Shockingly, almost 70% of insureds in Ohio kept their coverage with the same insurance company for well over three years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never even shopped around for lower-cost coverage. Consumers in America could save roughly 47% a year by just comparing quotes, but most tend to underestimate the big savings they would realize if they changed companies.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates in Columbus is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from different companies who can sell car insurance in Ohio. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.
First, it will benefit you to learn about how insurance works and the things you can change to keep rates low. Many factors that drive up the price such as accidents, traffic tickets, and an imperfect credit score can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. Compare rates now
Third, compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find better rates, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, notify your agent or company of your intent to cancel your existing policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application to the new insurer. Once coverage is bound, place the new proof of insurance certificate along with your vehicle registration.
A good piece of advice is that you use identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get rates from every insurance company. Doing this provides the most accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
The companies shown below offer quotes in Ohio. If the list has multiple companies, it’s a good idea that you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Why you need auto insurance
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Mercury Sable in Columbus, auto insurance may not be optional for several reasons.
First, just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to be legal. 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.
Second, if you have a loan on your Sable, it’s guaranteed your bank will require that you have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Mercury at a significantly higher premium and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
Third, auto insurance protects not only your Mercury Sable but also your financial assets. It will also reimburse you for medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of having insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. But the average driver in Ohio is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so shop around at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Do you qualify for discounts?
Some companies don’t always advertise every possible discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Columbus car insurance online.
- ABS Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can stop better under adverse conditions and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Driver Safety – Taking a class that teaches defensive driver techniques can save you 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Drivers who insure more than one vehicle on a single policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Claim-Free Discount – Columbus drivers who stay claim-free can earn big discounts when compared with drivers with a long claim history.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than drivers with accident claims.
- Telematics Discount – People who choose to allow driving data collection to monitor where and when they drive by using a telematic data system such as Progressive’s Snapshot could see a rate decrease as long as the data is positive.
- Senior Citizen Rates – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but certain companies permit an accident without the usual rate increase if you have no claims prior to being involved in the accident.
Please keep in mind that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, that’s just not realistic. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.
Companies that have some of the discounts shown above possibly include:
Before purchasing a policy, check with all the companies how you can save money. Some discounts listed above might not be available to policyholders everywhere. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that offer discounts in Columbus, click here to view.
Local Columbus auto insurance agents and auto insurance
Some consumers still prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and doing that can be a smart decision Agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing auto insurance online is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After completing this simple form, the coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific auto insurance provider, you just need to visit that company’s website and give them your coverage information.
Finding the right provider should include more criteria than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask:
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Ohio?
When finding a good insurance agency, you should know the types of agencies that you can select. Auto insurance agents in Columbus can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either one can provide auto insurance policies, but it’s good to learn the difference between them since it can affect the selection process.
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
These type of agents can only quote rates from one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are usually well trained on sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to buy from the same agent for years mostly because of the prominence of the brand instead of buying on price only.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Columbus who may provide you with price quote information.
- David Grant – State Farm Insurance Agent
4612 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 262-1055 – View Map - Bud Kulp – State Farm Insurance Agent
1707 Bethel Rd – Columbus, OH 43220 – (614) 459-2424 – View Map - Scott Dawson – State Farm Insurance Agent
5871 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 891-2886 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they can quote policies through many companies depending on which coverage is best. If prices rise, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.
If you need lower rates, you definitely need to include at least one independent agent to have the most options to choose from. Most also write with small mutual carriers that may provide cheaper auto insurance rates.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Columbus that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Danduran and Associates Insurance Agency, Inc.
1827 O Brien Rd – Columbus, OH 43228 – (614) 777-8200 – View Map - Augustine Insurance Agency
3851 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 267-1973 – View Map - Associated Insurance Agency – Pickerington
12927 Stonecreek Dr – Pickerington, OH 43147 – (614) 866-6060 – View Map
After getting positive responses for all questions you ask as well as offering an affordable quote, it’s a good possibility that you have found an insurance agency that will properly service your auto insurance policy.
What insurance coverages do I need?
Always keep in mind that when comparing adequate coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. You are unique so your insurance should reflect that
These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether you will benefit from professional help.
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Should I have a commercial auto policy?
- Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
- When can my company non-renew my policy?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Persistent drivers can save
We covered a lot of tips how to save on Mercury Sable insurance in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting affordable Columbus car insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a small local company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as GEICO and State Farm.
As you quote Columbus car insurance, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller providers prefer to sell through local independent agents. Cheaper car insurance in Columbus can be bought online and from local agencies, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.
Much more information about car insurance in Ohio can be found below:
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Jeep Wrangler in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda CR-V in Columbus? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Rogue in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)