A recent auto insurance study discovered that about 70% of customers have stayed with the same insurance company for well over three years, and approximately 40% of consumers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. Ohio consumers could save an average of $729 each year just by comparing rates, but most undervalue the amount of savings they would get if they switched to a more affordable policy.
It takes a little time, but the best way to get cheaper Chevy Spark EV insurance is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers who sell insurance in Columbus. Rates can be compared by following these steps.
First, try to comprehend what coverages are included in your policy and the things you can change to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices such as speeding tickets, accidents and an imperfect credit score can be amended by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Second, compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium and determine if there is any savings. If you find a better price and make a switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
A good piece of advice is to use similar deductibles and liability limits on every price quote and and to get quotes from as many carriers as you can. This ensures a level playing field and maximum price selection.
Buying affordable insurance in Columbus can really be easy if you know what you’re doing. Virtually each driver who is looking for cheaper insurance will probably find better rates. Although Ohio consumers must comprehend how big insurance companies price insurance differently because rates are impacted by many factors.
It’s important to know that comparing more rates from different companies will enable you to find the best rates.
The companies shown below provide free rate quotes in Columbus, OH. If the list has multiple companies, it’s a good idea that you get rate quotes from several of them to find the cheapest car insurance rates.
Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Chevy Spark EV insurance in Columbus
Auto insurance companies don’t list their entire list of discounts very clearly, so the following list contains some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Columbus car insurance online.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower prices due to less chance of an accident.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because newer vehicles are generally safer.
- Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags can get savings of 20% or more.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers take driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the personal injury premium cost.
- Telematics Devices – Drivers that enable driving data collection to analyze vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm could possibly reduce rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Paperwork-free – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on your computer.
- Waiver for an Accident – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
A quick disclaimer, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride. But all discounts will lower your policy cost.
To choose insurers with discount rates in Ohio, click this link.
Independent or exclusive car insurance agents
Many people still like to go talk to an agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your information gets sent to local insurance agents that provide free Columbus car insurance quotes for your coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, feel free to search and find their rate quote page and complete a quote there.
Choosing the best company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions you should ask.
- How are they compensated?
- How are claims handled?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- Is the quote a firm price?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Car insurance does more than just repair your car
Despite the high cost, buying car insurance serves several important purposes.
First, almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to carry specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to drive the car. 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 lien on your Chevy Spark EV, most banks will force you to have insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender may insure your Chevy for a much higher rate and force you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.
Third, car insurance preserves both your assets and your car. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses incurred in an accident. Liability insurance also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your car insurance policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of insuring your car outweigh the cost, especially with large liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is wasting up to $855 a year so shop around every year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
The coverage is in the details
Learning about specific coverages of a auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as hitting a deer, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird and fire damage. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Auto liability insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability coverage protects against things such as structural damage, legal defense fees, attorney fees, court costs and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible. Ohio requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying low liability limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Chevy Spark EV.
Since many Ohio drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Insurance for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills like chiropractic care, pain medications, rehabilitation expenses, dental work and funeral costs. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your Spark EV caused by collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, colliding with a tree and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible on your Spark EV to save money on collision insurance.
Quote often and quote early
We just showed you a lot of tips how to compare Chevy Spark EV insurance prices in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Chevrolet Spark EV insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced insurance comes from the least-expected company.
Some insurance providers may not have rate quotes online and usually these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent agents. The cheapest Chevy Spark EV insurance in Columbus is available online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture.
Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as being labeled a high risk driver, not issuing a premium refund, unfair underwriting practices or even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching companies is not as difficult as it may seem.
Much more information about insurance in Ohio is located on the following sites:
- Parking Tips to Reduce Door Dings (State Farm)
- Who Has the Cheapest Columbus Auto Insurance for Veterans? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a 20 Year Old Male in Columbus? (FAQ)
- How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)