You’ve seen the captivating commercials from companies like Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide claiming the cheapest rates. So drivers should just pick the company with the catchiest ad, right?
It’s not quite that easy, unfortunately, as there are a ton of unknown factors such as whether or not you have had gaps between policies, your credit history, and whether you want full coverage, that help determine the price you have to pay. We will try to cover these topics and will hopefully give the reader a good start to your coverage search.
For drivers with at-fault accidents, one of the more important components that determine the price you pay for insurance is where you choose to live. Cities with larger populations or higher claim trends tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with lower vehicle theft rates and fewer weather claims benefit from lower prices.
The next table rates the most expensive cities in Indiana for drivers with accidents to purchase car insurance in. Indianapolis is ranked at #6 with an annual cost of $1,082 for the average policyholder, which is around $90 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary | $1,360 |
| 2 | Hammond | $1,288 |
| 3 | Merrillville | $1,128 |
| 4 | Portage | $1,126 |
| 5 | Lawrence | $1,088 |
| 6 | Indianapolis | $1,082 |
| 7 | Terre Haute | $1,077 |
| 8 | New Albany | $1,059 |
| 9 | Evansville | $1,055 |
| 10 | Jeffersonville | $1,038 |
| 11 | Kokomo | $1,011 |
| 12 | Anderson | $1,001 |
| 13 | Elkhart | $995 |
| 14 | Bloomington | $988 |
| 15 | Columbus | $975 |
| 16 | Fishers | $974 |
| 17 | Richmond | $973 |
| 18 | Greenwood | $960 |
| 19 | Noblesville | $958 |
| 20 | Fort Wayne | $947 |
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Premium amounts are approximated as the specific geographic location can affect prices significantly.
The make and model of vehicle you are seeking coverage for is a large factor when shopping around for the most economical insurance for drivers with accidents. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, advanced safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The next table illustrates auto insurance prices for some of the cheaper vehicles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $2,613 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $2,731 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,736 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,837 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $3,096 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $3,105 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $3,096 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $3,102 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $3,125 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 2WD 4-Dr | $3,257 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $3,259 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $3,271 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $3,285 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | |
Prices based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can increase or decrease coverage rates significantly.
Based upon these rates, you can infer that vehicles like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Prius are most likely to be a few of the cheapest vehicles to insure for drivers with at-fault accidents. The cost of a car insurance policy will tend to be more expensive anyway because of the fact that there is a higher risk for drivers with accidents, but in general those particular vehicles will probably have the cheapest auto insurance rates compared to other types of vehicles.
Determining which companies quote the lowest-priced car insurance rates for drivers with accidents calls for a little more work in order to find coverage that fits your budget. Each company uses a slightly different approach to set their prices, so let’s take a look at the car insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Indiana.
It’s important that you understand Indiana car insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the price of your policy. Improving your credit rating, moving to a different location, or having an accident may prompt premium changes that can cause some rates to be more affordable than competitors.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance for Accident Prone Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $602 |
| 2 | Cincinnati Insurance | $664 |
| 3 | USAA | $667 |
| 4 | Erie | $705 |
| 5 | Indiana Farmers Mutual | $849 |
| 6 | Western Reserve | $872 |
| 7 | The Hartford | $881 |
| 8 | Auto-Owners | $906 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $966 |
| 10 | Nationwide | $968 |
| 11 | Hastings Mutual | $973 |
| 12 | State Farm | $987 |
| 13 | Utica National | $995 |
| 14 | Safeco | $1,003 |
| 15 | Farmers | $1,053 |
| 16 | Westfield | $1,061 |
| 17 | Wolverine Mutual | $1,072 |
| 18 | State Auto | $1,087 |
| 19 | GEICO | $1,133 |
| 20 | Progressive | $1,139 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | ||
Travelers normally has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Indianapolis at around $602 annually. Cincinnati Insurance, USAA, Erie, and Indiana Farmers Mutual also are some of the lowest-priced Indianapolis, IN insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you buy coverage from USAA and switched to Travelers, you could earn annual savings of in the neighborhood of $65. Insureds with Erie might save as much as $103 a year, and Indiana Farmers Mutual insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $247 a year.
