It goes without saying that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Insureds who shop around for the cheapest rate will probably switch companies because there is a high probability of finding a lower rate. A study discovered that people who make a habit of shopping around saved as much as $860 a year compared to policyholders who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the lowest rates on Chevy Bolt insurance in Columbus is your objective, then having a grasp of how to get free comparison quotes and analyze insurance rates can make the process less intimidating.
The most effective way to get discount auto insurance rates in Columbus is to compare quotes annually from insurance carriers who sell auto insurance in Ohio. Rate comparisons can be done by completing these steps.
- Read and learn about how auto insurance works and the factors you can control to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that cause rate increases such as speeding tickets, accidents and a low credit score can be amended by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple companies. View insurance agents
- Compare the new rates to your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you can save some money, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new carrier. Make sure you put the proof of insurance certificate somewhere easily accessible.
One bit of advice is to try to compare similar limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. This guarantees the most accurate price comparison and maximum price selection.
The best way to compare insurance rates in your area is to realize most of the larger companies actually pay money for the chance to compare rate quotes. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide a little information such as if you’re married, the ages of drivers, how much education you have, and your job. That information is then submitted to multiple companies and you should receive rate quotes with very little delay.
To check rates for your Chevy Bolt now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The companies shown below offer price quotes in Ohio. If multiple providers are shown, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
It may be expensive, but it’s not optional
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Chevy Bolt in Columbus, buying auto insurance is mandatory in Ohio but it also protects more than you think.
- Just about all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car legally. In Ohio these limits are 25/50/25 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your vehicle has a loan, it’s most likely the lender will require that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Chevy for a much higher rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Auto insurance preserves both your car and your personal assets. Insurance will pay for most medical and hospital costs for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of buying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. The average driver in America is wasting up to $700 annually so you should quote and compare rates every year to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Check for these five discounts on Chevy Bolt insurance in Columbus
Car insurance is not inexpensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested before being credited.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having a deployed family member could qualify you for better car insurance rates.
- Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a class that teaches driver safety techniques may get you a small discount and make you a better driver.
- Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Many companies even apply the discount to college students until age 25.
- Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction with a few car insurance companies.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 25 to 30%.
A quick disclaimer, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Insurance companies that have most of these discounts are:
It’s a good idea to ask each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts may not be offered in your area. To choose insurance companies that offer multiple discounts in Ohio, follow this link.
What if I want to buy from local Columbus insurance agents?
Certain consumers still like to sit down with an agent and that is OK! One of the benefits of price shopping on the web is the fact that drivers can get better rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for neighborhood insurance agencies is important particularly in Columbus.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area that provide free Columbus auto insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t even need to do any legwork as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. You can find lower rates AND an agent nearby. If you have a need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, just navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
When researching a reputable agency, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they can quote your rates. Insurance agents in Columbus can either be exclusive or independent.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type often have many company appointments and that gives them the ability to insure through many different insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If they quote lower rates, they can switch companies in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When comparing insurance prices, it’s recommended you include price quotes from a couple of independent agencies for the best price selection. Most also have access to small regional insurance companies which can save you money.
The following are Columbus independent insurance agencies that can give you competitive price quotes.
- John Dawson Associates
6025 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 890-1660 – View Map - AA Affordable Insurance Agency of Ohio
1180 W Broad St – Columbus, OH 43222 – (614) 221-7007 – View Map - Cornerstone Insurance Services
1505 Stonecreek Drive S, Suite 103 – Pickerington, OH 43147 – (614) 524-4248 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive agencies write business for a single company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, State Farm, or Allstate. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. They are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often buy from exclusive agents mainly due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Columbus that can give you price quotes.
- GEICO Insurance Agent
7370 Sawmill Rd Suite 2720 – Columbus, OH 43235 – (614) 336-4240 – View Map - Jerry Doherty – State Farm Insurance Agent
21 W Broad St #100 – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 461-7833 – View Map - American Family Insurance – Felix Quachey
1100 Morse Rd Ste 301 – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 536-0237 – View Map
Picking an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price quote. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Is there a local claims center in Columbus?
- If your car is totaled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Has the agent ever had any license suspensions?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Upon receiving answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and inexpensive Chevrolet Bolt insurance in Columbus quotes, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that will provide insurance coverage.
Auto insurance policy specifics
Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Coverage for liability – This coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property. Occasionally you may see a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things like medical expenses, repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Ohio requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below shows why low liability limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Collision coverage – This covers damage to your Bolt resulting from a collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things like crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your Bolt in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Insurance for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for expenses like prosthetic devices, chiropractic care, surgery, funeral costs and doctor visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Bolt.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25 in Ohio), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as falling objects, damage from flooding, hitting a bird, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and fire damage. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
More comparisons equals cheap rates
People who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, being labeled a high risk driver, policy non-renewal and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.
In this article, we presented a lot of information how to find cheaper Chevy Bolt insurance in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, but do not skimp to save money.
Helpful information
- Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)
- How Much are Columbus Auto Insurance Quotes for Uninsured Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Good Credit in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Ride Shares in Columbus? (FAQ)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
- If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)