Learn How to Pay Less for Terre Haute Car Insurance

I can’t think of anyone who likes paying for car insurance, especially when the price is too high.

Popular companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance all promote huge savings with advertising and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and find the best price available.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Terre Haute is not that difficult. Although Indiana drivers should learn the methods companies use to market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Why you might pay higher rates in Terre Haute

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

• Better credit scores mean better rates – Credit score is a important factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores. If your credit rating is low, you could pay less to insure your by repairing your credit.
• Men are more aggressive – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
• Safer occupants lowers premiums – Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safer cars protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
• Where you live – Choosing to live in a rural area is a positive aspect when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers tend to have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
• Frequent car insurance claims increase rates – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance companies in Indiana generally give discounts to people who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
• How’s your driving record? – Whether or not you get tickets has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers with flagrant tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
• Theft deterrents lower rates – Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Companies don’t always list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on car insurance.

• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared with accident-prone drivers.
• Accident Waiver – Certain companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
• Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching your policy. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside these standards will be quoted higher rates which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This emphasizes why you absolutely need to quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be read at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, get help finding coverage, report car insurance fraud, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Final thoughts

Affordable car insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Terre Haute agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.