mileage
- Safe driving
- Seniors
- Professional organization membership
- Safety features and more.
Hilton Head Island Auto Insurance Requirements
South Carolina is an at-fault state, and so an individual that causes a car accident is responsible for losses that stem from it. These include injuries, vehicle damages, lost income, and more. Therefore, the at-fault driver’s insurer absorbs these losses up to the policy limits.
Any person who renews or applies for a driver’s license must certify that there is an automobile liability policy that insures him or they presently don’t own a vehicle. Further, a driver must carry liability auto insurance with the following minimum requirements.
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person due to an auto accident that the driver or the owner of the car caused.
- $50,000 for total bodily injury or death liability due to an auto accident that the driver or owner of the insured car caused.
- $25,000 for property damage per accident resulting from an auto accident that the driver or owner of the insured car caused.
The liability coverage referred above takes care of the medical and property damage expenses in addition to expenses arising from the injuries that other drives, passengers, and pedestrians sustained or their vehicle damages of the car accident that you caused up to the coverage limits.
These costs can be too high to the extent that you have to pay for them out of pocket. To prevent getting into a financial crisis after an accident, Hilton Head Island auto insurance encourages drivers to carry move coverage that protects them in the event they are involved in a serious crash that results in severe car accident injuries and vehicles damages and that exhausts their coverage limits. So a higher coverage protects your personal assets in case the auto accident is expensive.
Further, the liability coverage covers accidents caused by a family member or an authorized person driving your car. It will most likely cover you when you get involved in a car accident when driving a rental vehicle.
Sadly, South Carolina’s liability coverage doesn’t cater to your own injuries or vehicle damages after a car accident, so you must have additional coverage to protect yourself in case there is no one else’s coverage to take care of your losses. For instance, when the other motorist is uninsured or has less coverage.
Collision coverage is optional in South Caroline but a requirement when driving a financed or leased vehicle. However, the coverage takes care of the repair or replacement of your damaged car after an accident. So shop around for cheap auto insurance in Hilton Head Island SC company for your collision coverage.
How To Get Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes In Hilton Head Island SC?
Maintaining a clean driving record is the best way to getting cheap car insurance quotes in the Hilton Head Island, SC area. Such a driver is considered low risk by the insurance companies, thus rewarding them with lower insurance rates. So avoid DUIs, speeding tickets, and crashes if you want to pay less for your auto insurance.
The following are ways of lowering your insurance premiums:
Maintain a Clean Driving Record for Several Consecutive Years
A driver with a clean driving history will always get cheap car insurance quotes from any insurer. Here is how you can be that driver:
- Adhere to all traffic laws
- Drive less to reduce the risk of being cited for traffic offenses or crashing
- Stay away from the road when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- A well-maintained vehicle has reduced the chances of getting involved in a crash.
Increase Your Deductibles
A deductible is an amount you will pay before an insurer picks up the tab when you’re involved in an accident or stolen. The amount ranges from $250 to $1,000, depending on the policy.
A higher deductible leads to lower premiums. So opt for higher deductibles in order to your annual premium by a given percentage point and get more money in your pocket.
Further, you can lower your premium by not filing minor claims. You can pay from your pocket whenever possible.
Consider Switching Auto Insurance Providers
There are different insurance rates in the market because each insurer uses a different approach when determining premiums. You will realize that a particular company that gave you a lower rate has increased when your situation changes.
So avoid the temptation to remain with the same insurer over the years but instead shop around before your next renewal. This is important, especially when the rates sharply increase after a DUI conviction or an accident.
Ask about Discounts
There are a variety of discounts that Hilton Head Island auto insurances companies give to lower insurance rates. So ask about discounts when renewing your car insurance and shop around to compare rates from different providers. Your insurer should give you some of the following discounts.
- Clean driving record
- Installing anti-theft or safety devices features
- Bundling auto insurance with policies such as homeowners insurance and more
- Receiving documents online
- Paying the entire annual premium or for six-month at once
- Member of a professional organization or affiliate group
Purchase a Vehicle that is Cheap to Insure
Auto insurance rates are greatly influenced by the year of the vehicle, its make, and its model. Each car has a different potential of being stolen or getting involved in an accident. Thus one vehicle might be considered a greater liability to insure than another.
