FAQ
Below are some of our frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
- What are your hours of operation?
- Are you closed for lunch?
- What types of insurance do you write?
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Which types of vehicles are cheaper on insurance?
- How do I make my insurance rates cheaper?
- Can I make my payments online or over the phone?
- Why is my auto insurance so high?
- I don’t have any points on my license, so why are you telling me I have 3 points?
- How can I avoid paying fees when making payments?
- Can I make my payment online or by phone?
- When is the last day to make my payment?
- The date on my notice of cancellation says today’s date, so why is my insurance already cancelled?
- How do I get someone removed from my insurance policy?
- Why does my newer car rate so much higher than my older car?
- When will my accident cause my insurance rates to increase?
- Why did my insurance go up after I signed the contract?
- How long will my DUI stay on my record?
- How long can my insurance be lapsed and me still be able to reinstate the same policy?
- If my car breaks down, can I use my towing coverage on my car insurance policy?
- Is Towing the same as Roadside?
- What does “other than collision” mean on my policy declarations page?
What are your hours of operation?
Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pmBack to TopAre you closed for lunch?
No, we will always have someone available to assist you during our office hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.What types of insurance do you write?
We write auto, home and business insurance.Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, we accept Visa and Mastercard.Which types of vehicles are cheaper on insurance?
For a Cheaper Car Insurance Quote Stay Away From:
- Vehicles With a Lot of Horsepower
- Sports Cars
- High Performance Vehicles
- Luxury Vehicles
- Vehicles With Added Technology Features
- Large SUV’s
- Very Small Vehicles
- Vehicles With a High Theft History
How do I make my insurance rates cheaper?
- Combine Auto and Home or Renter’s Policies: Most insurance companies give a discount if you carry your auto and home or renter’s policy with the same company. This discount can be anywhere from 5%-20%!
- Watch Your Credit Rating: Another great tip to get cheap car insurance – keep your credit clean! Yes, a lot of insurance companies are checking your credit and basing your policy on what is found. Make sure you check to see if your credit is in good shape, and if it is not, you may want to seek out companies who do not do credit checks. ACF Insurance can quote with or without credit scoring.
- Train Teenage Drivers: New drivers who practice with a guardian or adult have a better chance of avoiding accidents and are normally less careless once they are alone. Practice makes perfect!
Can I make my payments online or over the phone?
Yes, we have many different payment options to make it easier for our customers to make their payments.Why is my auto insurance so high?
There are several factors that can contribute to your car insurance being high or increasing. The obvious reasons are new drivers and drivers who have insurance points resulting from tickets or accidents. The more tickets or accidents you have, the more your insurance will cost. New drivers can expect to pay higher premiums the first year, with it dropping a little the second year, and then a lot the third year (assuming no other points, tickets or accidents have been added).
Some less obvious reasons for higher auto insurance premiums are the type and model of your car. In general, the newer, sportier cars and higher-valued vehicles, such as Mercedes or BMW will be more to insure than older, less expensive vehicles.
Another reason for changes in insurance rates could be where you are located. In North Carolina, your rate is determined by your zip code, so even inside the city of Raleigh, one zip code may have a higher insurance rate than another zip code — resulting in higher insurance in one area of Raleigh than in another.
If you feel that your insurance rate is too high, please do not hesitate to ask questions. Since we write through multiple insurance carriers, we may be able to find a lower rate for you.
I don’t have any points on my license, so why are you telling me I have 3 points?
Insurance points are not the same as DMV points. You may have no DMV points and could still have insurance points if you filed a claim on your insurance or have some other violation or charge that would go against your insurance but not show as points with DMV.
How can I avoid paying fees when making payments?
We offer several payment methods to avoid paying installment fees and/or credit card fees. You can set up your payments to automatically draft (this option may also give you a payment discount and the ability to adjust the draft date), you can also pay online, use the carrier app to make payments on your phone, mail in a check direct to the company, or pay in the office with a money order and the company bill.
Can I make my payment online or by phone?
Our website has a Make A Payment link at the top of our home page. You may also call our offices Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM to pay over the phone. Ask one of our staff about other payment options as well.
When is the last day to make my payment?
Payment due dates vary, but most of our insurance companies will give you a grace period (late fees apply). One common misunderstanding is on renewals. Renewals do not have a grace period and should be renewed prior to the expiration date.
The date on my notice of cancellation says today’s date, so why is my insurance already cancelled?
With auto insurance, policies cancel at 12:01 AM — in other words, one minute after midnight as soon as the date changes to the date showing on your cancellation notice. Therefore, you must pay the day before the cancellation takes effect. For example, if the cancellation date on your notice shows the cancellation date as 5/3/19, then the payment would need to be paid no later than 5/2/19. Don’t forget that renewal down payments do not have a grace period. Keep in mind that on holidays and weekends, you will still need to make sure that your payment is made during business hours sometime before the cancellation or renewal date.
How do I get someone removed from my insurance policy?
The best thing to do when you have a question like this is talk to a representative at ACF Insurance. We will listen to your scenario and depending on the situation, we will advise you of the best action to take.
Why does my newer car rate so much higher than my older car?
Vehicles are more expensive today than ever before. Auto parts and multiple computers in vehicles today are causing claim pay-outs to be higher, therefore insurance rates will be higher. There could also be features of your newer car that you did not have on the older car and this can cause a difference in premium as well.
When will my accident cause my insurance rates to increase?
If you have the accident or even if you got a speeding ticket in the middle of your current insurance 6 month or annual term, then your rates will not be affected until the next renewal term.
Why did my insurance go up after I signed the contract?
Normally this is the result of an undisclosed driver that was involved in an accident or if the verification system for driving records and accidents was down at the time you applied for the insurance and it didn’t catch it then but caught it later after it was accessible. This normally does not happen but unfortunately, even computers can make errors too.
How long will my DUI stay on my record?
It may be on your actual record forever or for a while but as far as auto insurance is concerned, it can affect your eligibility and premiums for 3 years and even up to 7 years with some carriers. Most of ACF Insurance’s carriers only look at the last 3 years and we have excellent DUI rates, so check us out!
How long can my insurance be lapsed and me still be able to reinstate the same policy?
Most carriers will allow reinstatements up to 30 days past the cancellation date. However, that would mean you would have to pay anything outstanding that is due at the time that you are ready to reinstate plus any reinstatement fees that may be applicable. Also, if you have had any accidents, claims or losses since it cancelled, then you will not be able to reinstate the policy.
If my car breaks down, can I use my towing coverage on my car insurance policy?
Yes, if you have towing reimbursement or roadside coverage on your policy then you can use it.
Is Towing the same as Roadside?
No, it is not. This is a common misunderstanding. Roadside is similar to AAA where you call a 1(800)# and they send someone out to tow you. Towing reimbursement is exactly that, you get your own tow truck to come out and you would pay them, then send in the claim form to your carrier claims department and get reimbursed for it up to the amount of Towing reimbursement coverage you have, which normally is $100.
What does “other than collision” mean on my policy declarations page?
Other Than Collision is like the more commonly used term Comprehensive. It is basically how it reads and covers damages that may occur “other than collision” such as a falling tree on your car, your windshield busts out or even vandalism.