Tightwads Tips for Saving on Cumberland Auto Insurance

Overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your checking account, especially in this economy. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to save money.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every available discount very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Senior Discount - Mature drivers may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Memberships - Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Own a Home - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because owning a home shows financial diligence.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn't work that way.

To see a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Indiana, click this link.

Low Cost Cumberland Auto Insurance

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is less time-consuming than others. You can waste a lot of time discussing policy coverages with agents in Cumberland, or you can stay home and use the web to quickly compare rates.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and every company can provide price quotes for coverage. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The single downside to using this type of form is that you can't choose which carriers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Indiana. Click here for list of insurance companies in Indiana.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make darn sure you compare identical coverages and limits with each company. If you use different deductibles you will not be able to make an equal comparison in Cumberland. Having just a slight variation in limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate a lower rate.

Cumberland Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Traffic citations inflate rates - Even a single citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
Mature drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in Indiana are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy can really hurt. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Are you male or female? - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability insurance is the protection in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Increase deductibles and save - Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Indiana?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you switch to their company. How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will be charged more money which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. That is why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

In this article, we covered some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as .

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Additional detailed information is located at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Indiana drivers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about insurance regulations, and find out which companies have the most complaints.