Unimaginable but true, a large majority of drivers in Ohio have been with the same company for four years or more, and approximately 40% of consumers have never even compared rates from other companies. American drivers could save roughly $850 every year just by comparing rates, but they think it’s difficult to find lower-cost rates by getting comparison quotes.
The best way we recommend to get cheaper auto insurance rates in Columbus is to regularly compare price quotes from providers who can sell car insurance in Ohio. Drivers can shop around by following these steps.
- First, spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the measures you can take to drop your rates. Many risk factors that cause rate increases such as traffic violations, accidents, and a substandard credit history can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover more information to get better rates and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
- Second, obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate and buy the policy, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
An important part of this process is to try to compare similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this enables an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete price analysis.
How to compare Oldsmobile Alero insurance quotes in Columbus
Finding more affordable car insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. The only requirement is to take a few minutes comparing free Columbus car insurance quotes online from several insurance companies.
The following companies provide price quotes in Ohio. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you compare several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
You may qualify for discounts for Oldsmobile Alero insurance in Columbus
Some providers don’t list every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous discounts you could be receiving when you buy Columbus car insurance online. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you may be paying too high a price.
- Data Collection Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow companies to spy on when and where they use their vehicle by using a telematics device in their vehicle like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might see lower rates as long as the data is positive.
- Drive Less and Save – Maintaining low annual mileage can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Columbus Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can earn you a little savings since owning and maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Student in College – Children who live away from home at college and do not take a car to college could get you a discount.
- Early Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
- Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy life insurance.
- No Charge for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but certain companies permit an accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
- Responsible Driver Discounts – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
- Paperwork-free – A few larger online companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
- Professional Memberships – Joining a qualifying organization is a simple method to lower premiums when shopping for auto insurance.
Don’t be surprised that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Despite the fact that it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you aren’t that lucky.
If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies that offer many of these discounts in Columbus, click here.
Exclusive versus independent insurance agents
Certain consumers just prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Experienced insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help in the event of a claim. A nice benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And buying from small agencies is definitely important in Columbus.
Once you complete this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to insurance agents in Columbus who will give you quotes for your auto insurance coverage. There is no need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. If you wish to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you can always navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
Exclusive and independent Columbus car insurance agents
When finding a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agencies and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Columbus can be classified as either exclusive agents or independent agents. Both types can do a good job, but it’s important to point out the difference in how they write coverage because it can impact buying decisions.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents are not employed by one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If prices rise, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to do anything. If you are comparing auto insurance prices, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to have the best price comparison. Most also have access to smaller companies that many times have cheaper rates.
Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Columbus that may be able to give you free price quotes.
- W.E. Davis Insurance Agency
29 Frederick St – Columbus, OH 43206 – (614) 443-0533 – View Map - Pfeifer-Ornstein Insurance Agency
3291 E Main St – Columbus, OH 43213 – (614) 235-7050 – View Map - Henderson Insurance Inc
3620 N High St #105 – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 884-0970 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only write with one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which aids in selling service over price. Drivers often use the same exclusive agent primarily because of the brand name rather than low rates.
The following are Columbus exclusive agencies that can give you rate quotes.
- David Grant – State Farm Insurance Agent
4612 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 262-1055 – View Map - Russell A Popp – State Farm Insurance Agent
2844 Johnstown Rd – Columbus, OH 43219 – (614) 471-5557 – View Map - Gianna R Cone – State Farm Insurance Agent
1495 Morse Rd #100 – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 267-7865 – View Map
Picking an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:
- Does the company have a local claim office in Columbus?
- In the event of vehicle damage, can you pick the collision repair facility?
- How long has their agency been open in Columbus?
- Does their agency support local causes in Columbus?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Does the agent help file claims?
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When quoting and choosing your policy for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that.
For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you may require specific advice.
- Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Do I need higher collision deductibles?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.
Get More Affordable Insurance with These Tips
Many different elements are used in the calculation when pricing auto insurance. A few of the factors are predictable like an MVR report, but other factors are more transparent like your continuous coverage or your commute time.
- Low comp and collision deductibles cost more – Coverage for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, protects your Oldsmobile from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are a broken side mirror, hail damage, and damage from a fallen tree branch. The deductibles state the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more of the claim you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
- Your occupation and insurance rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupational choices like fire fighters, airline pilots, and medical professionals tend to pay higher rates than the rest of us attributed to high stress and incredibly demanding work hours. On the other hand, careers such as professors, athletes and homemakers have lower than average premiums.
- The type of car you drive affects your rates – The type of vehicle you need insurance for makes a big difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest base rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
- Your car’s features help determine premiums – Choosing to buy a car with advanced anti-theft systems can get you a discount on your insurance. Advanced theft deterrents such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help stop your car from being stolen.
- Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – How you drive can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better prices as compared to those with violations. Even a single citation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get careless citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may face state-mandated requirements to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
Protect your vehicle and other assets
Despite the high cost, auto insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific level of liability in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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.
- If you have a loan on your Oldsmobile, most banks will make it mandatory that you buy insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank may buy a policy for your Oldsmobile for a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your Oldsmobile and your personal assets. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses incurred in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your auto insurance policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of insuring your car outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying more than $830 a year so it’s recommended you shop around every year to ensure rates are inline.
Find cheaper rates by comparing often
As you quote Columbus car insurance, it’s not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.
More affordable car insurance in Columbus is possible both online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you need to quote Columbus car insurance with both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller providers work with independent agents.
Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to lower your Oldsmobile Alero insurance auto insurance rates in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the best price on car insurance is with the smaller companies. These smaller insurers often have lower premium rates on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
Additional learning opportunities
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Inexperienced Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for 16 Year Olds in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)