Fort Wayne Car Insurance

Posted by Kevin Lewis on Oct 31, 2011 | No Comments »

The State of Indiana, and the city of Fort Wayne, require that all drivers carry car insurance on their vehicle. There are several different levels of car insurance coverage available. Liability insurance is designed to get other drivers back on the road should you cause an accident and is required by law. This insurance is only for other drivers and will not cover you, your passengers or your property. Compare car insurance quotes online by entering your ZIP code!

Optional Coverage

There are some types of optional car insurance. Collision insurance will get your car fixed should you cause an accident. Comprehensive coverage covers your car for damage caused by vandals, theft and weather. It is often required by lenders when a car is financed. Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage will protect you should someone without proper coverage cause an accident.

An Alternative to Fort Wayne Car Insurance

Drivers in Fort Wayne do not have to carry auto insurance if they can show financial responsibility and ability to pay with it. This requires depositing $40,000 with the State Treasurer or creating a trust fund in that amount. Another option is to have a bond from a surety company. If you are one of the few people in the state with the liquid assets necessary to meet these car insurance requirements, this may be a money saving option for you. Here are some important things to remember if you are considering going this route.

  • Insurance companies shield you from lawsuits. Without their services, you will be paying all legal fees out of your own pocket to fight a lawsuit.
  • If you cause an accident, you will be responsible for any level of damages above and beyond the $40,000 bond.
  • Medical bills after an accident can be extensive, easily exceeding the amount of the bond.
  • There is no protection for your own vehicle should it be stolen, vandalized or damaged in an accident that you caused.

Fort Wayne Car Insurance Requirements

Expect to carry some minimum car insurance coverage levels when living in Fort Wayne. All drivers are required to carry liability coverage for injury or death in the amount of $25,000/person and $50,000/ accident. Liability coverage for property shall be a minimum of $10,000.

Drivers should also have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage.

It’s important that your insurance is never allowed to lapse. Whether there is a lapse due to changing companies or from a failure to pay, you can expect to pay a 25-50% surcharge to get a new Fort Wayne car insurance policy. Be sure that your new policy takes over without any lapse when switching to a new provider.

Fort Wayne Car Insurance Laws

Expect to carry proof of car insurance or financial responsibility in your vehicle at all times. When you are pulled over for any reason you will be expected to show this to the officer. If you do not have it with you, you will be given 40 days to show this proof of insurance to the courts or face a 90 day suspension and fine of $150. This is for the first offense. Subsequent offenses carry a fine of $300. If you are stopped without the insurance card or proof of financial responsibility more than twice in three years your license will automatically be suspended.

You must have guest driver liability before loaning your car to a friend in Fort Wayne. Alternatively, the driver may have a policy that covers them on any vehicle they are operating. Failure to ensure that an accident involving a vehicle you are driving will be covered will result in the suspension of your license.

SR-22

This insurance is designed to protect the general public from drivers who have trouble maintaining insurance. When a driver allows insurance to lapse, their insurance provider may be required to file an SR-22 form with the state. This form shows that the driver is covered and specifies what the driver’s liability coverage is. SR-22 insurance is required for a minimum of three years after the initial date of suspension.

This coverage can cause an increase in rates of up to 50% and will be required if a driver’s license is revoked or mandatory insurance supervisions are required. It may be required if a driver has any safety responsibility suspensions or unsatisfied judgment suspensions.

Fort Wayne Car Insurance Ratings

The car insurance companies issue customers a rating based on certain information. In Fort Wayne, the companies can take your personal credit history into account when determining what your premiums should be. They can also look at the following items:

  • Type of car you drive – More expensive cars may cost more to insure, but the safety features they offer might help to offset those premiums. Make sure your company is aware of all safety and security features your car has.
  • Regular use – How often the car is driven will affect premiums. If you have a car that is only driven occasionally, let your insurance company know and save money on your Fort Wayne car insurance premiums.
  • Storage – Where you park the car will affect premiums. A private, locked garage may net you a discount on coverage opposed to leaving it on the streets overnight.
  • Marital status – Married couples are considered to be more responsible and will enjoy lower premiums on their insurance premiums.
  • Driving history – This is a huge factor in how much insurance you will pay in Fort Wayne. If you have driving violations for speeding, accidents and DUI’s you can expect your rates to be affected for up to 7 years. Breaking DUI laws can drastically change ones auto insurance policy.

Auto Theft

Insurance companies care about which cars are the most likely to be stolen, and which cities have the highest theft ratings. The great news for Fort Wayne, Indiana residents is that the city is low on the list for the risk of most stolen cars.

However, the National Insurance Crime Bureau issues a list of the most commonly stolen cars every year. Expect your Fort Wayne car insurance to be slightly higher if you are driving one of the following vehicles:

  • Chevy Truck or Impala
  • Ford Taurus, F150 or Explorer
  • Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix
  • Dodge Ram or Caravan
  • Oldsmobile Cutlass

Average Fort Wayne Car Insurance Rates

The average rate for drivers in Fort Wayne is $1350 a year. This breaks down to slightly over $110 a month. Drivers can talk to their agent about discounts based on safety or security features. Discounts may also be available based on employer, special programs, safety classes and defensive driving classes. Talk to your specific insurance company or agent for more information on discounts you may qualify for.

Driving in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne experiences snowy winters and warm summers. Temperatures will drop below freezing as early as mid-October and can continue into late April. Expect to encounter icy driving conditions throughout the winter. Collision coverage or comprehensive coverage would be required to get your car fixed if you should slide on black ice and damage your car. While it’s not required by law, this coverage is highly recommended.

The Indiana State Police made 54 drunk driving arrests for the month of January 2011. This is nearly 2 arrests per night for drunk driving. The police also issued more than 1700 citations for driving violations. Overall, Fort Wayne is a relatively safe city to drive in. Throughout the 2009 calendar year, there were only 17 people killed in auto accidents and 12 fatal accidents were caused by drunk drivers.

The city of Fort Wayne does have some laws regarding cell phone use. There is no texting while driving. Fines for violating this law are $500 and drivers under the age of 18 may not use cell phone or other wireless communications devices at all when behind the wheel.

Fort Wayne Car Insurance Companies and Agents

There are dozens of car insurance providers offering services within the city of Fort Wayne. Choose from large, national companies or private companies that operate on a local basis. Many larger companies also have agents operating locally who can help you find discounts and can provide assistance should you have to file a car insurance claim.

Finding the best auto insurance rates can be time-consuming because there are so many different companies to choose from in Fort Wayne. Before starting the process, consider what kind of coverage levels you are interested in. Remember that insurance is designed to shield you from lawsuits. Ideally, the coverage should be enough to protect all of your assets in the event of an accident. If you are trying to bring the bill down, consider choosing a higher deductible.

Once you know what coverage level you are seeking, the fastest way to find the best price on Fort Wayne car insurance is to use free comparison tools online. Instantly compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies along with available special features. The services are free and they can help you find the best car insurance company for your needs.

Similar Posts:

Share

Tags: Car Insurance, Fort Wayne, Insurance

Leave a Reply