How to Get Low-Cost Martinsville Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the number of auto insurance company choices in Martinsville? Many other drivers are as well. There are so many choices that it can turn into a big hassle to compare prices.

It's important to get comparison quotes every six months because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal last year you may be paying too much now. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to save on auto insurance.

Buying affordable coverage in Martinsville is simple if you know the tricks. Just about every driver who is required by state law to have auto insurance will be able to save money. But Indiana drivers do need to know the way insurance companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

Compare Quotes for Martinsville Auto Insurance

Most major insurance companies give insurance quotes on their websites. Getting online rates doesn't take much effort as you just type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain your driving record and credit report and returns a price quote based on these and other factors.

This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the process of having to visit a lot of sites and complete many quote forms can be a bit repetitive. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get the best price on auto insurance.

The easy way to compare rates

A less time-consuming method to lower your rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from many companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes online quotes much more enjoyable. Immediately after submitting the form, your coverage is rated and you can choose any or none of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. This process only takes a few minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To save time and find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you input your coverages just like they are on your policy. This way, you will have a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Rate your vehicle for proper use - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance level of the car you own makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates tend to be for low performance passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as doctors, social workers and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates because of stressful work requirements and long work days. On the other hand, occupations such as actors, students and homemakers pay the least.

Are you getting all your discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but some must be asked for before they will apply.

Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Martinsville can save you money because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of more than 20%.
Military Discounts - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
Multi-car Discount - Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts until age 25.
Save over 55 - Older drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Indiana, click here.

Much more information about auto insurance in Indiana is available on the Indiana Department of Insurance website located here. Indiana consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, report car insurance fraud, and learn about specific coverages.

Other useful links include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Martinsville insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, don't be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is available online in addition to many Martinsville insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with the least-expected company.