To find cheaper insurance rates for your vehicle, click here to begin a quote or visit several of the following companies.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averaged for all drivers and vehicles and do not factor in a specific vehicle garaging location for drivers with accidents. So the insurer that can offer you the lowest price may not even be in the top 36 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own driver data and vehicle information.
How to find a good Indianapolis car insurance company
Buying coverage from a good quality auto insurance company can be challenging considering how many companies provide coverage in Indianapolis. The rank data listed below can help you pick which car insurance companies you want to consider when looking for cheaper rates. These ratings are only made up of large, nationwide insurance companies, so companies that may only write in Indiana are not included in this list.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 99 | 100 | 90 | 92% | A++ | 97.4 |
| 21st Century | 89 | 86 | 100 | 88% | A | 92.7 |
| GEICO | 97 | 91 | 88 | 85% | A++ | 92.5 |
| Nationwide | 88 | 94 | 91 | 88% | A+ | 91.3 |
| AAA Insurance | 93 | 87 | 88 | 87% | A | 90.8 |
| Liberty Mutual | 91 | 91 | 92 | 87% | A | 90.7 |
| Safeco Insurance | 90 | 93 | 88 | 86% | A | 90.2 |
| State Farm | 91 | 94 | 80 | 88% | A++ | 90.2 |
| Travelers | 89 | 91 | 94 | 79% | A++ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 88 | 92 | 83 | 88% | A | 89.4 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Liability rates compared to full coverage
Saving on car insurance is important to most drivers, and an effective way to lower the cost of insurance for drivers with accidents is to not buy comprehensive and collision coverage. The example below shows the comparison of auto insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.
If we average the cost for all age groups, full coverage on your policy costs $1,480 per year more than insuring for liability only. That proposes the question if it’s worth it to buy full coverage. There is no definitive guideline to stop buying physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s settlement value is $7,500 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $6,500 after paying your policy deductible. If premium cost is more than $650 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where only buying liability is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not buy liability only.
Accidents and violations increase rates
The easiest method to earn affordable car insurance prices for drivers with at-fault accidents is to be a good driver and not have accidents or get tickets. The example below illustrates how violations and at-fault claims can drive up premium costs for different insured age categories. The data assumes a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
The data above shows the average cost of an auto insurance policy per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $1,505. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost hikes up to $1,708, an increase of $203 each year. Now throw in one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of car insurance for drivers with accidents jumps again to an average of $2,274. That’s an increase of $769, or $64 per month, just for not being more responsible behind the wheel!
How to find the cheapest car insurance for drivers with accidents
The list below summarizes some thrifty solutions that can help Indianapolis drivers buy low-cost coverage.
- Full coverage is expensive so only insure older vehicles for liability only
- Avoid at-fault accidents and claims
- Raise your deductibles
- Do not file small claims
- Drive safely
- Compare rates regularly and switch companies to save money
The last suggestion is especially significant, as we discussed in the prior article. Car insurance prices in Indianapolis vary greatly, so don’t be afraid to buy a different policy if a more affordable rate is found.
Having a favorite company is great, but it’s not a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you hundreds every year. Take a couple minutes and compare rates and find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with accidents.
The insurance agents in Indianapolis listed below are a good start to aid you in deciding which policy fits your needs best, as some drivers wish to have professional advice when shopping around for cheaper insurance for drivers with accidents. It’s not always simple to find the best coverage yourself, so a licensed agent can give you peace of mind knowing your policy gives you sufficient protection if you have a claim.
To locate an Indianapolis auto insurance agent nearest to you, click the button at the bottom.
Indiana Auto Insurance Group
201 N Illinois St – Indianapolis, IN 46204 – (317) 641-4572
GEICO Insurance Agent
3837 N High School Rd Suite 10 – Indianapolis, IN 46254 – (317) 216-0932
Jim Grounds – State Farm Insurance Agent
4745 Statesmen Dr d – Indianapolis, IN 46250 – (317) 842-6807