Tuesday, September 1, 2009

How to Find Cheap Auto Insurance in South Carolina


Like in other states, auto insurance in South Carolina requires drivers to carry liability insurance on their car. In the event that your insurance policy lapses or has been cancelled, you will have 20 days to look for a new policy to replace the old one. Otherwise, your license and your registration will be revoked and you will end up paying fines before you will be given the chance to renew your license.

It’s generally easier to just take your time and look for other ways to save money and get discount auto insurance in South Carolina.

So to help you with that concern, here are several ways for every driver to save money on their present policy or to get their first policy at the best rate possible.

South Carolina auto insurance laws also require car owners to have a policy that can meet the minimum liability requirement. The minimum liability requirement requires drivers to have a policy that can pay $25,000 in medical coverage per person per accident, with a cap of $50,000 in medical expenses per accident, and additional coverage for property damage that amounts to $25,000.

However, because the property damage portion of a liability policy only covers the damages done to the injured party and excludes your own, if your motor vehicle is financed, your lender will require you to get additional coverage in the form of collision and comprehensive insurance. Sometimes, you may also be required to buy additional coverage in the form of Uninsured Motorist (UM) insurance.

Another factor which may influence your insurance policy is your car’s make, model, age, and whether it is being financed or not. Depending upon these factors, you can expect your car insurance coverage to either go up or down.

You can further help keep your rates down by being a careful driver, and maintaining a driving record that is free from speeding tickets, DUI or DWI convictions. Remember that having any violations on your driving record will not only bar you from possible discounts, they may also contribute to a higher premium from your auto insurance.

Also, if you have a garage where you can safely keep your car at night, you should also let your agent know this, as this may mean lower premiums. If you have a steering wheel lock or electronic alarms, you can also ask your insurance agent about any additional discounts that you can get for anti-theft devices.

Another way you can save money on auto insurance is to carpool to work. Not only will carpooling save you from spending additional gas money, they can also contribute to a lower auto insurance premium. Using public transportation can also bear the same results. Either way, the main point here is that if you can cut your mileage down to 500 miles or fewer per month, you will qualify for a Low Mileage Discount.

If you are under 25 years of age, and you are looking for auto insurance in South Carolina, you can save about 5% per month on your insurance costs by maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.0. On the other hand, if you are aged 55, you may be able to save about 10% on your auto insurance premiums by taking a defensive driving course.

Another way you can lower your rate is to avoid making small claims. If you can afford to pay something out of your own pocket then do so. The longer you don’t file any claim, the lower your rate will be. Some companies will even offer incentives for those clients who don’t file a claim in 6 months, whereas others take around a year or so.

And finally, you can also reduce the costs of your monthly auto insurance payment by increasing your deductible. Do not do this if you’re financially unprepared though, because you may be asked to come up with an amount of your deductible in cash anytime you make a claim.

And those are some of the things that you will need to know about auto insurance in South Carolina. Along with accumulating a good number of quotes from reputable auto insurance companies, you will be able to save money and get the best discounts from your auto insurance policy.