Based on this information, you can find a vehicle with less horsepower hence fewer speed-related collisions and claims.
Opt for Less Car Insurance Coverage
The lower the insurance coverage, the lower the premiums. However, this is not the best option for lowering the cost of insuring your vehicle. As mentioned earlier, getting involved in an expensive accident that exhausts your coverage limit can leave you with a financial dent.
Therefore, upgrade the state’s minimum liability coverage limit and add an uninsured motorist coverage that matches it to protect yourself in the event of a car accident.
So use these tips to lower monthly premiums, which can translate to major savings over time. Always shop around, ask for discounts, and compare rates before renewing your car insurance.
Hilton Head Island SC Car Insurance For Drivers With A Good Record
Generally, drivers with a good record in Hilton Head Island, SC area are rewarded with lower insurance premiums than those of other profiles. Insurance providers consider a person a good driver when they no record of at-fault accidents or any traffic violations on their profile.
Therefore a good driver is a more appealing customer, and the best car insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC, extend more benefits in terms of lower insurance rates and discounts.
Maintaining a good record is the primary method of lowering your insurance premium. Other ways that can give you affordable car insurance quotes at Hilton Head Island, SC, includes:
- Opting for a higher deductible
- Installing anti-theft devices
- Switching to a cheaper-to-insure car
- Bundling auto insurance with home insurance and other multi-policy discounts,
- Improving your credit score
- Shopping around for lower insurance rates.
The following are three options a driver with a clean driving history can select.
State Minimum Insurance: This is the basic minimum coverage a driver needs to drive on South Carolina’s roads.
Standard Coverage: The policy consist of minimum liability coverage, collision coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage.
Full Coverage: The coverage comprises property liability coverage, bodily injury liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage.
Here are the best auto insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC, for full coverage.
Insurance Company | Full Coverage |
Esurance | $1,871 |
Progressive | $1,983 |
Nationwide | $2,165 |
Geico | $2,271 |
Auto-Owners | $2,342 |
Safeco | $2,389 |
MetLife | $2,465 |
Allstate | $2,538 |
Travelers | $2,579 |
State Farm | $2,674 |
Hilton Head Island SC Cheap Car Insurance Quotes For Young Drivers
Generally, insurance companies charge young drivers higher premiums than those of other age groups. Based on car accidents data, drivers in the younger age groups are more likely to cause a car crash than older ones.
Here are the cheap car insurance Hilton Island SC companies affording the most affordable rates SC Farm Bureau and Geico take the lead.
Company | Annual Payment |
SC Farm Bureau | $2,379 |
Geico | $2,436 |
Auto-Owners | $2,487 |
Progressive | $2,562 |
Auto0-Owners | $2,671 |
MetLife | $2,765 |
Travelers | $2,891 |
State Farm | $3,287 |
Allstate | $3,361 |
Hilton Head Island SC considers any driver aged 40 years and below as young, unlike other cities. These drivers have low experience on the road, riskier, likely to file a claim, so they have to pay more premium.
Happily, insurance providers are not allowed to use factors such as gender and education when calculating insurance rates. So young good drivers can get affordable car insurance quotes from Hilton Head Island, SC, thus save a lot of money.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage For Young Good Drivers In Hilton Head Island SC
Although young drivers pay higher insurance premiums, these rates reduce as they age. Also, by maintaining an accident-free history, young drivers can enjoy numerous discounts that can lower their premiums.
Further, the insurance industry in South Carolina has many insurance providers, and so by shopping around, a good young driver can get lower rates.
Here are some of the best auto insurance companies in Hilton Head Island, SC, with the lowest average rates.
