Smart shoppers know that insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. Consumers who shop around for cheaper prices will, in all likelihood, switch to a new company because there is a significant possibility of finding a lower-cost company. A study discovered that people who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved approximately $72 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding the cheapest rates on Honda Ridgeline insurance in Fort Wayne is your objective, then knowing how to quote and compare insurance can help make the process easier and more efficient.
To save the most money, the best way to get affordable car insurance rates in Fort Wayne is to compare prices annually from providers who sell insurance in Indiana.
- Read and learn about how companies price auto insurance and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic tickets, fender benders, and poor credit can be eliminated by paying attention to minor details.
- Compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple sources.
- Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and determine if cheaper Ridgeline coverage is available. If you find better rates, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Notify your agent or company of your intention to cancel the current policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to your new company or agent. Once coverage is bound, put the certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A good tip to remember is to try to compare the same level of coverage on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many different companies as possible. Doing this provides a fair rate comparison and maximum price selection.
If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use this information to buy cheaper insurance while maximizing coverage. Locating the best rates in Fort Wayne is really not that difficult. Consumers just have to learn the proper methods to quote multiple rates from many companies at once.
Auto insurance analysis for a Honda Ridgeline
The table shown next outlines different coverage prices for Honda Ridgeline models. Learning a little about how auto insurance policy rates are figured helps drivers make decisions when choosing a new policy provider.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Ridgeline RT 4WD | $208 | $414 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,182 | $99 |
Ridgeline RTS 4WD | $236 | $414 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,210 | $101 |
Ridgeline RTL 4WD | $236 | $486 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,282 | $107 |
Ridgeline RTL W/Navigation 4WD | $236 | $486 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,282 | $107 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in zip code location which can modify auto insurance rates noticeably.
Policy deductible comparison
One of the most common auto insurance questions is how low should you set your deductibles. The tables below illustrate the rate differences between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
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Ridgeline RT 4WD | $242 | $436 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $1,133 | $94 |
Ridgeline RTS 4WD | $272 | $436 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $1,163 | $97 |
Ridgeline RTL 4WD | $272 | $514 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $1,241 | $103 |
Ridgeline RTL W/Navigation 4WD | $272 | $514 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $1,241 | $103 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ridgeline RT 4WD | $176 | $294 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $900 | $75 |
Ridgeline RTS 4WD | $200 | $294 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $924 | $77 |
Ridgeline RTL 4WD | $200 | $348 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $978 | $82 |
Ridgeline RTL W/Navigation 4WD | $200 | $348 | $318 | $18 | $94 | $978 | $82 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in zip code location which can impact price quotes considerably.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost you approximately $20 more each month or $240 for a full year than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 20 months between claim filings, you would more than likely save some money if you choose the higher deductible.
How to calculate if higher deductibles make sense
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $99 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $79 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $20 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $20 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 20 months |
An important sidenote is that raising deductibles results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have a physical damage claim. You need enough disposable income in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations
The illustration below illustrates how violations and at-fault collisions increase Honda Ridgeline auto insurance rates for different categories of driver ages. The premiums assume a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
Male drivers versus female drivers
The information below illustrates the difference between Honda Ridgeline auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
How much more does full coverage cost in Fort Wayne?
The example below compares Honda Ridgeline insurance premiums with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The costs are based on no violations or accidents, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to eliminate full coverage
There is no written rule to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Honda Ridgeline replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing you more than $800 annually for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Smart Buyers Can Lower Insurance Rates
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating your premiums. When you know what positively or negatively determines premiums, this enables informed choices that may reward you with cheaper rates. Lots of things are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. Most are fairly basic like your driving record, but some are not as apparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.
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High performance vehicles cost more to insure – The type of car or truck you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. Small economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.
The following data assumes a married male driver age 40, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Honda Ridgeline insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different performance risks.
- See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – Most larger car insurance companies apply a discount for people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to compare Honda Ridgeline rates in Fort Wayne to help guarantee you have the best rates.There is a chance you can find better rates by splitting coverages up.
- Getting married reduces risk – Walking down the aisle can get you a discount on car insurance. Having a significant other may mean you are more responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married file infrequent claims.
- Increase coverage deductibles to save – Protection for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers your vehicle from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are a broken windshield, hail damage, and damage caused by flying debris. Comp and collision deductibles state the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. The more money you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- How many miles do you drive? – The higher the miles on your Honda each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies calculate prices based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars that sit idle most of the time receive better premium rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet reflects annual mileage, because improper ratings can cost you money. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Ridgeline can result in significantly higher rates.
- Do you know you’re credit history? – Credit history can be an important factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Consumers who have excellent credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit score could use some work, you could be paying less to insure your Honda Ridgeline by repairing your credit.
Persistence pays off
Cheaper Honda Ridgeline insurance in Fort Wayne is available from both online companies and with local Fort Wayne insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional carriers only sell coverage through local independent agents.
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost and still be able to protect your assets.
We covered some good ideas how to find affordable Honda Ridgeline insurance in Fort Wayne. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with the least-expected company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
More information can be found below:
- Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
- Who Has Cheap Fort Wayne Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Fort Wayne Auto Insurance Quotes for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for College Graduates in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers with Good Credit in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Electric Cars in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Institute)