Learn the Secrets to Cheaper Muncie Indiana Auto Insurance

Nobody I know enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are through the roof. Drivers have so many insurers to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to be able to choose, having more car insurance companies makes it harder to find the best rates for your vehicles.

What determines how much you pay?

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Cautious drivers pay less – Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Increase deductibles and save – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • No coverage gaps is important – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a fast way to bump up your auto insurance costs. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.You may need to file a SR-22 with the Indiana motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts – Many insurance companies give discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Older drivers pay less – Youthful drivers in Indiana have a tendency to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you’ve ever had to add a teen driver onto your auto insurance can be very expensive. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • Clean credit earns discounts – Having a bad credit rating is a important factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.
  • Liability coverage protects you – Liability insurance will protect you if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • The type of vehicle makes a difference – The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in determining your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles usually have the lowest rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but some must be inquired about prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

  • Drivers Ed for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in school.
  • Federal Government Employee – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
  • Theft Prevention System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
  • Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Muncie, click here to view.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local agencies is important especially in Muncie.

For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!

Different types of insurance agents in Muncie

If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies to choose from. Muncie agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both do a good job, but it’s good to learn the differences since it may influence your agent selection.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparison shopping, we recommend you contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Shown below are independent agencies in Muncie who can help you get price quotes.

Amy R Rose Agency – 3319 N Everbrook Ln – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-7283
Walter Hollowell Agency – 3804 N Wheeling Ave – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-1433
Farm Bureau Insurance – 6100 N State Road 67 – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 289-3466
Davis Insurance Inc – 1435 E Main St – Muncie, IN 47305 – (765) 288-6825

Captive Agents

This type of agents have only one company to place business with and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

Listed below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Muncie that are able to give price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 804 W White River Blvd – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 288-2880
Farmers Insurance Group – 5001 N Wheeling Ave – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 289-0907
American Family Insurance – 3712 N Wheeling Ave – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 286-5811
State Farm Insurance – 2307 S Madison St – Muncie, IN 47302 – (765) 286-8197
Shelter Insurance – 3621 N Everbrook Ln # B – Muncie, IN 47304 – (765) 284-6033
Farm Bureau Insurance – 6100 N State Road 67 – Muncie, IN 47303 – (765) 289-3466

To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Muncie, please view this page.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

  • Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
  • Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
  • Which company do they place the most coverage with?
  • How often do they review policy coverages?
  • Is working in the agency their full-time job?
  • Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Auto insurance myths debunked

Indiana drivers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the ads make the same claim of big savings after switching your coverage to them.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who fall outside these standards will have to pay more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Some additional reading

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Indiana Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, discover disciplinary actions, view agent and company licensing information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Indiana and this page of insurance agents in Muncie.

And the best car insurance company is…

We covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with the smaller companies. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like Progressive and GEICO.

Low-cost auto insurance is available on the web in addition to many Muncie insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.