Company | Annual Payment |
Allstate | $891 |
Auto-Owners | $975 |
The Hartford | $1,186 |
Progressive | $1,241 |
Country Financial | $1,289 |
American National | $1,352 |
Geico | $1,389 |
Travelers | $1,431 |
State Farm | $1,495 |
Cheap Car Insurance In Hilton Head Island After A Speeding Ticket
Getting a speeding ticket adds some points to your license; thus, it negatively affects your driving record and increases your insurance rates. So your need for higher mph will give you a speeding ticket, and the more you get them, the higher the points, the riskier you become, and the higher the premiums.
Therefore insurance providers increase your rates based on the points, and you end up paying more in Hilton Head Island, SC, than those who have maintained a clean record.
On average, a driver with a speeding ticket can pay $1,378 a year, while those without any traffic violations pay $224 less.
Below are different Hilton Head Island car insurance companies and expected annual payments for a driver with a speeding ticket.
Company | Annual Payment |
Allstate | $1,371 |
State Farm | $1,436 |
Travelers | $1,489 |
MetLife | $1,572 |
Progressive | $1,634 |
USAA | $1,687 |
Nationwide | $1,759 |
Geico | $1,846 |
Liberty Mutual | $1,892 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes In Hilton Head Island SC After A Car Accident
A driver with an at-fault accident in their driving history pays more premium than those with a clean one. This is regardless of whether the accident was small and had a minor impact. You still have to pay more because insurance companies consider you a risky driver.
Charging risky drivers more premium helps insurers to cover or save themselves. However, you can get accident forgiveness which cleans your record, but you have to pay a one-time fee.
Further shopping around before renewing your insurance policy can help you find cheap auto insurance Hilton Head Island SC offering relatively lower rates to drivers after a car accident. Actually, such a driver can save nearly 54% on their full coverage car insurance premiums, which is lower than the South Carolina average of $3,023 a year.
Here are Hilton Head Island auto insurance average rates.
Company | Average Rate |
State Farm | $1,879 |
SC Farm Bureau | $1,965 |
SafeAuto | $2,182 |
Nationwide | $2,265 |
Auto-Owners | $2,389 |
MetLife | $2,471 |
Geico | $2,586 |
Progressive | $2,692 |
Travelers | $2,781 |
Cheap Auto Insurance Companies In Hilton Head Island SC After A DUI
Getting behind the wheel under the influence (DUI) takes you instantly to the risky driver’s category. That means you will pay a higher premium for the next 3 to 5 years in the event you get a DUI. So the financial consequence is one of the several repercussions you get when you get a traffic offense citation.
While some drivers try to fallout, the SR-22 filing, reinstatement fees, court fines, and higher premium make it an overwhelmingly long process. Such a driver pays $1,190 more a year compared to one with a clean driving record.
The following are the cheap car insurance for Hilton Head Island SC for a driver after a DUI.
Company | Annual Payment |
SC Farm Bureau | $1,682 |
Progresive | $1,754 |
Travelers | $1,891 |
SafeAuto | $2,187 |
Nationwide | $2,265 |
Auto-Owners | $2,381 |
Country Financial | $2,479 |
MetLife | $2,562 |
State Farm | $2,679 |
Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes In Hilton Head Island SC For Minimum Coverage
A liability-only policy is the only cheap auto insurance Hilton Head Island SC has; however, the coverage only meets the minimum requirements of this state. The coverage is state minimum liability coverage, and it doesn’t adequately cover your assets. You will be required to pay some losses out of pocket in the event of an expensive car crash.
Hilton Head Island auto insurance recommends the addition of comprehensive and collision coverage to the minimum policy that will protect you in the event of an accident or extreme weather damages.
The following are the cheapest auto insurance companies in the Hilton Head Island area for minimum coverage.
Company | Annual Payment |
Geico | $487 |
USAA | $584 |
Allstate | $641 |
Nationwide | $689 |
MetLife | $752 |
Auto-Owners | $791 |
Travelers | $846 |
State Farm | $879 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies In Hilton Head Island SC For Drivers With Bad Credit Score
Insurance companies consider factors such as credit score, age, make and model of car, location, and more when determining a driver’s insurance premium. That means drivers who maintain an excellent credit record as low as $95 a month while those with poor credit pay $142 per month.
