Car Insurance Rate Quotes for a Ford Escape in Columbus

Wish you could get a refund on an under-performing, overpriced auto insurance policy? Don’t feel bad because there are lots of Columbus residents who feel the same.

Unthinkable but true, most consumers in Ohio have bought auto insurance from the same company for four years or more, and nearly the majority have never even compared rates from other companies. Consumers in the U.S. can cut their rates by approximately $850 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they just assume it’s a time-consuming process to shop around. Companies like State Farm, Farmers Insurance, GEICO and Allstate all claim big savings with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

You should make it a habit to compare prices yearly due to the fact that insurance prices are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the lowest quotes on Ford Escape insurance in Columbus on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding Escape insurance on the internet, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some of the best ways to lower your auto insurance premiums.

Companies offering Ford Escape insurance in Ohio

The following companies have been selected to offer quotes in Ohio. If the list has multiple companies, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.

Ford Escape coverage statistics

The coverage information shown below highlights estimates of insurance rates for Ford Escape models. Learning more about how car insurance prices are established is important to be able to make decisions when shopping around.

Table data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in vehicle location which can influence prices significantly.

Drive safe and save

The information below shows how traffic citations and accidents raise Ford Escape insurance costs for each age group. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

Lower rate quotes by taking advantage of these ten discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Columbus auto insurance online. If you don’t get every credit possible, you may be paying too high a price.

• Driver’s Education for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in school or through a local driver safety program.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Ford could earn discounted auto insurance rates on garaged vehicles.
• Defensive Driver Discounts – Successfully completing a safe driver course could earn you a small percentage discount and also improve your driving technique.
• Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Columbus can help you save on auto insurance since owning and maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory options such as air bags can receive discounts up to 30%.
• Student in College – Kids who live away from home to go to college and do not take a car to college could qualify for this discount.
• Save with More Vehicles Insured – Insuring multiple cars with the same company can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
• Auto/Life Discount – Insurance companies who offer life insurance give a lower price if you buy life insurance from them.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy can get you a discount due to better safety requirements for newer vehicles.

One thing to note about discounts is that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride.

The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Ford Escape yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The data assumes a female driver, no accidents or driving violations, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, homeowner, and multi-policy discounts applied.

To find insurance companies that offer many of these discounts in Columbus, follow this link.

Insurance agent or online?

Certain consumers just want to talk to an insurance agent and doing that can be a smart decision Agents are trained risk managers and help in the event of a claim. A good thing about getting online price quotes is that drivers can save money and get lower rates and still have a local agent.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to do any legwork because prices are sent directly to you. If you wish to compare rates from a specific car insurance provider, just find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.

Finding a good company should include more criteria than just the bottom line cost. Any agent in Columbus should be willing to answer these questions.

• Can you get a list of referrals?
• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• What kind of financial rating does the company have?
• Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
• What company holds the largest book of business for them?
• Is every driver in your family covered?

Two types of auto insurance agents

If you are wanting to purchase car insurance from a reliable insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents and how they are slightly different. Car insurance agents in Columbus can either be exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Both types can sell and service car insurance coverage, but it’s worth mentioning the subtle differences because it can factor into which agent you choose.

Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies

Exclusive agents generally can only insure with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. These agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.

The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Columbus that can give you price quotes.

More Columbus agents

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents do not sell for just one brand and that gives them the ability to insure through lots of different companies and find you the best rates. If they find a cheaper price, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.

If you need cheaper car insurance rates, you will want to include rate quotes from several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent agencies in Columbus who can help you get comparison quotes.

More Columbus agents

Specifics of your car insurance policy

Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on most car insurance policies.

Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against claims like court costs, legal defense fees, bail bonds, medical expenses and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Ohio requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

The chart below shows why low liability limits may not be adequate.

UM/UIM Coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Ford Escape.

Since many Ohio drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, hail damage, vandalism, theft and fire damage. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical costs insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for bills for nursing services, dental work and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Collision – This coverage pays for damage to your Escape from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for things like colliding with another moving vehicle, rolling your car and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also increase the deductible on your Escape to get cheaper collision coverage.

Frequent quotes can save

You just read many tips how you can save on Ford Escape insurance in Columbus. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

Cost effective Ford Escape insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Columbus agents, so you need to quote Columbus auto insurance with both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not offer rates over the internet and many times these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.

As you shop your coverage around, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Steps to buying lower priced Ford Escape insurance in Columbus

It takes a little time, but the best way to get discount auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from different companies who sell auto insurance in Columbus.

Step 1: Take a little time to learn about auto insurance and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many things that cause rate increases such as at-fault accidents, careless driving, and an unacceptable credit score can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.

Step 2: Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote rates for a wide range of companies.

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and see if there is a cheaper rate in Columbus. If you find a better price and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.

Step 4: Notify your current company of your intent to cancel your existing policy. Submit a signed application and payment to your new agent or company. Once coverage is bound, keep the new proof of insurance certificate in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.

A tip to remember is to make sure you’re comparing identical limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get prices from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.

Other resources

• Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Business Use in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Learners Permit in Columbus? (FAQ)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Female in Columbus? (FAQ)
• Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
• Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)