Find Cheaper Lincoln MKZ Insurance in Columbus

Want to save money and find low-cost Lincoln MKZ insurance in Columbus? Do you think you bought overpriced Lincoln MKZ insurance in Columbus? Don’t feel bad because there are lots of people in the same boat.

It’s safe to conclude that insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Consumers who compare rates once a year will most likely switch to a new company because there is a good probability of finding a policy with more affordable rates. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that people who shopped around every year saved as much as $3,450 over four years as compared to drivers who never compared rates.

If finding the best price on auto insurance in Columbus is your intention, then having an understanding of how to shop for cheaper coverage can make the process more efficient.

Insurance companies such as GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm increase brand awareness with catchy ads and it is difficult to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

You should take the time to take a look at other company’s rates once or twice a year because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the lowest rate on Lincoln MKZ insurance in Columbus a year ago you may be paying too much now. You can find a lot of information about MKZ insurance on the internet, but in just a couple of minutes you can learn some great ideas on how to stop overpaying for insurance in Columbus.

If you have a current auto insurance policy, you will most likely be able to get lower rates using the concepts covered in this article. Finding affordable auto insurance coverage in Columbus is really quite easy. Although Ohio consumers benefit from understanding the way companies set your policy premium because rates are impacted by many factors.

The method we recommend to compare insurance rates in your area is to realize all the major auto insurance companies will pay a fee to quote your coverage. All you need to do is give them rating details like driver ages, how much coverage you want, what your job is, and the year, make and model of vehicles. That rating data is then submitted to multiple top-rated companies and you receive quotes almost instantly.

To start a quote now, click here and enter your zip code.

The following companies are ready to provide free quotes in Ohio. If more than one company is shown, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Cheap Columbus auto insurance quotes with discounts

Auto insurance is expensive, but there may be some discounts to help bring down the price. A few discounts will be applied at quote time, but occasionally some discounts must be requested specifically before being credited. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently so companies will give you a small discount.
• Renewal Discounts – Some insurance companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current expiration date. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Government Employee Discount – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with some auto insurance companies.
• First Accident Forgiveness – This one is not really a discount per se, but a handful of insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident before they charge you more for coverage if you are claim-free for a specific time period.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings up to 30%.
• Student Discounts – Being a good student could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
• 55 and Retired – Seniors could receive a small discount on rates.
• Pay Early and Save – By paying your policy upfront as opposed to paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Having several vehicles with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Braking Control Discount – Cars and trucks that have anti-lock braking systems can stop better under adverse conditions and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

The diagram below compares Lincoln MKZ insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the rates. The costs are based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.

Popular auto insurance companies and some of the discounts include:

• Progressive may offer discounts for online signing, good student, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
• AAA offers discounts for pay-in-full, anti-theft, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, good student, multi-policy, and good driver.
• Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for switch companies, electronic funds transfer, youthful driver, alternative fuel, distant student, and pay in full.
• GEICO includes discounts for good student, seat belt use, multi-policy, defensive driver, military active duty, membership and employees, and multi-vehicle.
• Esurance offers discounts including DriveSense, Pac-12 alumni, homeowner, good driver, anti-lock brakes, emergency road assistance, and paid-in-full.
• SAFECO may include discounts for multi-car, safe driver, bundle discounts, anti-lock brakes, drive less, teen safety rewards, and anti-theft.
• State Farm has discounts for good student, anti-theft, good driver, passive restraint, multiple policy, and driver’s education.

If you want affordable Columbus auto insurance quotes, ask all the companies to give you their best rates. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in every state. To choose insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Ohio, click here.

Insurance rate breakdown

The price information displayed next outlines detailed analysis of insurance costs for Lincoln MKZ models. Having a good understanding how auto insurance prices are determined can aid in making informed decisions when comparing rates.

Prices based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in specific location which can affect coverage rates considerably.

Deductible comparison

One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The figures shown below can help show the rate differences when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can lower or raise premiums considerably.

We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $21 more each month or $252 annually than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at least 36 months between claims, you would save more money if you decide on a higher deductible.

Safe drivers pay less for car insurance

The illustration below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions drive up Lincoln MKZ insurance costs for different age groups. The rates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The illustration below shows the comparison of Lincoln MKZ car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The costs are based on no accidents or driving violations, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage

There is no clear-cut rule of when to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Lincoln MKZ replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying over $300 annually to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not consider dropping full coverage.

What if I want to buy from local Columbus insurance agents?

A lot of people just want to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheap car insurance quotes but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting local insurance agents is still important in Columbus.

By using this quick form, the quote information is submitted to local insurance agents in Columbus who will return price quotes for your car insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to you directly. You can find lower rates without requiring a lot of work. If you have a need to quote rates from a specific company, you can always navigate to their website to submit a rate quote request.

Choose the right auto insurance agent

If you are searching for a local agent, it’s helpful to know the different types of agents that you can select. Agencies in Columbus can either be exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments.

Independent Car Insurance Agencies

Agents that choose to be independent do not sell for just one brand so they can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rate quotes, you will definitely want to get insurance quotes from independent agents to maximize your price options.

Listed below is a partial list of independent insurance agents in Columbus that may be able to provide rate quotes.

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Exclusive Agencies

Exclusive agents work for only one company and examples are American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive insurance agents receive a lot of sales training on sales techniques which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

Shown below are Columbus exclusive agencies that can give you comparison quotes.

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Deciding on an insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Any good agent in Columbus should know the answers to these questions.

• Does the agency have a positive business rating?
• Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
• Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
• Is insurance their full-time profession?
• Where would your vehicle be repaired?
• How long has their agency been in business in Columbus?
• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?

Car insurance coverages for a Lincoln MKZ

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverage types found on the average insurance policy.

Medical expense insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses for dental work, surgery and hospital visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Lincoln MKZ.

Due to the fact that many Ohio drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Frequently these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Auto liability – This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers things such as pain and suffering, structural damage, court costs, emergency aid and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible. Ohio requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

The illustration below demonstrates why buying low liability limits may not be adequate.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like rock chips in glass, damage from flooding, theft, a broken windshield and fire damage. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with a tree. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible on your MKZ to save money on collision insurance.

Shop smart and save

We just presented some good ideas how to save on Lincoln MKZ insurance in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the smaller companies. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like State Farm or Progressive.

Budget-friendly auto insurance in Columbus is available both online as well as from independent agents in Columbus, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent agents.

Steps to finding cheaper Lincoln MKZ insurance in Columbus

Really, the only way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates in Columbus is to regularly compare quotes from different companies who can sell car insurance in Ohio.

First, spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the steps you can take to keep rates low. Many risk factors that increase rates such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and an unfavorable credit rating can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely.

Second, compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple companies.

Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy premium to determine if you can save on MKZ insurance. If you find a better price and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.

Fourth, tell your current company to cancel the current policy and submit payment and a signed application for the new policy. Immediately keep your new proof of insurance certificate in an accessible location in your vehicle.

An important bit of advice to remember is that you use the same amount of coverage on each price quote and to quote with every insurance company. Doing this enables the most accurate price comparison and the best price selection.

More information

• Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)
• Who Has Cheap Columbus Auto Insurance Rates for High School Students? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Columbus Auto Insurance for State Employees? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda CR-V in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Good Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Dodge Ram in Columbus? (FAQ)
• How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
• Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
• Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)