Lee County insurance rates rank 10th highest in state
NerdWallet.com, a
"It's not a complaint that we hear often," said
According to NerdWallet.com, the national average for insurance is
"Two of the reasons that you'd typically see higher rates in certain areas would be higher vehicular theft rates and accident rates," said NerdWallet.com analyst
Harris said that the state sets rates in territories and that those rates are based on various data collected.
"There are a lot of factors [that influence cost], but there are some steps you can take," Chu said. "Think about whether you need to change your coverage.With an older car, for example, you may want to decrease the coverage you have to get lower premiums."
Harris said there are steps he recommends for anyone who is getting insurance.
"Number one, by far the most important thing is to drive carefully," he said. "
One option is to look for some type of accident forgiveness clause in a policy.
"Getting accident forgiveness, where you won't be charged more for your first at-fault accident, can save people hundreds of dollars over several years," Harris said.
He also suggested bundling policies. Using the same company for home, life, car and other types of insurance can result in a discount on each one.
Both Chu and Harris said having the availability of multiple policies can lead to better rates.
"Compare rates online," Chu said. "Prices do fluctuate. Sometimes people think the rates will be the same everywhere, but there are a lot of differences in how companies set the rate."
NerdWallet.com provides a portal for customers to explore to get quotes.
"Of course, I think the independent agency model has an advantage here," Harris said. "We represent several companies to make sure our clients get the best deal."
___
(c)2015 The Sanford Herald (Sanford, N.C.)
Visit The Sanford Herald (Sanford, N.C.) at www.sanfordherald.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
GHRA, Bill Wilt, Alan Zimmermann to launch insurance research
Columbus Life Debuts Its First Single Premium Deferred FIA
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News