Are you tired of paying out the nose to buy car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Indiana drivers. Online insurance companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico constantly bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and find the best price available.
Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.
The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate prices.
- Don’t skimp on liability – The liability section of your policy provides coverage if ever you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
- More people means more accidents – Choosing to live in a small town has it’s advantages when it comes to car insurance. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident. Drivers in populated Indiana areas have to deal with congested traffic and a longer drive to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
- Multiple policies with one company can save – Some insurers give discounts to people who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
- Where do you drive? – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Verify your car insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- How’s your driving record? – Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Good drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one speeding ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
- Younger drivers pay higher rates – Teenage drivers in Indiana have a tendency to be more careless when driving so car insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a teenage driver onto a policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Low Cost Muncie Car Insurance
Most companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive quote prices for coverage on their websites. Getting online quotes is pretty easy as you simply enter as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the system requests credit information and your driving record and generates a price based on these factors. Being able to quote online makes comparing rates easy, but the time required to go to multiple sites and fill out multiple forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to find the lowest price.
A more efficient way to find lower prices utilizes a single form that analyzes rates from more than one company. It saves time, requires less work, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable. After sending your information, it is quoted and you are able to buy any of the price quotes you receive. If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. It takes 15 minutes at the most and could lower your rates considerably.
To quickly find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you enter the coverage information as shown on your current policy. This way, you will be getting a price comparison based on identical coverages.
Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?
Indiana drivers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by companies like Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you switch to them.
How do they all say the same thing?
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a desirable insured might be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get very good rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who don’t meet this ideal profile will be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Are you getting all your discounts?
Companies do not advertise all available discounts very well, so we break down some of the best known and the more hidden car insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- College Student – Children living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
- Memberships – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when shopping for car insurance.
Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
To see a list of companies with discount car insurance rates in Muncie, click here.
Comparing rates from local agents
Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes to get your business. You won’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!
Selecting a company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- How are claims handled?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- How are they compensated?
Different types of Muncie auto insurance agents
When looking for a local agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Muncie agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can do a good job, but it’s important to know the differences because it can influence your selection of an agent.
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only place business with one company and examples are American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. These agents are trained well in insurance sales which can be an advantage.
The following is a list of captive agencies in Muncie who can help you get price quote information.
Shelter Insurance – 3621 N Everbrook Ln # B – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-6033
Farmers Insurance Group – 5001 N Wheeling Ave – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 289-0907
Farm Bureau Insurance – 6100 N State Road 67 – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 289-3466
Allstate Insurance – 2106 W Mcgalliard Rd – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-3348
American Family Insurance – 3201 E Jackson St – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 281-1955
State Farm Insurance – 2901 N Granville Ave – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 284-7020
Independent Agents
These agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you get quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
The following is a short list of independent agents in Muncie that can give you comparison quotes.
Hayden Insurance – 1925 W Royale Dr – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 288-9028
Naze-Perry Insurance Corp – 428 W Washington St – Muncie, IN 47305 – (765) 284-9701
Amy R Rose Agency – 3319 N Everbrook Ln – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-7283
Walter Hollowell Agency – 3804 N Wheeling Ave – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-1433
For a complete listing of Muncie insurance agents, visit this link.
Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions and a low price estimate, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that will provide car insurance coverage.
It’s not one size fits all
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might help in determining whether you might need professional guidance.
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- When should I remove comp and collision on my vehicle?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
More tips and info about car insurance is located at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Indiana consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, view a list of available companies, and download brochures.
Other informative sites include this resource for Indiana car insurance prices and this page for help finding agents in Muncie, IN.
Compare but don’t skimp
In this article, we covered many ways to shop for car insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with a small local company. These companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Geico and State Farm.
Budget-conscious car insurance is attainable online in addition to many Muncie insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.