How to Compare Columbus Suzuki Equator Insurance

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get the cheapest Suzuki Equator insurance in Columbus is to compare prices at least once a year from providers who can sell car insurance in Ohio. You can compare rates by following these guidelines.

• Step 1: Get a basic knowledge of policy coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates in check. Many things that increase rates such as accidents, careless driving, and a negative credit score can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Step 2: Request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates for many different companies.
• Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing rates to determine if you can save on Equator insurance in Columbus. If you find a lower rate and change companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.

The key thing to remember is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on each quote request and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete selection of prices.

Unbelievable but true, nearly 70% of Ohio drivers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for at least four years, and nearly the majority have never compared rates from other carriers. Many consumers in the United States can save hundreds of dollars each year, but they just don’t understand the big savings they would realize if they swap their current policy for a cheaper one.

Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Columbus is really quite easy. If you have a current auto insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your rates using this information. Nevertheless, Ohio vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies compete online because rates are impacted by many factors.

Cheap auto insurance in Columbus, OH

The following companies provide price comparisons in Ohio. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you visit as many as you can to find the most affordable auto insurance rates.

Coverage statistics and figures

The premium table displayed below highlights different insurance premium costs for Suzuki Equator models. Having a better understanding of how premiums are figured can be useful when making informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.

Price data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact premium rates greatly.

Physical damage deductibles

The hardest decision when buying coverage is how low should you set your deductibles. The figures shown below highlight the difference in cost of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second set of prices uses a $500 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in zip code location which can influence insurance rates considerably.

Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $10 more each month or $120 for a full year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have more than 25 months between claims, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible. The table below illustrates how this calculation is made.

One important issue to know is that raising deductibles to save money results in more money out-of-pocket at claim time. You should have some available funds in order to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.

Rate increases following a ticket or accident

The diagram below shows how traffic citations and at-fault claims drive up Suzuki Equator insurance costs for each age group. The premiums assume a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Auto insurance rates by age and gender in Columbus

The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Suzuki Equator car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Suzuki Equator full coverage rates compared to liability only

The diagram below shows the difference between Suzuki Equator insurance prices when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The prices are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.

Should you be buying full coverage?

There is no set guideline of when to phase out full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Suzuki Equator replacement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $2,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying more than $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are some cases where only buying liability is not financially feasible. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Get cheaper Suzuki Equator insurance in Columbus with discounts

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise every policy discount very well, so the following is a list of a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you may qualify for. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you could be getting lower rates.

• Distant College Student Discount – Youth drivers who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Columbus and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be insured at a cheaper rate.
• Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
• Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in school or through a local driver safety program.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with ABS and/or traction control are much safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Claim-Free Discount – Columbus drivers who stay claim-free pay much less as opposed to bad drivers.
• Discount for Good Grades – Maintaining excellent grades can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students well after school through age 25.

One thing to note about discounts is that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

The information below shows the comparison of Suzuki Equator car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.

Large insurance companies and their offered discounts can be found below.

• State Farm may offer discounts for passive restraint, student away at school, defensive driving training, multiple policy, and multiple autos.
• American Family offers premium reductions for multi-vehicle, air bags, early bird, Steer into Savings, defensive driver, bundled insurance, and mySafetyValet.
• GEICO offers discounts for anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, seat belt use, federal employee, five-year accident-free, and anti-theft.
• 21st Century has discounts for anti-lock brakes, homeowners, theft prevention, 55 and older, driver training, automatic seat belts, and student driver.
• Progressive has savings for good student, continuous coverage, multi-policy, homeowner, online quote discount, and online signing.

When getting a coverage quote, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be available in every state.

Your situation helps dictate your coverage

When it comes to choosing coverage online or from an agent, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different and your auto insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.

• What is glass protection for?
• How long can I keep a teen driver on my policy?
• How many claims can I have before being canceled?
• How can I get my company to pay me more for my totaled car?
• When should I not buy collision coverage?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Are car insurance agents of importance?

A lot of people just want to get advice from a local agent and that can be a great decision One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is you can get cheap rate quotes but also keep your business local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Columbus that can provide free Columbus car insurance quotes for your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to search for an agent due to the fact that quote results will go to you. You can find the lowest rates without a big time investment. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, just navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.

Picking an company should include more criteria than just the quoted price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.

• Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Ohio?
• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Is there a local claims center in Columbus?
• Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
• Is the quote a firm price?
• Which companies can they place coverage with?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?

Best auto insurance agent in Columbus

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you should know the different agency structures and how they can write your policy. Columbus agents are considered either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Exclusive agents are contracted to one company like Farmers Insurance, Allstate, or State Farm. These agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on sales techniques which aids in selling service over price. Many people use the same exclusive agent mostly because of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Columbus that can give you comparison quotes.

• Jack Gilkerson – State Farm Insurance Agent
  4232 E Main St – Whitehall, OH 43213 – (614) 237-4256 – View Map
• Andrea Taylor – State Farm Insurance Agent
  5540 N Hamilton Rd – Columbus, OH 43230 – (614) 855-9421 – View Map
• Bud Kulp – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1707 Bethel Rd – Columbus, OH 43220 – (614) 459-2424 – View Map

More insurance agents

Independent Insurance Agents

Agents that choose to be independent do not write with just one company and that allows them to write policies with multiple insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. If they quote lower rates, your policy is moved internally and that require little work on your part.

When comparing insurance rates, we highly recommend that you get rate quotes from multiple independent agents to have the best price comparison. Most also write with additional companies that you may not be familiar with which may have better rates.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agents in Columbus that can give you comparison quotes.

• Guy P Williams Insurance Agency
  1335 Dublin Rd #110d – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 488-1101 – View Map
• Ansong Insurance Agency
  5272 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 259-3635 – View Map
• All Ohio Insurance Agency Inc
  180 Northwoods Blvd – Columbus, OH 43235 – (614) 825-0770 – View Map

More insurance agents

What auto insurance coverages do you need?

Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.

UM/UIM Coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Suzuki Equator.

Since many Ohio drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/25 in Ohio), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like vandalism, rock chips in glass and theft. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Auto liability – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers things like bail bonds, court costs, medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible. Ohio requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.

The chart below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate.

Collision – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against things such as hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole, driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your Equator to get cheaper collision coverage.

Medical costs insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as dental work, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Cheaper car insurance rates are possible

While you’re price shopping online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost.

Some insurance providers don’t offer online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers work with local independent agents. Low-cost Suzuki Equator insurance in Columbus is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Columbus, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates.

We’ve covered a lot of techniques to shop for Suzuki Equator insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than their larger competitors like Progressive and GEICO.

For more information, link through to the articles below:

• Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Police Officers in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Columbus Car Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Sentra? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Nurses in Columbus? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a 20 Year Old Male in Columbus? (FAQ)
• How Much are Columbus Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Highlander? (FAQ)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Institute)
• What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)