The recommended way to find low-cost auto insurance rates in Columbus is to compare prices at least once a year from different companies who can sell car insurance in Ohio.
- Take a few minutes and learn about how your policy works and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many factors that drive up the price like traffic citations and an unacceptable credit score can be controlled by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
- Compare the new rates to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Columbus. If you can save money and switch companies, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Tell your current agent or company of your decision to cancel the current policy. Submit the completed application along with a down payment to your new company or agent. As soon as you can, place your new proof of insurance paperwork in your glove compartment.
A crucial key to this process is to use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get price quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. This enables the most accurate price comparison and a complete selection of prices.
Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that 70% of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for at least four years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared rates to find cheaper insurance. Ohio drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year just by shopping around, but they won’t spend time to compare rates and save money.
If you are already insured or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. Buying the best policy in Columbus is actually quite simple. Smart buyers only have to learn the least time-consuming way to buy insurance instantly.
The quickest method to compare insurance rates from multiple companies utilizes the fact most of the bigger providers actually pay money for the chance to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is give them some information such as your education level, whether the vehicles are used for commuting, if a SR-22 is needed, and your general credit rating. Your insurance information gets transmitted to multiple top-rated companies and you will receive price estimates within a short period of time.
To get price quotes for your car now, click here and enter your coverage details.
The following companies can provide comparison quotes in Ohio. If the list has multiple companies, we recommend you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Don’t neglect these discounts
Some insurers don’t always list all discounts very well, so the following list contains a few of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving when you buy Columbus car insurance online.
- New Car Discount – Buying a new car model can get you a discount since new model year vehicles are generally safer.
- Own a Home and Save – Owning a home in Columbus can save a few bucks because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
- Online Discount – A handful of larger companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on the internet.
- Payment Discounts – If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of paying each month you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could trigger a small discount.
- Life Insurance – Larger car insurance companies have a small discount if you purchase some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Save over 55 – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may qualify for a slight reduction on a Columbus car insurance quote.
- Low Miles Discount – Maintaining low annual mileage may allow you to get cheaper premium rates.
- Multiple Cars – Drivers who insure several vehicles on one policy can get a discount for every vehicle.
- Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades may save as much as 25% on a Columbus car insurance quote. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
A little disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The chart below shows the difference between Toyota Venza insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The price estimates are based on a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, and homeowner discounts applied.
Larger car insurance companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.
- State Farm may have discounts that include Drive Safe & Save, anti-theft, good student, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, and safe vehicle.
- GEICO has savings for multi-policy, anti-theft, driver training, federal employee, daytime running lights, seat belt use, and membership and employees.
- Liberty Mutual offers discounts including good student, newly married, preferred payment discount, new vehicle discount, and teen driver discount.
- The Hartford may offer discounts for bundle, anti-theft, good student, driver training, air bag, defensive driver, and vehicle fuel type.
- MetLife policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, defensive driver, accident-free, good student, good driver, and claim-free.
- Progressive offers discounts for online signing, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, good student, continuous coverage, and online quote discount.
If you need cheaper Columbus car insurance quotes, ask every insurance company what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts may not be offered in every state. To see a list of providers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Ohio, click here.
Car insurance data for a Toyota Venza
The information displayed next highlights different policy rates for Toyota Venza models. Learning more about how rates are calculated is important for drivers to make smart choices when buying a policy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venza 2WD 4-Dr | $106 | $214 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $668 | $56 |
Venza AWD 4-Dr | $106 | $214 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $668 | $56 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in zip code location which can lower or raise coverage prices considerably.
The chart below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can increase or decrease Toyota Venza annual premium costs for different categories of driver ages. The prices are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Toyota Venza full coverage rates compared to liability only
The information below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Venza insurance rates when comparing full coverage to liability only. The prices are based on no violations or claims, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There is no specific rule to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your Toyota Venza replacement cost is $9,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $8,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $800 a year for physical damage coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Smart Buyers Can Cut Insurance Costs
Multiple criteria are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, but others are less obvious such as whether you are married or how financially stable you are. When buying insurance it’s important to understand the rating factors that help determine your insurance rates. If you know what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
The items below are some of the most rate-impacting factors insurance companies consider when setting prices.
High insurance claims frequency drives up prices – Companies in Ohio generally give discounts to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
City dwellers may pay more – Living in a small town has definite advantages when trying to find low car insurance rates. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents. People in densely populated areas tend to have traffic congestion and more time behind the wheel. The longer drive time can result in more accidents.
Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have lower insurance rates. Highly rated vehicles have better occupant injury protection and reduced instances of injuries translates directly to fewer claims and thus lower rates.
Older drivers pay less – Beginning drivers in Ohio are known to be inattentive and easily distracted when behind the wheel so insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a beginning driver to your policy can be very expensive. Older, more experienced drivers tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
The data below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Driving citations drive up premiums – Getting just one ticket could increase your next policy renewal substantially. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have gotten severe violations like DUI or reckless driving might be required by their state to maintain a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The diagram below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders can drive up Toyota Venza premium costs for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Women pay lower prices – Over time, data shows that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. The data does not necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Males and females have at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but guys cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more major tickets such as reckless driving.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Venza insurance costs for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no violations or accidents, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.
Extra policy coverages can add up – Policies have optional add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying insurance. Insurance for things like coverage for rental cars, accidental death, and extra life insurance coverage could be just wasting money. They may sound like good ideas when deciding what coverages you need, but if they’re wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Toyota Venza historical loss data – Companies factor in insurance loss information to calculate a price that offsets possible losses. Vehicles that are shown to have a trend towards higher claims will cost more to insure. The table below outlines the loss history for Toyota Venza vehicles.
For each insurance policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, without regard to make or model, is equal to 100. Values that are under 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while percentages above 100 point to more frequent losses or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toyota Venza 4dr 2WD | 93 | 102 | 86 | 115 | 110 | 93 |
Toyota Venza 4dr 4WD | 94 | 102 | 97 | 120 | 94 | 87 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Can’t I compare prices from local Columbus car insurance agents?
A small number of people still like to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Licensed agents are highly skilled in risk management and give you someone to call. One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that you can obtain better rates and still choose a local agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your information is submitted to local insurance agents that give free quotes for your auto insurance coverage. You never need to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. If you have a need to compare prices for a specific company, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and submit a quote form there.
Selecting an provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. You should also get answers to these questions.
- Does the agency have a positive business rating?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Columbus?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
If you are wanting to purchase auto insurance from a local Columbus insurance agent, you should know the different types of agencies and how they function. Auto insurance agents in Columbus can be described as either exclusive or independent. Both sell auto insurance policies, but it’s important to point out the difference between them since it could factor into which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type are contracted to one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agents are well trained on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers often buy from the same agent for years primarily because of the prominence of the brand rather than low price.
The following are Columbus exclusive agents who may provide you with price quote information.
- Jerry Doherty – State Farm Insurance Agent
21 W Broad St #100 – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 461-7833 – View Map - Debbie Montgomery – State Farm Insurance Agent
1880 Schrock Rd – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 890-2886 – View Map - David Grant – State Farm Insurance Agent
4612 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 262-1055 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent are not restricted to one company so they can write business with an assortment of companies and get you the best rates possible. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you will want to check rates from several independent agencies to have the most options to choose from. Many can place coverage with mutual insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Shown below is a short list of independent agents in Columbus willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Franchise Insurance Agency, Inc.
4930 Reed Rd Suite 100 – Columbus, OH 43220 – (614) 451-2232 – View Map - Putnam White Lewis Insurance Agency
4161 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 267-1269 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Glenn R Williams
2930 N High St – Columbus, OH 43202 – (614) 268-3567 – View Map
When should I discuss my situation with an agent?
When quoting and choosing coverage online or from an agent for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. You are unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- Is there a penalty for late payment?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- How much can I save by bundling my policies?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Don’t give up on cheaper coverage
In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to find cheap Toyota Venza insurance in Columbus. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the most savings is with the least-expected company.
Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions and delays in paying claims. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
Low-cost Toyota Venza insurance in Columbus can be found on the web and with local Columbus insurance agents, so you need to quote Columbus car insurance with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide rates over the internet and these smaller companies work with independent insurance agencies.
Helpful resources
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Homeowners in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Low Income Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Institute)
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)