Learn How to Pay Less and Get More for Columbus Indiana Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as the majority of other car owners in Indiana. Many insurance companies compete for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a insurer and get the definite best price available.

Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Columbus

Reducing your insurance rates is a fairly straight forward process. You just have to take time comparing price quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The single most time-saving way consumers can analyze rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This type of form keeps you from doing separate quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. One form submission gets you coverage quotes from all major companies.
A more time consuming way to analyze rates requires you to visit each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from State Farm, Farmers and American Family. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular.
For a handy list of car insurance company links in Columbus, click here.
The least efficient way of getting rate comparisons is to spend your day driving to local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can comparison shop online but buy from a local insurance agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using exactly the same coverages and limits with each company. If your comparisons have differing limits you can’t possibly make an equal comparison in Columbus.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less when compared to frequent claim filers.
Organization Discounts – Being a member of a professional or civic organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Defensive Driver – Taking part in a driver safety course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Indiana, follow this link.

Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine your rates.

Marriage pays dividends – Getting married can get you a discount on your policy. It translates into being more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Your occupation can affect rates – Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average attributed to high stress and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, professions such as actors, athletes and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of add-on coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if you don’t need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Drive less and save money – The more you drive in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates – Auto insurance companies in Indiana award lower rates to people who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
More than one policy can earn a discount – Some insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to 10 percent or more. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.

Buying car insurance locally

A small number of people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Licensed agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Columbus IN insurance ad

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to participating agents in Columbus who will battle for your coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!

Choosing an insurer needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:

Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Will your rates increase after a single accident?
Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
How often do they review policy coverages?

Different types of Columbus car insurance agents

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple different types of agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Columbus are categorized either independent or captive. Both types can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them since it may influence buying decisions.

Agency Captives

These agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. They receive extensive training on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following are Columbus captive agencies that can give you price quote information.

State Farm Insurance – 1006 25th St – Columbus, IN 47201 – (812) 378-1980
Shelter Insurance – 1122 25th St – Columbus, IN 47201 – (812) 376-9900
American Family Insurance – 3183 Sycamore Ct – Columbus, IN 47203 – (812) 379-1155
Allstate Insurance – 333 8th St # 2 – Columbus, IN 47201 – (812) 378-0120
Farm Bureau Insurance – 221 Chestnut St – Columbus, IN 47201 – (812) 372-4483

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agencies do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, you should always include at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.

The following are independent insurance agencies in Columbus who can help you get price quotes.

Cave Insurance – 3901 Williamsburg Way – Columbus, IN 47203 – (812) 378-5781
Cousins Insurance – 37 Washington St – Columbus, IN 47201 – (812) 372-1231

For a complete listing of licensed insurance agents in Columbus, go to this page.

Upon getting satisfactory answers to these questions as well as a affordable price, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Even more information is located at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, read state legal mandates and laws, and read industry bulletins.

More related Columbus auto insurance information:

And the best car insurance company is…

Discount auto insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Columbus insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

We’ve covered some good ideas how you can shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a small mutual company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.