Smart shoppers know that insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. People who get comparison quotes once a year are inclined to buy a new policy because there is a high probability of finding a lower-cost company. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that consumers who shopped around annually saved approximately $3,400 over four years as compared to drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding discount rates on car insurance is your ultimate goal, then having a grasp of how to shop and compare cheaper coverage can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get low-cost car insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from insurance carriers in Indianapolis.
Step 1: Take a little time to learn about auto insurance and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates such as distracted driving and a lousy credit rating can be improved by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing rates to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Step 4: Provide notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your existing policy and submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new agent or company. Be sure to place your new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
A tip to remember is to compare the same deductibles and limits on each quote and and to get price quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.
When shopping for Volkswagen Passat insurance in Indianapolis there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from many insurance companies in Indiana. The recommended way to comparison shop involves getting comparison quotes online.
It’s so fast and easy to compare rate quotes online that it makes it a waste of time to drive around to insurance agencies in your area. Doing it all online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the personal advice that only a licensed agent can provide. However, consumers can get prices online but have your policy serviced through an agent.
When comparing insurance rates, know that making a lot of price comparisons provides better odds of finding a lower rate. Some companies don’t provide online price quotes, so it’s necessary to compare rates on coverage from those companies, too.
The providers in the list below offer quotes in Indiana. If the list has multiple companies, we recommend you visit two to three different companies in order to find the lowest rates.
Rates and detailed analysis
The price information below outlines estimates of prices for Volkswagen Passat models. Being aware of how auto insurance policy rates are determined can help drivers make informed decisions when comparing rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passat Komfort Station Wagon | $244 | $430 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $998 | $83 |
| Passat Komfort 4-Dr Sedan | $244 | $430 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,054 | $88 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location which can revise price quotes substantially.
Can higher deductibles save money?
When buying insurance, a common question is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The premium rates below sum up the rate difference of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 physical damage coverage deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passat Komfort Station Wagon | $244 | $430 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $1,023 | $85 |
| Passat Komfort 4-Dr Sedan | $244 | $430 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,079 | $90 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passat Komfort Station Wagon | $152 | $270 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $746 | $62 |
| Passat Komfort 4-Dr Sedan | $152 | $270 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $802 | $67 |
| 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-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in specific garaging location which can increase or decrease premiums substantially.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $23 more each month or $276 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average more than 33 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you opt for a higher deductible.
Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents
The example below illustrates how speeding tickets and accident claims increase Volkswagen Passat premium costs for different insured age categories. The premiums are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The chart below shows the difference between Volkswagen Passat car insurance rates when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The information is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There isn’t a written rule that works best for making the decision to drop physical damage coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Volkswagen Passat book value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $2,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $200 annually for full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not recommended. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
You are unique and your car insurance should be too
Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage online or from an agent, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are unique to you.
These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Should I rate my Volkswagen Passat as pleasure use or commute?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Indiana?
- What if an uninsured driver hits me?
- Can I make deliveries for my home business?
- Are my friends covered when driving my car?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- What states are considered no-fault?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Exclusive versus independent insurance agents
A lot of people would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases An additional benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent.
After filling out this simple form, your insurance data is immediately sent to participating agents in Indianapolis that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to you. You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you wish to quote rates for a specific company, just navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
Choosing the best company requires you to look at more than just a cheap quote. Some important questions to ask are:
- How much training do they have in personal risk management?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Indianapolis?
- Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?