Therefore credit score is a vital element and can significantly affect your insurance rates in the Hilton Head Island, SC area.
The following are the cheap auto insurance Hilton Head Island SC companies for full coverage for drivers with bad credit scores.
Company | Annual Payment |
Nationwide | $1,679 |
Geico | $1,891 |
State Farm | $1,964 |
Travelers | $2,187 |
USAA | $2,265 |
MetLife | $2,389 |
Allstate | $2,471 |
Progressive | $2,563 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies In Hilton Head Island SC For Seniors
Hilton Head Island car insurance providers consider senior drivers high risk due to their slower reaction times as well as lapsed judgment when driving. Actually, NHTSA reports that senior drivers aged 65 caused 13.8% of accidents in South Carolina.
Further, their insurance premiums are calculated based on factors such as driving history, driving frequency, health, and car make and model.
On average senior drivers pay $1,192, which is higher than what drivers aged 40 years pay on average.
The following are some of the cheap car insurance for Hilton Head Island, SC, for seniors.
Company | Annual Payment |
Geico | $879 |
USAA | $982 |
Allstate | $1,187 |
MetLife | $1,241 |
Auto-Owners | $1,289 |
Travelers | $1,365 |
State Farm | $1,471 |
Nationwide | $1,586 |
Who Offers A Cheap Car Insurance In Hilton Head Island SC For Married Couples?
Generally, single drivers pay more than married drivers. However, a married couple may be charged more because there may be more than one person on the policy, have some teen drivers on their policy, and more than one vehicle.
Therefore, Hilton Head Island car insurance companies may charge married couples nearly $125 a month and single drivers $108 per month.
Married drivers should shop around before renewing their insurance policy because there are some cheap car insurance Hilton Head Island SC companies that can charge them on average $1,915 and single drivers $2,071, as shown below.
Company | Married Couple Rates |
Geico | $1,987 |
Travelers | $2,165 |
Allstate | $2,281 |
MetLife | $2,379 |
Nationwide | $2,486 |
Auto-Owners | $2,563 |
Progressive | $2,679 |
State Farm | $2,782 |
What Are The Different Types Of Hilton Head Island Auto Insurance Coverage?
There are several types of car insurance coverages in the market. It’s important to know these types so that you can get a policy that’s right for you. The following are the basic car insurance types, what they cover and how they work.
New Car Replacement
With a new car replacement insurance, a driver gets a brand new car when theirs is totaled. That means they get the same make and model rather than a depreciated value of their vehicle. However, this is minus deductible.
Original Parts Replacement
This is an optional coverage that helps you replace damaged parts of your car using parts purchased from its original manufacturer. Therefore, parts that meet the highest quality standards are used to repair your vehicle, and if they’re no longer in production, the insurer ensures that reconditioned or comparable parts are used.
Towing and Labor Insurance
A breakdown can be expensive and so to avoid panicking when your car is stranded, you can add towing and labor insurance coverage to your existing auto insurance policy because it protects you from hassles and costs linked to common roadside breakdowns. Some of the common services covered under towing and labor insurance are
- Tires changes
- Jump starts
- Oil delivery
- Lockout assistance
- Towing
On the other hand, the labor cost entails labor charges for getting your car up and running. While it covers the cost of changing the tiring, it doesn’t cover the cost of buying a new tire. You have to pay for a new tire out of pocket.
Liability Coverage
This covers third parties or individuals who get injured or property that gets damaged if you cause an accident. Therefore your insurer absorbs these expenses up to the coverage limit. However, the liability insurance coverage doesn’t cover you, the policyholder.
Collision Insurance
The liability coverage doesn’t protect you, the policyholder but third parties. So you have to get additional auto coverage that takes care of the cost arising from an actual collision you’re responsible for. Collision coverage is the answer, and it reimburses you the costs of repairing your vehicle due to an accident that you caused. So it doesn’t cover damages caused by another insured driver or when the car is vandalized or stolen.
Underinsured Motorists Insurance
It’s important to protect yourself from irresponsible motorists such as those that don’t have enough liability coverage, such as the underinsured or uninsured, as well as those that disappear after from the scene of the accident before you get their information.
