Lafayette, LA Car Insurance
Find the right car insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Anyone who has ever driven on Old Taylor Road near the Highway 7 Bridge or on Highway 334 near University Avenue knows how dangerous the roads in Lafayette can be, particularly during rush hour. Additionally, given its close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, precipitation in this Louisiana city is high and this can frequently lead to slick roadways. Residents can protect themselves from accident-related financial hardships by carrying a top-rated Lafayette, LA car insurance policy.
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Lafayette, Louisiana Car Insurance Costs:
- National average annual premium: $1,311
- Louisiana average annual premium: $1,774
- 4th most expensive premiums in the US
Insurance rates in Louisiana are significantly higher than the national average, so it is particularly important that you comparison-shop so that you can obtain your policy at the best possible rate. When you work with an independent insurance agent, you can receive assistance with finding great deals and may even discover that you qualify for discounts you might have overlooked if shopping on your own.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Car Insurance Requirements:
- Bodily injury liability: required
- Property damage liability: required
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): not required
- Uninsured motorist: not required
- Minimum liability limits: 15/30/25
- Coverage up to $30,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $15,000 for one individual, and $25,000 coverage for property damage.
Louisiana State mandates minimum liability coverage amounts for its residents. If you are caught operating a vehicle without the proper insurance coverage, you may lose your license plate and be given a temporary plate that allows you three days to remedy the situation, or your vehicle may be impounded. These required amounts are designed to protect drivers from financial hardships or the need to file for bankruptcy following a vehicular accident. In most cases, these coverage amounts are high enough to successfully achieve this goal.
However, in the event of a serious accident involving severe injuries or fatalities, they are often not high enough. If the costs associated with an accident you caused exceed the liability limits of your policy, you will be responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket. You can avoid this problem by high amounts of liability coverage or, if you have a lot in assets that you wish to protect, by purchasing an umbrella insurance policy.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Uninsured Motorists:
- National uninsured motorists: 12.6%
- Louisiana uninsured motorists: 13.9%
- Louisiana average vehicle repair costs: $2,585
The percentage of Louisiana vehicle owners without required coverage is higher than the national average. Keep in mind that, whether or not you hold the required insurance coverage, you’re still responsible for any damage or injuries you cause in an accident. If you are in an accident with an uninsured driver, you’ll find it takes a lot longer to collect money from individuals without an insurance company. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional in Louisiana, but it will help you recoup damage and losses from an uninsured motorist faster. With uninsured motorist coverage, you’ll be able to collect money from your insurer to cover your costs, and your insurance company will collect from the liable driver.
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Do I Need to Include Comprehensive Coverage?
If you financed the purchase of your automobile, it is likely that your lender required that you carry comprehensive and collision coverage for the life of your loan. If you own your vehicle outright, the decision about whether to purchase this additional coverage is personal and is dependent on factors such as the value of your vehicle and your personal risk assessment. Comprehensive coverage provides added protection for your investment by offering compensation for damages or losses caused by anything other than a collision. This can include falling objects, weather-related events, fires, floods, vandalism, and theft.
Number of Thefts in Louisiana:
- National number of vehicle thefts (per 1,000 registered vehicles): 2.94
- Louisiana number of vehicle thefts (per 1,000 registered vehicles): 2.06
While vehicle theft in the state of Louisiana is somewhat lower than the national average, this crime occurs in Lafayette at a slightly higher rate. Recent numbers show there were 410 vehicles reported stolen in Lafayette. This equates to 3.25 thefts per every 1,000 registered vehicles. The threat of car theft is something to take into consideration when deciding whether to purchase comprehensive coverage with your Lafayette car insurance policy.
Find Your Ideal Lafayette Car Insurance Policy
When comparison shopping for Lafayette car insurance, whether online or by phone, you will need to provide each insurance company with several details about yourself and your vehicle. This can prove to be time-consuming and, at times, frustrating. In addition, many of the companies you contact will continue to call you with follow-up and sales calls that can be disruptive or annoying. You can simplify this process and avoid the aggravation by allowing an independent agent to do your comparison shopping for you.
You can count on your local agent to help you find a great car insurance policy and to assist you with all your current and future insurance-related questions and needs. Your local member agent will even advocate for you during the claims process if you need support.