CALL FOR QUOTES: 855-637-0994
In the market for cheap auto insurance in Lake Charles, LA? At CheapCarInsuranceinc.com, you can find the very best insurance rates in your area. To find free car insurance quotes from the top rated providers today, provide your zip code into the quote box on this page.
Lake Charles is located in the southwestern corner of Louisiana and is the fifth largest city in the state. It is also a multi-faceted city whose economy is based around a number of different industries. From petrochemicals to education to tourism and more, Lake Charles has many different things to offer residents and visitors alike.
Automobile insurance is required in Louisiana, and Lake Charles drivers need to have proof of the following coverage:
Coverage | Requirements | Most Common |
Liability Bodily Injury | 15,000/30,000 | 15,000/30,000 |
Liability Property Damage | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Bodily Injury - Motorist Uninsured | Not required | 10,000/20,000 |
Medical Payments | Not required | 5,000 |
Collision | Not required | 500 deductible |
Comprehensive | Not required | 50 deductible |
You’d think that requiring such little coverage in Louisiana would make average rates cheaper. Well, it actually makes them much more expensive (see below). Why, exactly? Well, it’s likely that because your insurer assumes everyone else is covering less coverage, and that they will have to pay out more on claims as a result, that they increase their rates to offset that potential stress.
Louisiana auto insurance rates are some of the highest in the country. Your typical motorists could be forking out $164 or more on average. Luckily, Lake Charles drivers have a chance to save a lot of money. You could get insured for as little as $72/mo* if you act quickly. We’ll show you what to do.
Southern Farm Bureau, and Nationwide all want your business in Lake Charles – and they’re pricing their auto policies competitively low in order to get it. Before you decide to switch, though, do a little research and make sure the company offering the lower rate is the right company for you.
Auto insurance companies contemplate different elements when assessing insurance quotes, including marital status, driving violations, occupation, driving distance to work, and theft protection devices. In addition, premiums differ from provider to provider. To make sure you’re still getting the most favorable rate, compare cheap Lake Charles auto insurance quotes online.
There are multiple important elements that many drivers don’t realize will immensely influence how much they pay per month for insurance. And those are explained below:
The cheapest auto insurance is normally found in cities with a lower population density. Because there are fewer vehicles on the streets, there are fewer possibilities for you to get into a major car accident with another driver. The population of Lake Charles is 71,475 and the median household income is $34,304.
Take a look at the chart below. Areas with low rates of accidents tend to have lower insurance premiums, also. Per capita, the accident rate for the Lake Charles area is actually fairly low. This may already be helping your premium costs in ways you weren’t aware of.
Living in a large city (Especially one with a high crime rate) will increase your risk of being a victim of auto theft. If your general location has high rates of theft and claims, you can expect to pay more for auto insurance to offset these costs. The total number of stolen vehicles in Lake Charles was 133 back in 2010.
Those who aren’t keeping a close and careful eye on their credit score may end up literally forking out for it in the form of higher insurance premiums. Just take a look at the chart below. Drivers with poor credit are forking out double or more the premiums which drivers with perfect credit are.
Are you a teenage driver who is about to purchase car insurance for the first time? If so, the numbers in the chart below probably look terrifying. Luckily, there is hope. If you are still in school and getting good grades, there are some lucrative Good Student discounts you may qualify for. You can also get a Driver’s Ed discount with a driver training course.
Have you heard of “Accident Forgiveness”? It’s a great new type of discount where certain insurance providers will ignore a minor blemish on your driving record when calculating your premiums. This will likely lower your monthly rate if you qualify.
Would you risk insuring a luxury vehicle with Liability coverage only? Most people would not leave such an expensive investment vulnerable like that. Which is why luxury vehicle insurance tends to cost so much more. You have to buy more coverage, and in greater amounts, in order to protect your vehicle completely.
Of course, there are also these elements:
If you’re married, odds are you are already taking advantage of bundling discounts. But if you aren’t, you definitely should be. Bundling your policies together will net you some pretty big savings. It’s your insurance company’s way of saying ‘thank you’ for trusting them with your business.
The practice of charging men and women different premiums based on gender alone is slowly fading out of the auto insurance industry. Those who still do charge men and women differently only vary by about 1-2%, and even then, whether it’s males or females who end up forking out more will vary from one business to another.
While 15-20 minutes is a very common commute time for workers in Lake Charles, it is also highly likely to spend only 10-15 minutes getting to work. And for those who have to commute to get to the office, nearly 80% drive their own car. Slightly more than 10% carpool with their co-workers.
Even if you try to save money on insurance premiums by slashing your mileage by thousands each year, at best you’ll save 1-3%, on average. Driving recreationally, however, has some savings advantages. This is because business vehicles cost 11-12% more in premiums each month.
Thinking about raising your deductible? It’s not a bad idea; as a matter of fact, it’s a great way to lower your monthly insurance payments. Make sure you save a little extra money away for a rainy day, however, because you will have to pay that deductible if you find yourself filing a claim.
Many drivers may not know that achieving a higher education can earn you a lower rate on your car insurance. It’s actually more effective than earning a great salary or having a good job. In Lake Charles, almost one-third of drivers have their high school diploma or an equivalent degree. A slightly smaller number of drivers have not yet completed their high school education.
One of the most popular choices for a higher education in Lake Charles is McNeese State University. It is a public, four-year institution which offers Bachelor’s and graduate degrees to nearly 10,000 students. They are especially well known for their education, business, and engineering schools. For a more specialized degree, consider looking into the Sowela Technical Community College.
Determining your own financial risk can be extremely hard or impossible for the typical insurance shopper. Insurance companies have an edge on consumers because of their statistics and experiential knowledge. Learn what insurance companies don’t want you to know. Learn more about Lake Charles.
Sources:
Louisiana Department of Insurance
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Find Cheap Auto Insurance in Lake Charles, LA – See How Much You Can Save