Underinsured motorist coverage protects you against expenses arising from an accident caused by an at-fault driver with insufficient liability limits, which can cause you to pay out of pocket. This coverage includes bodily injury damage and property damage. In most states, the underinsured and uninsured motorist coverages are put together as a single coverage.
Roadside Assistance
The breakdown cover or roadside assistance coverage helps you get back on the road when your vehicle breaks down. So your service provider sends a roadside contractor to solve the problem or a truck to tow your car to the nearest motor mechanic. However, this has to happen within the service limits.
Some of the standard roadside –assistance services are battery replacements, jumpstarts, tire changes, breakdown tows, key recovery, and emergency fuel.
Comprehensive Insurance
As mentioned above, collision coverage takes care of damages caused by actual collisions. However, there are other damages such as theft, fire, vandalism, hail, earthquakes, windstorms, flying or falling objects, windshield damage, or contact with animals that are not covered by liability and collision coverages and that would want to protect your car against.
So a comprehensive coverage protects your car against a wide set of circumstances, and so it’s important to add it to your state-required liability insurance.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
The insurance coverage protects you from an at-fault driver without any car insurance, not even liability insurance. This add-on coverage covers the policyholder and passengers, and in some cases, it takes care of property damage.
It’s mandatory in some states to have uninsured motorist coverage, and some insurance companies often pair uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in an auto insurance policy.
Major Parts Replacement Coverage
The coverage allows you to replace major parts of your car such as batteries, brakes, and tires irrespective of their depreciation value, wear and tear at the time of the accident.
Gap Insurance
If you are involved in a car accident, and the insurance settlement is lower than the cost of a loan due to depreciation, thus leaving you with a huge difference that you need to settle out of pocket. Getting gap insurance will help you cover this difference after a car theft or total loss.
Rental Reimbursement Insurance
The coverage helps you pay for a rental car as yours is undergoing repair after a car crash.
Medical Payments Coverage
The coverage pays for your medical bills after an accident irrespective of who was at fault. Getting medical payments coverage is very important because medical bills can be expensive.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
The coverage covers medical expenses and loss of income that stems from a covered accident. Based on the limits, this insurance coverage can pay up to 80% of the medical as well as other expenses that arise from a covered accident.
Classic Car Insurance
This is a special type of policy that covers classic or antique cars. A classic car is between 25 and 30 years old. It also covers high-value vehicles like hot rods, muscle cars, vintage military vehicles, luxury, and exotic vehicles.
Is Hilton Head Island SC Auto Insurance A No-Fault?
No. Hilton Head Island, SC, applies the traditional “fault” system. That means the driver responsible for causing the accident takes financial responsibility for the losses arising from that crash. This includes injuries, vehicle damage, lost income, and so on. Therefore, the at-fault driver’s insurer absorbs these expenses up to the coverage policy limit.
The injured driver can proceed in either of these three ways.
- For a loss covered in the policy, the driver can file a claim with their own insurer, who also pursue a subrogation claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
- File a third-party claim directly with the at-fault driver’s insurer.
- Go to the court and file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
The situation is different when the claimant resides in a no-fault car insurance state. That means the injured driver turns to their personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for payment of their medical bills in addition to other out-of-pocket losses. This is irrespective of the driver responsible for the accident.
However, the injured driver can step outside of no-fault if they reach a certain threshold and file a claim against the at-fault driver. This doesn’t apply to South Carolina’s drivers who engage in an in-state accident because it’s a no-fault state.
