Tightwads Guide to Saving on Cambridge City Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Because you have many companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the lowest cost insurance company.

It's important to get comparison quotes quite often because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best deal last year you may be paying too much now. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to save on auto insurance.

Buying the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Cambridge City is simple if you know the tricks. If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Indiana consumers only need to know the proper methods to get comparison quotes online.

Low Cost Cambridge City Auto Insurance

Getting better auto insurance pricing is not a difficult process. Just take a few minutes comparing rates from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method saves time by eliminating separate forms to each individual auto insurance company. One form gets you coverage quotes from several companies.

A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to each company website to complete a price quote. For example, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . To find out each rate you need to visit each site to enter your coverage information, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Cambridge City, click here.

The least efficient way of comparing rate quotes is to spend time driving to insurance agents' offices. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the trained guidance only provided by licensed Cambridge City agents. You can, however, compare the best prices online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples coverages with each company. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Cambridge City.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get big savings.

Cautious drivers pay less - Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one moving violation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get severe violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don't assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
High numbers of claims are not good - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Insurance companies in Indiana provide discounts to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Bundling policies can get discounts - The majority of companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Increase deductibles and save - Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
Senior Citizens - Older drivers can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
Government Employees - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Own a Home - Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Indiana, follow this link.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Indiana?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, free and may give you better protection.

Additional information is available on the website for the Indiana Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Other useful links include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Cambridge City Indiana.

Best coverage at the best price

We covered a lot of tips how to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like .

As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.