It’s safe to conclude that auto insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Insureds who compare rates once a year will, in all likelihood, switch to a new company because there is a good probability of finding more affordable rates. A study discovered that drivers who made a habit of comparing rate quotes saved an average of $3,450 over four years compared to policyholders who didn’t regularly shop around.
If saving money on Lincoln Continental insurance in Columbus is your objective, then having a grasp of the best way to quote and compare coverage rates can make it easier for you to save money.
The preferred way to get the cheapest Lincoln Continental insurance in Columbus is to do a yearly price comparison from insurers who provide auto insurance in Ohio.
- Read and learn about the different coverages in a policy and the changes you can make to lower rates. Many things that cause rate increases like your driving record and a not-so-good credit rating can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Continue reading for more details to help keep prices low and find hidden discounts.
- Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Compare the quotes to your existing rates and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a better price and buy the policy, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
A good tip to remember is to use identical coverage information on every quote and and to get price estimates from every company you can. This ensures the most accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you already have coverage or need new coverage, you can learn to reduce the price you pay without reducing coverage. The purpose of this post is to teach you how to get online quotes and also pocket some savings Consumers just need to understand the quickest method to compare company rates over the internet.
Choices You Make Can Impact Your Insurance Costs
Many different elements are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense like an MVR report, but other criteria are more obscure such as whether you are married or your commute time. It’s important that you understand the different types of things that come into play when calculating your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what determines premiums, this enables informed choices that could result in lower insurance prices.
Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” companies use to determine your rates.
- Discounts for alarms and GPS tracking – Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Advanced theft deterrents such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all aid in stopping auto theft.
- A good credit history can save money – An insured’s credit history factor in determining your rates. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your Lincoln Continental by improving your rating. People with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with poor credit scores.
- Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – Only having one driving citation can increase the cost of insurance to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who don’t get tickets have lower premiums compared to bad drivers. Drivers who get license-revoking violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find that they have to to maintain a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
- Teenagers are high risk – Young drivers in Ohio are statistically shown to be careless and easily distracted when driving with friends so they pay higher insurance rates. Older drivers are shown to be more cautious, cause fewer claims and accidents, and usually have better credit.
Cheap Lincoln Continental insurance in Columbus
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize all discounts very well, so we researched a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous insurance savings.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will qualify for a discount on a Columbus car insurance quote.
- New Vehicle Savings – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Paperless Signup – Some of the larger companies provide a small discount just for signing your application online.
- Resident Student – Older children who attend college more than 100 miles from Columbus and do not have access to a covered vehicle could get you a discount.
- Own a Home – Owning a house in Columbus can save you money because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
- Early Signing – A few companies give discounts for buying a new policy before your current expiration date. Ten percent is about the average savings.
- Defensive Driving Course – Completing a class that teaches driver safety techniques could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
- Lower Rates for Military – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower prices.
Don’t be surprised that some credits don’t apply to the whole policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
A few of the larger companies and their offered discounts are:
- Progressive discounts include homeowner, online quote discount, online signing, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- SAFECO includes discounts for homeowner, safe driver, multi-car, bundle discounts, anti-lock brakes, drive less, and teen safety rewards.
- American Family has savings for early bird, Steer into Savings, defensive driver, air bags, accident-free, multi-vehicle, and TimeAway discount.
- MetLife may have discounts that include defensive driver, good student, good driver, accident-free, claim-free, multi-policy
- GEICO may include discounts for seat belt use, air bags, federal employee, membership and employees, and defensive driver.
- The Hartford offers discounts for anti-theft, good student, defensive driver, air bag, and vehicle fuel type.
If you need lower rates, check with every insurance company to give you their best rates. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in Columbus. To choose companies with significant discounts in Columbus, click here.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
When getting Columbus car insurance quotes online, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. Your objective should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
Discount Lincoln Continental insurance in Columbus can be bought both online and with local Columbus insurance agents, so you need to quote Columbus car insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not have the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, not issuing a premium refund, extreme rates for teen drivers and even high prices. Regardless of your reason, finding a new insurance company can be easier than you think.
Other information
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for 19 Year Olds in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Good Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)