Evansville, Indiana, is a pleasant town of about 121,000 people in the southwestern portion of Indiana. Evansville is far away from the “big city” atmosphere of its larger sisters, but sits conveniently between St. Louis and Indianapolis, allowing residents the freedom to visit these larger cities and still return home to a soothing atmosphere.
Insurance prices in Evansville average about 20 percent above the state average, largely due to the fact that it is the biggest city in the area. The average person in Evansville pays about $1,282 per year for car insurance. The state average for Indiana is $1,067, while the national average is $1,602.
Evansville residents, like all Indiana residents, must provide proof of minimum insurance coverage on being stopped by a police officer or other authority. The State of Indiana requires a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in liability coverage for bodily injuries. The state also requires a minimum of $10,000 per accident for liability related to property damage. These minimums will cover an at-fault driver up to these amounts in a single accident.
However, many drivers do not feel secure with these minimum amounts. Indiana is a tort liability state, which means that drivers who cause accidents are solely responsible for the financial burden of damages. It is quite easy to exceed Indiana’s minimum liability limits in a single serious accident. If you do exceed your limits, you are personally responsible for the balance of damages, and may be in danger of having assets confiscated to pay the bill.
Fortunately, it is very easy to raise your liability limits, and most companies do not charge significantly more for coverage with $50,000/$100,000 limits than for minimum liability. By raising your limits and controlling your deductible you can often keep your insurance costs reasonable and still have adequate coverage.
Evansville residents may also want to consider optional coverage to fully protect their vehicles. While collision coverage is not required by the state, it is often a good idea to take out this coverage that pays for repairs to your car if you cause an accident. If you are not at fault, the other driver’s insurance pays for your damage; however, if you cause an accident, your own liability coverage will not pay to repair your car. You must have collision coverage to have your repair bills paid.
Similarly, comprehensive insurance is not required by the state but is often a good investment. Comprehensive insurance pays for your damages if your car is stolen, vandalized, or damaged by a tornado or flood. A good comprehensive policy covers everything your liability and collision do not cover; many people refer to the combination of comprehensive, collision, and liability as “full coverage.”
Finally, you should strongly consider uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Despite strict laws regarding coverage of vehicles, many drivers remain uninsured. The best way to be sure your damages are paid for if you are hit by an uninsured driver is to have this coverage.
You can get competitive insurance quotes through an online quote comparison website. Simply enter your information and the site will give you quotes from several companies so that you can easily shop for your next insurance policy.