Ways To Reduced Rates In Hilton Head Island SC Car Insurance
Every motorist is seeking affordable car insurance quotes from Hilton Head Island SC and the best car insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC has because they don’t want to compromise quality as much as they are looking for a low price for their car insurance. The following are different was
Here are ways of lowering your auto insurance premium:
- Pay the entire car insurance premium in full
- Raise your deductibles
- Consider bundling your car insurance, homeownership, and other policies
- Opt for usage-based car insurance
- Track your policy premium change
- Shop around
Good Drivers Car Insurance Discounts In Hilton Head Island SC
Good drivers are eligible for discounts from the best auto insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC, for maintaining a flawless driving history. Further, based on their age, lifestyle, and policy management, they can qualify for more discounts such as:
- Multiple cars
- Multiple policies such as auto insurance and homeownership
- Senior adult
- Safe driver or accident-free history
- Anti-theft devices and anti-lock brake
- Full payment of the entire insurance premium
- Defensive driver
- Good and resident student
Car Insurance Hilton Head Island SC Questions And Answers
Why do auto insurance companies use my prior insurance information?
There are many reasons why an insurance company will review your previous auto carriers’ information. These includes:
- To establish whether you are eligible for coverage
- To determine the amount of premium you should pay for insurance coverage
- To decide if you are qualified for any discounts
- To verify your previous liability coverage limits
- To confirm whether you have always had an auto liability insurance coverage
- To predict the likelihood of coverage lapses and future auto accidents
How much will I expect to pay for car insurance in Hilton Head Island?
On average, a standard driver can pay $1,368 per annum for their car insurance. However, you can get a slightly lower rate if you shop around.
It’s important to note that insurance premiums are calculated based on an individual’s profile. That means the insurer considers your driving history, insurance history, credit score, age, relationship or marital status, occupation, education level, location, and more.
So be assured that the insurer would want to know whether you have ever had a lapse in coverage, filed any claims recently, had speeding tickets and DUIs in recent years.
When should I skip Collision and Comprehensive insurance?
Factor in all the risks in your city and state before dropping the collision and comprehensive insurance from your policy. For instance, a driver of an older vehicle may drop this coverage and conclude that it’s not worth the cost. However, does your state get lots of hail storms? Is car theft common in your location? Are the reports of drivers hitting deer on the road common in your state?
If so, dropping the collision and comprehensive insurance coverage is not a wise idea because you will pay for your car damages in the event you’re involved in such scenarios. So if you can’t repair or replace your car out of pocket, you need collision and comprehensive insurance coverage.
When should I get quotes?
Some drivers are loyal to their insurers and may plan to retain them as long as they have the same vehicle. However, you should shop for new rates from the best car insurance companies Hilton Head Island SC, every year because ordinarily insurers reserve their lowest rates for new customers and none for loyal customers.
Further, the insurance rates for existing customers increase slowly over time, and comparing rates every year before renewing your auto insurance will help you get cheaper rates.
Additionally, your rate will rise when you receive any tickets or get involved in an accident; however, you can get cheaper rates when you check around with insurance providers dealing with motorists with less-than-perfect records.
More so, driving less, installing anti-theft devices, improving your credit score, switching your car model and make as well as relocating to a different zip code are factors that you can use to get affordable insurance rates when they change and alter your profile. Therefore shop around before renewing your car insurance for better rates.
Does my auto insurance policy cover a rental vehicle?
Yes, it can if the rental car you’re driving has a similar value as your own car. So your auto insurance coverage will sufficiently cover the rental vehicle.
However, liability coverage only covers third-party vehicle damages and not yours. The PIP covers your medical expenses and those of the other parties that were injured as a result of an auto accident that you caused. You can use homeowners and renters insurance to protect your belongings against theft.
A loss-damage waiver is a rental car add-on that you should consider if you don’t have a collision and comprehensive coverage on your standard auto policy because it protects you in the event the car is stolen or damaged. Besides waiving your financial responsibility, the loss-damage waiver covers the loss-of-use charges when the vehicle is undergoing repairs.
Therefore, confirm with your insurance provider before accepting or declining certain rental car coverages. Understanding what coverage your policy provides will give you peace of mind and avoid overwhelming debt that stems from an auto accident.
Most insurers calculate their insurance premiums correctly and based on the profile details that you submit during the renewal of your policy. However, you can review the policy declarations page(s) to confirm whether the information is accurate.
Further, the law requires insurance companies to attach a Rating Information Form explaining each item that is indicated on your policy declarations page, accounting for each dollar, such as all surcharges and discounts.