How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Car Insurance in Huntington

Overpriced car insurance can empty your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to check car insurance prices yearly due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to find out the fastest and easiest way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Bad driving skills means higher rates - Good drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even one speeding ticket can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get severe violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Where do you drive? - The more you drive in a year's time the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your car insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations like lawyers, business owners and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates due to high stress and long work days. Other occupations like pilots, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
  • Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping car theft.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers tend to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

Indiana car insurance

Compare Car Insurance Today

The are a couple different ways of comparing rates from local Huntington car insurance companies. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

  1. The fastest way to get quotes is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for. A single, simple form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.
  2. A slightly less efficient method to shop for car insurance online consists of going to each company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, we'll pretend you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to visit each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Huntington, click here.
  3. The least recommended way of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to insurance agents' offices. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional advice that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use exactly the same coverages on every quote you get. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Huntington. Quoting even small variations in limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that quoting more will increase your chances of finding lower pricing.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Good Student Discount - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply up to age 25.
  • Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose providers with the best car insurance discounts in Huntington, click here to view.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise that you can save if you move to them. How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged a higher premium and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can make those claims. That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • Should I buy only the required Indiana minimum liability coverage?
  • Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you're not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

Indiana car insurance quotes

Do the work, save more money

We just presented many tips how you can compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .

While you're price shopping online, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.