Getting the Right Auto Insurance in Indiana

For most people, dealing with the issue of insuring a car comes only after it has been purchased. This attitude can lead to a different type of “sticker shock” however if you find out that your new car is substantially more expensive to insure than what you were driving before.

In Indiana, state law requires that all vehicles of any type must carry minimum levels of auto insurance and be prepared to show proof of insurance to law enforcement officials upon demand. The minimum levels of coverage required by the state law are $25,000 for the injury or death of any one person in an accident, $50,000 for the injury or death of more than one person, and $10,000 for property liability damage. In addition, unless specifically rejected in writing, all new policies must also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

These levels are the minimum required by state law, but if you are going to purchase a vehicle on financing, the financier'in an effort to protect their investment'will probably also insist that you carry a comprehensive insurance coverage as well as collision and possibly theft insurance as well.

Shopping for the Best Rate

So you need to have all of this insurance coverage for your new vehicle, and hopefully you are shopping for insurance before you even buy. One of the best ways to find the lowest insurance rates is by comparing quotes for auto insurance from different providers and not by settling on the same insurance company you may have used in the past. Even if you once shopped out your current insurance company for the car you drive now and found them to have the lowest rate, the same may not hold true for your new vehicle.

Shopping for the Most Discounts

Not all auto insurance discounts are built the same. Some represent a much bigger savings than others, and not all of them are offered by every insurance company. Some of the more common types of discounts you should keep an eye out for include:

• Multiple Auto or Policy Discounts: If your new vehicle will not be the only one you drive and insure, having multiple vehicles on the same account should land you a discount. If the vehicle is the only one your family drives, than insuring your home along with your car on the same policy can also net you a substantial savings.
• Safe Driver Discount: Those drivers who have gone five years or more without an accidents or moving violations on their record should qualify for a safe driver discount.
• Car Feature Discounts: Many auto insurance companies will offer a premium discount for certain features that are installed in new vehicles such as anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, or airbags. Be sure to ask your insurance representative about these types of discounts and what the requirements are before a car will qualify for the discount.
• Non Smoker Discount: Statistically it is safer to operate a vehicle without smoking, and so some insurance companies will offer discounts to those customers who do not light up in their car while driving.