If you want to save the most money, the best way to get more affordable auto insurance rates in Fort Wayne is to compare prices at least once a year from different companies in Indiana. You can compare rates by following these steps.
Step 1: Gain an understanding of coverages and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates such as your driving record and a low credit rating can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple insurance companies. Click to view companies
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a better price and buy the policy, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Provide notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a completed application and payment to your new company or agent. As soon as you receive it, store the certificate verifying proof of insurance with the vehicle registration.
One key aspect of rate comparisons is that you’ll want to compare identical limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get price estimates from as many companies as possible. Doing this enables a fair price comparison and maximum price selection.
A study showed that most auto insurance policyholders in Indiana have stayed with the same insurance company for at least the last four years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared rate quotes at all. With the average premium in the United States being $1,847, drivers could pocket about $860 a year just by shopping around, but most tend to underestimate the amount of savings they would get if they switched.
Save money with these six price cutting discounts
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but companies offer discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Most are applied at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down on your Chevy can qualify you for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
- Clubs and Organizations – Participating in qualifying clubs or civic groups could qualify you for a break on your policy.
- Anti-theft System – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles can help prevent theft and will qualify for a discount on a Fort Wayne car insurance quote.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you combine your auto and home policies and place coverage with the same company you may save over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By making one initial payment as opposed to paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up until you turn 25.
Policy discounts save money, but many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will help lower your policy premiums.
If you would like to choose from a list of providers that offer many of these discounts in Fort Wayne, follow this link.
Insurance coverage options for a Chevy Volt
Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Auto liability – This coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/10 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against things like legal defense fees, emergency aid, pain and suffering, attorney fees and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Indiana state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The chart below shows why buying minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for expenses for things like prosthetic devices, dental work, nursing services and surgery. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive protection – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hitting a bird, hail damage, vandalism, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays for damage to your Volt caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as colliding with a tree, scraping a guard rail, sustaining damage from a pot hole and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Volt to get cheaper collision coverage.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Cheap auto insurance is out there
Consumers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, delays in responding to claim requests, lack of trust in their agent or even policy cancellation. Whatever your reason, switching companies is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
A few companies may not provide price quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies work with independent insurance agencies. Low-cost Chevy Volt insurance in Fort Wayne is definitely available both online in addition to many Fort Wayne insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.
When getting Fort Wayne car insurance quotes online, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
For more information, feel free to browse the resources below:
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Fort Wayne Car Insurance Quotes for a Mazda CX-7? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Fort Wayne Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers with a DUI? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Felons in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Low Mileage Drivers in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Rogue in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)
- Car Insurance: When not to Skimp (BankRate.com)