Free Guide to Paying Less for Columbus Auto Insurance Online

Nobody I know likes having to buy auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Drivers have so many to pick from, and although it's nice to be able to choose, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate premiums.

Lower deductibles cost more - The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The more money you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Some insurance companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The higher the mileage driven each year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Males pay more for insurance - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are BETTER drivers than men. They both have accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Columbus, OH

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in Columbus, or you could save time and use the internet to get prices fast.

Most of the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company returns a rated price for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only downside to doing it this way is you can't choose which providers you want pricing from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of auto insurance companies in Ohio. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, make absolute certain that you use identical quote information for each price quote. If you use mixed coverages it's not possible to truly determine the lowest rate in Columbus.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies don't necessarily list all available discounts very clearly, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Life Insurance Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
Student in College - Youth drivers who live away from home and don't have a car can receive lower rates.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck.

To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in Ohio, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Ohio can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies have a common claim that you can save if you change your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards must pay higher premiums and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. This illustrates why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Ohio?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
What are Ohio no-fault laws?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Additional detailed information is available at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include this page for Ohio auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Columbus, OH.

A tidy conclusion

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents in Columbus, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.