It’s well known that car insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Insureds who get price comparisons will most likely switch car insurance companies because they have good chances of finding lower rate quotes. A recent study showed that drivers who compared rate quotes regularly saved an average of $72 a month compared to people who never compared rates.
If finding the most affordable car insurance in Columbus is your target objective, then having a grasp of how to quote and compare insurance rates can make it easier for you to save money.
Really, the only way to get affordable Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Columbus is to start comparing prices regularly from companies in Ohio.
Step 1: Try to learn about what is in your policy and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many risk factors that cause high rates such as distracted driving and poor credit history can be remedied by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Step 2: Quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find better rates, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
Step 4: Provide written notification to your current company to cancel your existing policy. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application to your new carrier. Don’t forget to put the certificate verifying coverage in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
The key aspect of shopping around is that you’ll want to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote request and and to look at all possible companies. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
If you have insurance now or need a new policy, take advantage of these tips to save money and still have adequate protection. Buying affordable insurance in Columbus is actually very simple if you learn how to start. Shoppers just need to learn the proper methods to get comparison rates from multiple carriers.
Auto insurance providers offering competitive prices in Ohio
The following companies provide free rate quotes in Columbus, OH. If multiple companies are shown, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Insurance rate breakdown
The premium table shown next highlights detailed analysis of insurance policy prices for Mitsubishi Lancer models. Having a good grasp of how policy premiums are formulated can help drivers make decisions on which insurance to purchase.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $170 | $342 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $860 | $72 |
Lancer ES | $170 | $342 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $860 | $72 |
Lancer GTS | $190 | $392 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $930 | $78 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $190 | $392 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $930 | $78 |
Lancer RALLIART | $210 | $444 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $1,002 | $84 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $210 | $444 | $256 | $16 | $76 | $1,002 | $84 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in Columbus location which can impact insurance rates substantially.
Physical damage deductibles
One common question asked by Columbus drivers is what deductibles to buy. The rates shown below determine the rate fluctuation when you buy lower versus higher insurance deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $220 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $969 | $81 |
Lancer ES | $220 | $416 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $969 | $81 |
Lancer GTS | $246 | $478 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,057 | $88 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $246 | $478 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,057 | $88 |
Lancer RALLIART | $270 | $542 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,145 | $95 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $270 | $542 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,145 | $95 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancer DE | $122 | $220 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $650 | $54 |
Lancer ES | $122 | $220 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $650 | $54 |
Lancer GTS | $136 | $252 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $696 | $58 |
Lancer Sportback GTS | $136 | $252 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $696 | $58 |
Lancer RALLIART | $150 | $286 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $744 | $62 |
Lancer Sportback Ralliart | $150 | $286 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $744 | $62 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Columbus location which can impact prices noticeably.
Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible costs about $30 more each month or $360 every year across all Mitsubishi Lancer models than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 30 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you elect the higher deductible. Here’s the way this calculation is made.
Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $88 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $58 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $30 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 30 months |
One big caveat is that increasing deductibles to save money results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have a physical damage claim. You must have some extra funds in the event you need to pay more for the deductible.
Cautious Columbus drivers save money
The chart below illustrates how speeding tickets and accident claims drive up Mitsubishi Lancer premium costs for different age categories. The prices are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage
The illustration below shows the comparison of Mitsubishi Lancer auto insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The information is based on no violations or accidents, $500 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no definitive guideline for phasing out physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Mitsubishi Lancer claim settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company will settle for is $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $300 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not drop full coverage.
Auto insurance discounts are available to get cheap rates
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you purchase, but once in a while a discount must be specially asked for before being credited.
- Columbus Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Columbus can get you a discount because owning a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with ABS or steering control have fewer accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
- Data Collection Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow companies to track driving manner through the use of a telematics system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might see lower rates if their driving habits are good.
- Distant Student – Kids who attend college more than 100 miles from Columbus and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
- Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less when compared to drivers with a long claim history.
A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Mitsubishi Lancer car insurance rates with and without discounts. The prices are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Ohio state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-car discounts applied.
To see a list of insurance companies that offer discounts in Ohio, click this link.
When should I get advice from a local insurance agent?
Certain consumers still like to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a smart move Agents can help determine the best coverages and will help you if you have claims. A good thing about comparing insurance online is that you can find better rates and still buy from a local agent.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the quote information is emailed to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to find an agent because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. If you wish to get a comparison quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to search and find their rate quote page and submit a quote form there.
Picking an insurer requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. Before buying a policy in Columbus, get answers to these questions.
- Is the agent properly licensed in Ohio?
- Do the agents have professional certifications like CPCU or CIC?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- How often do they review coverages?
Independent or Exclusive: It’s your choice
If you prefer to buy insurance from an insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies and how they work. Insurance policy providers may be either exclusive agents or independent agents. Both do a good job, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can factor into which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel work for only one company like Allstate and State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive insurance agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Listed below are Columbus exclusive insurance agents that are able to give price quotes.
Debbie Montgomery – State Farm Insurance Agent
1880 Schrock Rd – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 890-2886 – View Map
American Family Insurance – Yelena Uchiteleva Agency LLC
233 S Hamilton Rd – Columbus, OH 43213 – (614) 235-1702 – View Map
Jonathan Yu – State Farm Insurance Agent
1930 Crown Park Ct #140 – Columbus, OH 43235 – (614) 885-9507 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents do not have single company limitations so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and find you the best rates. If your premiums go up, they simply move your policy to a different company and you stay with the same agent. When comparing insurance prices, we recommend you check rates from at a minimum one independent agency in order to have the best price comparison.
Listed below are Columbus independent agents willing to provide price quotes.
Ansong Insurance Agency
5272 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 259-3635 – View Map
Pfeifer-Ornstein Insurance Agency
3291 E Main St – Columbus, OH 43213 – (614) 235-7050 – View Map
Wolfe Insurance Group
630 E Broad St – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 418-5710 – View Map
Auto insurance coverage options for a Mitsubishi Lancer
Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Lancer from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things such as driving through your garage door, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible on your Lancer to bring the cost down.
Medical costs insurance
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses for things like dental work, chiropractic care and nursing services. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, hitting a bird, falling objects and a broken windshield. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Ohio drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Ohio limits are 25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
Liability
This protects you from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.
Liability can pay for things like court costs, pain and suffering, emergency aid, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Ohio state minimum liability requirements are 25/50/25 but you should consider buying better liability coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not be enough coverage.
Do the work, save more money
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped physical damage coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price.
The cheapest Mitsubishi Lancer insurance in Columbus can be purchased from both online companies and with local Columbus insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not offer rates over the internet and usually these small insurance companies prefer to sell through independent agencies.
To learn more, take a look at the following helpful articles:
- Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Columbus Auto Insurance Rates After a Speeding Ticket? (FAQ)
- Get the Right Protection (InsureUonline.org)
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)