Overpriced insurance in Columbus can diminish your budget and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing cost estimates can be a smart way to lower your monthly bill.
Amazingly, a recent NerdWallet.com study showed that the vast majority of consumers have purchased from the same company for over three years, and practically 40% of insurance customers have never compared insurance rates at all. American insurance shoppers could cut their rates by 47% a year, but they don’t believe the benefits if they moved their coverage to a different company. Due to the abundance of companies and agents to choose from, it’s difficult to choose the most affordable company.
Consumers need to compare prices yearly since insurance rates go up and down regularly. If you had the best deal on Ford Flex insurance in Columbus on your last policy you may be paying too much now. There is too much inaccurate information about Flex insurance online but we’re going to give you some guaranteed methods to save money.
Finding the best protection in Columbus is simple if you know the tricks. If you already have coverage or are just looking to switch companies, take advantage of these tips to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Consumers only need to know the quickest way to compare price quotes from many different companies.
The quickest method we recommend to compare rate quotes for Ford Flex insurance in Columbus takes advantage of the fact all the major auto insurance companies participate in a system to provide you with a free rate quote. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide information like what your job is, whether your vehicle is owned or leased, any included safety features, and if a SR-22 is required. That rating data is instantly sent to insurance carriers in your area and you get price estimates very quickly.
To compare cheap Ford Flex insurance rates now, click here and find out if you can get cheaper insurance in Columbus.
The following companies provide price quotes in Ohio. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you visit several of them to get the most affordable price.
Insurance is an important decision
Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford Flex in Columbus, insuring your vehicle is not optional due to several reasons.
- Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific limits of liability protection 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.
- If you took out a loan on your Ford Flex, most lenders will force you to buy insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Ford for a lot more money and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
- Insurance preserves both your car and your assets. It will also provide coverage for most medical and hospital costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. But the average American driver is overpaying more than $750 every year so you should quote rates at every policy renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Coverage analysis
The table shown next outlines detailed analysis of insurance costs for Ford Flex models. Having a better idea how insurance rates are established can be valuable when making decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flex SE 2WD | $170 | $290 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $784 | $65 |
Flex SEL 2WD | $170 | $342 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $836 | $70 |
Flex SEL AWD | $190 | $342 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $856 | $71 |
Flex Limited 2WD | $190 | $342 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $856 | $71 |
Flex Limited AWD | $190 | $342 | $238 | $14 | $72 | $856 | $71 |
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Data based on married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Columbus which can change insurance rates considerably.
Deductible analysis
A question often asked by Columbus drivers is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The data tables below may help you to understand the costs and benefits between high and low physical damage coverage deductibles. The first data set uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flex SE 2WD | $220 | $352 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $905 | $75 |
Flex SEL 2WD | $220 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $969 | $81 |
Flex SEL AWD | $246 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $995 | $83 |
Flex Limited 2WD | $246 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $995 | $83 |
Flex Limited AWD | $246 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $995 | $83 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flex SE 2WD | $160 | $238 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $706 | $59 |
Flex SEL 2WD | $160 | $280 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $748 | $62 |
Flex SEL AWD | $180 | $280 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $768 | $64 |
Flex Limited 2WD | $180 | $280 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $768 | $64 |
Flex Limited AWD | $180 | $280 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $768 | $64 |
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Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Columbus location which can change insurance rates noticeably.
Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible costs about $18 more each month or $216 annually than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at a minimum 22 months between claim filings, you would save more money going with the higher deductible. Here’s a better example of how you can do this calculation yourself.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $81 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $63 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $18 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $18 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 22 months |
An important sidenote is that a higher deductible level means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket if you have a claim. That will necessitate some extra savings in the event you need to pay more for the deductible.
The illustration below shows how different deductible levels and can raise or lower Ford Flex insurance prices for different age groups. The prices are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Should you buy full coverage?
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Ford Flex auto insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the Ohio minimum liability coverage. The data assumes no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop paying for full coverage
There is no exact rule to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is about 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Ford Flex replacement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $4,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying in excess of $400 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few situations where only buying liability is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Discounts for lower-cost auto insurance rates
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available that may help make it more affordable. Some of these discounts will be visible when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before you get the savings.
- No Claims – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims have much lower rates when compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Driver Training Discounts – Successfully completing a class that teaches safe driver techniques could save 5% or more if you qualify.
- Paperless Signup – Many insurance companies will give you a small discount for signing up on the internet.
- Early Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time as opposed to paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Older drivers may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save you some money because newer vehicles keep occupants safer.
- ABS Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Responsible Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less compared to accident prone drivers.
One thing to note about discounts is that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.
The illustration below shows the difference between Ford Flex insurance prices with and without some available policy discounts. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, marriage, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.
Popular auto insurance companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be read below.
- State Farm may include discounts for defensive driving training, multiple policy, student away at school, good driver, and multiple autos.
- GEICO includes discounts for anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, federal employee, defensive driver, five-year accident-free, and daytime running lights.
- Allstate offers discounts including anti-theft, 55 and retired, premier discount, farm vehicle, passive restraint, and good student.
- SAFECO has savings for anti-theft, teen safe driver, bundle discounts, drive less, anti-lock brakes, and homeowner.
- Farm Bureau has discounts for 55 and retired, driver training, safe driver, renewal discount, and good student.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for multi-policy, good student, online quote discount, homeowner, online signing, and multi-vehicle.
- AAA offers discounts for anti-theft, pay-in-full, multi-car, AAA membership discount, and good student.
If you are trying to find cheaper Columbus car insurance quotes, ask every company which credits you are entitled to. A few discounts may not apply in Columbus. To locate companies with discount auto insurance rates in Columbus, click here.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When quoting and choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that.
For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need an agent’s assistance.
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
- Should I rate my Ford Flex as pleasure use or commute?
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- What is no-fault insurance?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.