Sad but true, almost 70% of insureds in Ohio kept their coverage with the same insurance company for well over three years, and 38% of drivers have never even compared rates from other companies. With the average premium in the United States being $1,847, drivers could save approximately 46.5% every year just by comparing rates, but they just feel it’s too hard to find cheap insurance by shopping around.
The preferred way to get cheaper car insurance rates in Columbus is to regularly compare price quotes from companies who provide car insurance in Ohio. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.
Step 1: Take a little time to learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that increase rates like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a poor credit rating can be remedied by paying attention to minor details.
Step 2: Quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide prices for a wide range of companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and switch companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
One bit of advice is that you use similar coverage information on each quote and and to compare all possible companies. This helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide quotes in Columbus, OH. If more than one company is shown, we recommend you compare several of them to get the most competitive price.
Get discounts on Columbus auto insurance
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Certain reductions will be credited when you purchase, but a few must be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit.
- Responsible Driver Discounts – Drivers without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than less cautious drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness – This one is not really a discount per se, but some insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident without raising rates so long as you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
- Student Discounts – This discount could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. This discount can apply up to age 25.
- Paper-free Discount – A few larger online companies provide a small discount just for signing your application on the web.
- Onboard Data Collection – Policyholders that allow companies to look at where and when they drive by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system could see a rate decrease if they are good drivers.
- Senior Citizens – Drivers over the age of 55 can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- Use Seat Belts – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on medical payment and PIP coverage.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
- Columbus Homeowners Discount – Just being a homeowner can save a few bucks due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
A list of auto insurance companies and a selection of discounts include:
- Travelers offers discounts for save driver, multi-policy, hybrid/electric vehicle, good student, IntelliDrive, continuous insurance, and new car.
- 21st Century may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, 55 and older, air bags, theft prevention, and early bird.
- State Farm has savings for good student, multiple autos, multiple policy, anti-theft, and defensive driving training.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driver, military active duty, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, multi-vehicle, and emergency military deployment.
- SAFECO includes discounts for multi-car, anti-theft, homeowner, safe driver, bundle discounts, and accident prevention training.
- AAA may offer discounts for pay-in-full, education and occupation, anti-theft, good driver, multi-policy, and multi-car.
Double check with each company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered on policies in your state. If you would like to see a list of auto insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in Ohio, click here to view.
Find Cheap Insurance with These Tips
Multiple criteria are used when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, but others are more transparent such as your credit history or how safe your car is.
Experienced drivers are lower risk – More experienced drivers tend to be more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and are generally more financially stable. Beginning drivers are statistically shown to be inattentive behind the wheel so they pay higher insurance rates.
Safer vehicles mean better prices – Vehicles that have high safety ratings get lower rates. Vehicles built for safety reduce injuries and lower injury rates means less claims paid and cheaper rates on your policy.
Your address can push rates up or down – Being located in less populated areas is a good thing when it comes to insurance. Less people means fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Residents of big cities tend to have more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. Longer commute distances means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
Never let your coverage expire – Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage have a gap. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage could result in a license revocation or jail time.
Advanced GPS tracking and theft deterrents – Selecting a car model that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Liability safeguards assets – Liability insurance provides coverage in the event that you are ruled to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to other policy coverages, so do not skimp.
Raising physical damage deductibles saves money – Insurance for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some examples of claims that would be covered are a broken side mirror, hitting a deer, and rolling your vehicle. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles define the amount you are required to pay if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your insurance will be.
Insurance loss data for a Fiat 500 – Insurance companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when setting rates for each model. Vehicles that the data determines to have a trend towards higher claim severity or frequency will be charged more to insure.
The table below illustrates the collected loss data for Fiat 500 vehicles. For each coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, is set at 100. Numbers below 100 imply a favorable loss record, while numbers above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or an increased chance of larger losses than average.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 72 | 76 | 66 | 96 | 89 | 84 |
| Fiat 500 Convertible | 76 | 79 | 60 | 85 | ||
| Fiat 500 Electric | 73 | 59 | 76 | 60 | ||
| Fiat 500L | 112 | 80 | 102 | 128 | 93 | 97 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
When to contact an insurance agency
A small number of people would prefer to talk to a local agent and often times that is recommended Professional agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap car insurance rates but also keep your business local.
For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, the quote information is transmitted to agents in your area who will gladly provide quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no need to find an agent since price quotes are sent instantly to you. If for some reason you want to compare rates from a specific car insurance provider, you just need to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Finding a good company needs to be determined by more than just the bottom line cost. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- Is coverage determined by price?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- What discounts might you be missing?
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
Exclusive and independent Columbus auto insurance agents
If you want to buy car insurance from a local insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents and how they are distinctly different. Columbus agents are categorized either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different since it can impact the kind of agent you use.
Exclusive Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive can usually just insure with one company and examples are Allstate and State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. They are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Many people purchase coverage from exclusives mostly because of the brand legacy instead of buying on price only.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Columbus who may provide you with price quotes.
- Gianna R Cone – State Farm Insurance Agent
1495 Morse Rd #100 – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 267-7865 – View Map - David Grant – State Farm Insurance Agent
4612 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 262-1055 – View Map - Gary Bepler – State Farm Insurance Agent
3246 Noe Bixby Rd – Columbus, OH 43232 – (614) 837-4379 – View Map
Independent Agents
These type of agents do not sell for just one brand so as a result can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If your premiums go up, they simply move your policy to a different company which makes it simple for you.
When comparing car insurance prices, it’s a good idea to get some free quotes from independent agents to have the best price comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with less well-known companies which may have better rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent agents in Columbus willing to provide rate quotes.
- Henderson Insurance Inc
3620 N High St #105 – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 884-0970 – View Map - Ansong Insurance Agency
5272 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 259-3635 – View Map - Danduran and Associates Insurance Agency, Inc.
1827 O Brien Rd – Columbus, OH 43228 – (614) 777-8200 – View Map
If you get answers to your satisfaction to all your questions as well as the cheapest Fiat 500 insurance in Columbus quotes, most likely you have located an insurance agent that is reputable and can properly service your car insurance policy. But remember, you can cancel your policy when you choose so don’t assume you are locked into any particular company for the entire policy term.
What is the best car insurance coverage?
When buying your policy, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that
Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
- What does medical payments cover?
- Is a fancy paint job covered?
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Is my son or daughter covered when driving my car?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my Fiat 500 to commute?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Is my Fiat 500 covered if I use it for business?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.
One last note
Low-cost Fiat 500 insurance in Columbus can be bought from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide price quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through local independent agencies.
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost.
Even more information is located in these articles:
- Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Over Age 60 in Columbus? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Escape in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
- Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)