It’s a known fact that car insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. Drivers who compare price quotes will presumably move their business because the odds are good of finding a cheaper policy. A recent survey found that consumers who compared rates regularly saved $70 a month as compared to drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding the lowest price for car insurance is your target objective, then having an understanding of the best ways to find and compare cheaper coverage can help simplify the process.
The best way we recommend to find the cheapest price for Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance is to regularly compare prices from insurers who sell insurance in Columbus. Rates can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Take a little time to learn about what is in your policy and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many rating factors that cause rate increases like distracted driving and an unacceptable credit rating can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide prices for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Give notification to your agent or company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application for the new policy. As soon as you receive it, store the certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
One important bit of advice is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote and and to get rate quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this provides a level playing field and a complete selection of prices.
Best companies for Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance
The companies in the list below offer free rate quotes in Ohio. If several companies are displayed, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies in order to find the lowest rates.
Insurance policy discounts for Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance in Columbus
Some companies don’t always publicize all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common and the more hidden credits that may apply to you.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds who allow companies to spy on when and where they use their vehicle by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system may get a rate reduction if they show good driving skills.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying in monthly installments you can actually save on your bill.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles and insure them both with the same insurance company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Senior Citizens – Mature drivers could receive a small decrease in premiums.
- Online Discount – Certain companies provide a small discount just for signing your application online.
- Own a Home – Owning a home in Columbus may trigger a policy discount on insurance since owning and maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds with no claims or accidents get the best insurance rates in comparison with accident-prone drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness Coverage – This one is not really a discount per se, but certain companies may permit one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
One thing to note about discounts is that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will positively reduce your policy premium.
Larger insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts can be read below.
- GEICO may include discounts for five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, emergency military deployment, defensive driver, multi-policy, and anti-theft.
- Auto-Owners Insurance includes discounts for company car, multi-policy, student away at school, paid in full, and paperless.
- American Family may offer discounts for multi-vehicle, Steer into Savings, good driver, bundled insurance, and accident-free.
- Esurance offers discounts for emergency road assistance, claim free, anti-lock brakes, online shopper, and multi-policy.
- Progressive has discounts for multi-vehicle, online quote discount, good student, continuous coverage, and online signing.
- State Farm may have discounts that include good student, accident-free, driver’s education, safe vehicle, and multiple policy.
- AAA offers premium reductions for AAA membership discount, pay-in-full, anti-theft, education and occupation, multi-car, and good student.
When quoting, ask each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be offered in every state.
Get Cheap Insurance Costs by Understanding These Factors
Many factors are used when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but some are less obvious such as whether you are married or your vehicle rating.
The items below are most of the major factors used by companies to determine your premiums.
Coverage lapses raise prices – Not having insurance can get your license suspended and companies may charge more for letting your coverage lapse. And not only will your rates increase, being ticketed for driving with no insurance could result in fines and jail time.
Pay more if you have a long commute – Residing in a rural area is a good thing when it comes to insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with more traffic problems and more time behind the wheel. Fewer drivers on the road means less chance of accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
More performance means higher prices – The make and model of the car you need insurance for makes a substantial difference in your rates. The lowest performance passenger models usually have the lowest premiums, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Mature drivers pay less – Young drivers in Ohio are statistically shown to be easily distracted in a vehicle so insurance rates are higher. More experienced drivers are more responsible, are lower risk to insure, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
Keep premiums low by being claim-free – Car insurance companies in Ohio give most affordable rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can expect increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Auto insurance is designed for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
High credit history translates to low rates – An insured’s credit score is a big factor in determining your rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit score could use some work, you could pay less to insure your Ford C-Max Hybrid if you clean up your credit.
Loss statistics for a Ford C-Max Hybrid – Insurance companies use past insurance losses when setting rates for each model. Models that the data determines to have increased losses will cost more for coverage.
The table below outlines the compiled insurance loss statistics for Ford C-Max Hybrid vehicles. For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles compiled together is represented as 100. Percentage values below 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while percentage values above 100 point to more claims or statistically larger claims.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford C-Max Hybrid | 99 | 92 | 95 | 94 | 89 | 100 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insurance is available from local agents
Many drivers prefer to buy from a licensed agent and doing that can be a smart decision Insurance agents can make sure you are properly covered and give you someone to call. A nice benefit of comparing rate quotes online is you may find lower rates but also keep your business local. And buying from neighborhood agents is important especially in Columbus.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Columbus who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to find an agent because prices are sent immediately to your email address. If for some reason you want to compare prices from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.
If you want to use local Columbus agents, it helps to know the two different types of agents and how they function. Columbus agents are considered either exclusive or independent. Both can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference in the companies they write for because it can impact which agent you choose.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel do not write with just one company and that gives them the ability to insure amongst many companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When shopping rates, you absolutely need to get several quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. Many can place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with who may have lower rates.
Featured below are Columbus independent insurance agents that can give you free insurance quotes.
- Franchise Insurance Agency, Inc.
4930 Reed Rd Suite 100 – Columbus, OH 43220 – (614) 451-2232 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Sylvia A Garrett Insurance Agency Llc
1 W Nationwide Blvd – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 249-2141 – View Map - Ansong Insurance Agency
5272 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 259-3635 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive write business for a single company and examples are Allstate and State Farm. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide other company’s prices so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on what they offer which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Many people purchase coverage from exclusives mostly because of the brand legacy rather than low price.
Listed below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Columbus willing to provide price quotes.
- Jack Gilkerson – State Farm Insurance Agent
4232 E Main St – Whitehall, OH 43213 – (614) 237-4256 – View Map - American Family Insurance – Felix Quachey
1100 Morse Rd Ste 301 – Columbus, OH 43229 – (614) 536-0237 – View Map - American Family Insurance – Yelena Uchiteleva Agency LLC
233 S Hamilton Rd – Columbus, OH 43213 – (614) 235-1702 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just a cheap quote. