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Overwhelmed by the crazy number of car insurance choices in Portage? Many other drivers are as well. People have so many choices that it can easily become a challenge to compare prices.
Smart consumers take time to compare prices at least once a year since rates fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest rates two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. There is a lot of bad information regarding car insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some great ideas on how to find cheap car insurance.
Buying car insurance in Portage is not that difficult. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. But Indiana vehicle owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.
Cheap Portage Car Insurance Comparisons
There are a variety of methods to compare car insurance quotes, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You could spend your day talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Portage, or you can utilize online quotes to achieve your goal.
The majority of car insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual car insurance company.
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The only drawback to doing it this way is you don’t know exactly which insurance companies to get pricing from. If you would rather choose specific providers to receive pricing from, we have a listing of car 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 sure you use identical information on every quote you get. If you have differing limits you can’t possibly make an equal comparison in Portage. Slightly different limits could mean much higher rates. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company’s prices gives you a better chance of getting a lower rate.
Verify you’re getting all your discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Portage may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
- Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Save over 55 – Older drivers may qualify for reduced rates.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
- Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
- Distant Student – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Good Students Pay Less – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
When should I talk to an agent?
When buying adequate coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?
- Should I buy only the required Indiana minimum liability coverage?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
- Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Portage Rates are Influenced by These Factors
It’s important that you understand the different types of things that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.
The list below includes some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting prices.
- High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit score is a large factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than those with poor credit.
- Your spouse saves you money – Getting married can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage usually means you are more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
- Bump up deductibles to save – Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
- Performance influences rates – The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are for small economy passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
- One company can mean more discounts – Some companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it’s still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
- Careful drivers pay lower rates – Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even a single ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
- Too many car insurance claims drive up costs – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies in Indiana give cheaper rates to drivers who are claim-free. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Save $472 a year? Really?
Allstate, Geico and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you move to their company. But how can every company make the same claim?
Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.
Potential customers who do not match the requirements will be quoted higher rates and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why it is so important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.
One last thing
You just read a lot of techniques to compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from an unexpected company.
Discount car insurance is definitely available online and with local Portage insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Drivers switch companies for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, high prices, delays in responding to claim requests or even denial of a claim. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new company is easier than you think.
Additional car insurance links
More detailed Indiana car insurance information can be found at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, view agent and company licensing information, and download brochures.