A recent survey discovered that the vast majority of Indiana car insurance customers have bought car insurance from the same company for more than four years, and nearly the majority have never even compared rates from other companies. The average driver in the U.S. could save about $850 each year just by getting comparison quotes, but they don’t want to spend time to do a rate comparison.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get more affordable car insurance rates is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from providers who can sell car insurance in Indianapolis. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.
- Step 1: Read about how your policy works and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates like careless driving and a poor credit score can be eliminated by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Step 4: Provide written notification to your current company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit payment and a completed application for your new policy. Immediately put the certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
A key point to remember is to compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to get rates from as many carriers as you can. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
When comparing insurance rates, know that comparing all the rates in your area will enable you to find a lower rate. Some companies don’t provide online rate quotes, so it’s important to also get prices from them as well.
The auto insurance companies shown below are ready to provide price comparisons in Indianapolis, IN. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Car insurance protects more than just your car
Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
- The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability insurance in order to drive the car. In Indiana these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your Mercury has a lienholder, almost every bank will force you to have insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If the policy lapses, the bank may insure your Mercury at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them the higher premium.
- Insurance protects not only your Mercury Mountaineer but also your assets. It also can pay for medical bills that are the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses in the event you are sued. If your Mercury gets damaged, your car insurance policy will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having car insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. The average driver in America overpays as much as $700 annually so compare rate quotes at every renewal to save money.
Mercury Mountaineer insurance analysis
The table displayed below outlines estimates of coverage costs for Mercury Mountaineer models. Learning how insurance prices are established can be valuable when making decisions on the best policy coverages.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $104 | $190 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $654 | $55 |
Mountaineer AWD | $116 | $190 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $666 | $56 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $116 | $224 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $700 | $58 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $116 | $224 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $700 | $58 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in zip code location which can change auto insurance rates substantially.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
When buying car insurance, a common question is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The following tables outline the differences in premium rates when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $242 | $436 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,083 | $90 |
Mountaineer AWD | $272 | $436 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,113 | $93 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $272 | $514 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,191 | $99 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $272 | $514 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $1,191 | $99 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $176 | $294 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $850 | $71 |
Mountaineer AWD | $200 | $294 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $874 | $73 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $200 | $348 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $928 | $77 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $200 | $348 | $280 | $16 | $84 | $928 | $77 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in zip code location which can affect price quotes greatly.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible costs about $20 more each month or $240 every year averaged for all Mountaineer models than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average at least 20 months between claim filings, you would save money if you choose a higher deductible.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can impact Mercury Mountaineer premium costs for each age group. The data is based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Impact of speeding/accidents on car insurance rates
The chart below shows how traffic citations and accident claims can increase Mercury Mountaineer insurance prices for each age group. The costs are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs by gender and age
The chart below illustrates the difference between Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
Insurance policy discounts for Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Indianapolis
Buying insurance is not cheap, but you may be missing some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Some of these discounts will be visible at the time of quoting, but once in a while a discount must be specially asked for before they will apply. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you could be saving more on your insurance.
- Pay Early and Save – By paying your policy upfront rather than spreading payments over time you can actually save on your bill.
- Good Grades Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
- Telematics Devices – People who choose to allow driving data collection to monitor vehicle usage by installing a telematics device such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could possibly reduce rates if they have good driving habits.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles could earn slightly better prices than normal.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents are rewarded with significantly better rates on Indianapolis car insurance quote when compared with drivers who are more careless.
We need to note that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will reduce your insurance premiums.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer auto insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The data is based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Indiana state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-car, homeowner, multi-policy, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.
Larger insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be found below.
- Farmers Insurance has discounts for switch companies, electronic funds transfer, homeowner, pay in full, bundle discounts, and alternative fuel.
- Esurance discounts include claim free, safety device, Switch & Save, emergency road assistance, homeowner, and multi-car.
- State Farm may have discounts that include Steer Clear safe driver discount, good student, Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, and anti-theft.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for multi-policy, multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, seat belt use, air bags, federal employee, and good student.
- Allstate offers discounts for anti-lock brakes, 55 and retired, good payer, teenSMART discount, passive restraint, and senior citizen.
When comparing rates, check with every company which discounts they offer. Savings may not apply in every state. To see insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in Indiana, click this link.
Are car insurance agents obsolete?
Many people would prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a smart move One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can find better rates and still choose a local agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the coverage information is submitted to companies in Indianapolis who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You never need to leave your computer since rate quotes are delivered to you. You can find better rates and work with a local agent. If you need to compare prices from a specific insurance provider, don’t hesitate to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Finding the right insurer is decision based upon more than just a cheap price quote. These are valid questions to ask:
- Can you contact them at any time?
- Which family members are covered?
- What is the financial rating for the quoted company?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Indianapolis?
- Do you work with a CSR or direct with the agent?
- How often do they review coverages?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
When researching a reliable insurance agency, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agencies to choose from. Insurance agencies can either be independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents can only write with one company such as American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to compare rates from other companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only use the same exclusive agent primarily because of high brand loyalty instead of buying on price only.
Below are Indianapolis exclusive insurance agents who may provide you with price quotes.
- Bill Hill – State Farm Insurance Agent
7423 E 82nd St – Indianapolis, IN 46256 – (317) 849-4119 – View Map - Jim Crinklaw – State Farm Insurance Agent
9423 Pendleton Pike – Indianapolis, IN 46236 – (317) 897-6129 – View Map - Chris Stringer – State Farm Insurance Agent
4875 W 56th St g – Indianapolis, IN 46254 – (317) 803-2241 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agents often have many company appointments and that enables them to quote your coverage through many companies and find you cheaper rates. If you want to switch companies, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.
If you are comparing insurance prices, you will want to include rate quotes from at least one independent agent in order to compare the most rates. Most have the option of insuring with different regional companies which can be an advantage.
Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Indianapolis willing to provide rate quotes.
- McClain Matthews Insurance
6329 Hollister Dr – Indianapolis, IN 46224 – (317) 298-7500 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Brelage Insurance Agency Inc
5451 Emerson Way – Indianapolis, IN 46226 – (317) 591-2660 – View Map - Multiline Insurance Agency
9801 Fall Creek Rd #156 – Indianapolis, IN 46256 – (317) 476-6141 – View Map
Car insurance coverages explained
Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Mercury Mountaineer.
Due to the fact that many Indiana drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10 in Indiana), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Liability insurance – This protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/10 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $10,000.
Liability can pay for claims such as medical services, pain and suffering and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Indiana state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but you should consider buying higher limits.
The chart below demonstrates why buying low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and rock chips in glass. The highest amount your car insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Collision – Collision coverage pays for damage to your Mountaineer from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible on your Mountaineer in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for things like funeral costs, dental work, doctor visits and surgery. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Persistent drivers can save
Affordable Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Indianapolis can be sourced from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you need to quote Indianapolis car insurance with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide rates over the internet and many times these regional carriers work with independent insurance agencies.
When getting Indianapolis car insurance quotes online, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers, being labeled a high risk driver and delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, switching insurance companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
More tips and info about insurance can be read by following these links:
- Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Indianapolis Auto Insurance Rates for Low Credit Scores? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Indianapolis Car Insurance Rates for a Toyota Highlander? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for High School Students in Indianapolis? (FAQ)
- Determining Auto Insurance Rates (GEICO)
- How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)