There isn’t a single person who likes having to buy car insurance, especially when they are aware that they are paying too much.
It’s astonishing, but a large majority of car insurance policyholders kept their policy with the same company for more than four years, and just under half have never quoted rates to find affordable coverage. With the average premium in Ohio being $1,340, drivers can save approximately 55% each year just by getting comparison quotes, but most undervalue the amount of savings they would get if they bought a different policy. Since people have many car insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to locate the best company.
Pricing affordable protection in Columbus is not as hard as you may think. If you have a current car insurance policy or just want to save money, you can use these tips to save money and still have adequate protection. You only have to learn the proper way to find the lowest price instantly.
Car insurance coverages explained
Knowing the specifics of car insurance can be of help when determining the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Coverage for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for pain medications, chiropractic care, rehabilitation expenses, surgery and nursing services. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against things such as structural damage, attorney fees, medical services and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Ohio requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The next chart shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Collision coverage – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Raider caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Raider to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive coverages – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as falling objects, hitting a bird, hitting a deer and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Mitsubishi Raider.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/25 in Ohio), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Most of the time these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
One last note
We’ve covered a lot of ways to lower your Mitsubishi Raider insurance premium rates in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest premium rates are with the least-expected company.
When searching for low cost Columbus car insurance quotes, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price and still be able to protect your assets.
Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as questionable increases in premium, unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service or extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company is not as hard as you think.
How to find low-cost Mitsubishi Raider insurance in Columbus
The preferred way to find discount Mitsubishi Raider insurance is to compare quotes once a year from insurers that insure vehicles in Columbus. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.
- Take a little time to learn about car insurance and the steps you can take to prevent rate increases. Many things that are responsible for high rates like at-fault accidents and a not-so-good credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the quotes to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Columbus. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Provide adequate notice to your current company of your decision to cancel your existing policy. Submit a down payment and signed policy application to your new agent or company. When you receive it, store the certificate verifying proof of insurance with the vehicle registration.
One thing to point out is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote request and to quote with as many companies as you can. This provides a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.
More information is located on the following sites:
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Inexperienced Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Columbus Car Insurance for a Toyota Tundra? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Columbus Car Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Chevrolet Equinox in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Car Insurance FAQ (Trusted Choice)