If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to get discount car insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from providers in Durham. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.
- Spend some time learning about the coverage provided by your policy and the things you can change to lower rates. Many rating criteria that increase rates like tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unacceptable credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article gives more information to prevent expensive rate increases and get bigger discounts.
- Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the new quotes to your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
The most important part of this process is to compare similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure the most accurate price comparison and a complete rate analysis.
Unbelievable but true according to a study most car insurance buyers have been with the same company for well over three years, and 38% of customers have never shopped around. The average driver in North Carolina can cut their rates by roughly $90 a year by just comparing rate quotes, but they just feel it’s too hard to compare rate quotes online.
The companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in Durham, NC. If you want cheap auto insurance in Durham, NC, we recommend you visit as many as you can to find the lowest car insurance rates.
Cheaper rates on GMC Sierra insurance in Durham with these discounts
Some companies don’t always publicize all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched a few of the more common as well as the least known insurance savings.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new Sierra can be considerably cheaper because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Paperwork-free – A few larger companies give back up to $50 for signing up online.
- Pay Early and Save – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child enroll in driver’s education as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may qualify for discounts of 20 to 30 percent.
It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you aren’t that lucky. Any qualifying discounts will definitely lower your policy premiums.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between GMC Sierra premium costs with and without discounts. The premiums assume a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-policy, multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.
Car insurance companies who may offer most of these discounts include:
Double check with each insurance company to apply every possible discount. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply in Durham. To see a list of insurance companies who offer free GMC Sierra insurance quotes in Durham, click this link.
GMC Sierra insurance analysis
The premium table shown below showcases estimates of insurance rates for GMC Sierra models. Having knowledge of how car insurance prices are calculated can help drivers make informed decisions when comparing rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $174 | $322 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $952 | $79 |
| Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $174 | $322 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $952 | $79 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $174 | $322 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $952 | $79 |
| Sierra SL Crew Cab 2WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLE Extended Cab 4WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SL Crew Cab 4WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD | $196 | $378 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $218 | $436 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,110 | $93 |
| Sierra Denali Crew Cab 2WD | $218 | $436 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,110 | $93 |
| Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $218 | $436 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,110 | $93 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate quotes do not factor in specific garaging location which can change coverage prices substantially.
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice and can affect GMC Sierra insurance rates for different insured age categories. The prices are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Drive safe and save
The example below highlights how speeding tickets and accident claims impact GMC Sierra car insurance costs for different insured age categories. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Seven Things That Determine Your Insurance Rates
Many different elements are part of the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, although others are less obvious like your vehicle usage or your financial responsibility. One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the different types of things that come into play when calculating your premiums. If you know what determines base rates, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with cheaper rates.
The following are some of the things auto insurance companies consider when setting your rate level.
What’s your car’s safety rating? – Safer cars cost less to insure. Vehicles engineered for safety reduce occupant injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates directly to fewer claims which can mean better rates for you. If your GMC has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it is probably cheaper to insure.
Premiums drop with age – Older insureds are proven to be safer behind the wheel, cost insurance companies less in claims, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets. Drivers with little experience tend to be more careless when driving with friends so auto insurance rates are higher.
The next chart uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Higher deductibles are cheaper – Your deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if the claim is covered. Coverage for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a stationary object, fire damage, and having a roll-over accident. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less money you will pay for auto insurance.
Certain vocations pay higher prices – Occupational choices like doctors, airline pilots, and emergency personnel generally pay higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and extremely grueling work hours. On the flip side, careers such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed have lower than average premiums.
Does auto insurance cost more for males? – Over time, data shows women tend to be less risk to insure than men. This data doesn’t prove that females are better at driving than males. They both are responsible for fender benders at a similar rate, but men have accidents that have higher claims. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
The chart below shows the comparison of GMC Sierra insurance costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no violations or accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
Where you reside is a factor – Living in less populated areas is a positive aspect when buying auto insurance. Fewer people means less chance of accidents in addition to lower liability claims. Drivers in populated North Carolina areas regularly have more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. More time behind the wheel translates into higher accident risk.
Better credit means lower costs – Your credit history will be a significant factor in your rate calculation. People that have excellent credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit ratings. If your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your GMC Sierra by taking the time to improve your credit score.
GMC Sierra insurance loss data – Auto insurance companies include the past claim trends for vehicles to help calculate a profitable premium price. Vehicles that have higher loss trends will have a higher premium rate.
The table below illustrates the historical insurance loss data for GMC Sierra vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim amount for all vehicles as a whole is a value of 100. Values that are below 100 indicate better than average losses, while percentage values above 100 indicate more frequent claims or an increased probability of a larger loss.
| Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra 1500 2WD | 89 | 122 | 106 | |||
| GMC Sierra 1500 4WD | 97 | 86 | 79 | |||
| GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 2WD | 87 | 99 | 132 | 69 | 69 | 89 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 4WD | 89 | 102 | 114 | 52 | 51 | 73 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 2WD | 98 | 109 | 96 | 70 | ||
| GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4WD | 78 | 85 | 89 | 65 | 56 | 94 |
| GMC Sierra 2500 4WD | 70 | 56 | ||||
| GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 2WD | 63 | 101 | ||||
| GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD | 91 | 118 | 105 | 43 | 50 | 90 |
| GMC Sierra 2500 Ext Cab 4WD | 67 | 108 | 85 | 40 | ||
| GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab 4WD | 85 | 128 | 121 | 35 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Compare rates but buy from a local neighborhood Durham car insurance agent
A lot of people still like to talk to a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. A nice benefit of comparing rate quotes online is you can get cheap rate quotes and also buy local. And supporting local agencies is still important in Durham.
By using this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to local insurance agents in Durham who can give free rate quotes for your coverage. You never need to contact any insurance agencies because prices are sent to you directly. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from a specific car insurance provider, just visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
If you want to buy car insurance from a reliable insurance agent, it helps to know the two different types of agencies and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Agents in Durham can either be independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either one can sell affordable car insurance policies, but it’s worth learning why they differ because it may have an impact on which type of agent you select.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles through many companies and get you the best rates possible. If they find a lower price, your agent can switch companies which makes it simple for you.
When shopping rates, you definitely need to include price quotes from a few independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Listed below are independent insurance agencies in Durham who may be able to give you free car insurance rate quotes.
Reliable Insurance Agency of North Carolina Inc.
3325 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd #200 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 864-9048 – View Map
George Stevens Insurance Inc
1320 Hill St – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 403-3611 – View Map
Bull City Insurance
121 Sherron Rd #302 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 596-0671 – View Map
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive work for only one company such as AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agencies are trained well on their company’s products which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
The following are exclusive insurance agencies in Durham who can help you get price quotes.
Chuck Barham State Farm®
3823 Guess Rd – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 477-7300 – View Map
Andy Jones – State Farm Insurance Agent
4519 N Roxboro St – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 477-0054 – View Map
James Zewe – State Farm Insurance Agent
3500 Westgate Dr Ste 901 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-0804 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Any agent in Durham should be forthright in answering these questions:
- If they are an independent agency in Durham, which companies do they recommend?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in Durham?
- Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
Persistence pays off
When shopping online for car insurance, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped full coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost.
Cheaper car insurance in Durham is available online and from local agencies, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies don’t offer internet price quotes and these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
We just showed you a lot of ways to lower your GMC Sierra insurance rates in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
Even more information is available in these articles:
- Red Light Cameras (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a School Permit in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Low Income Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)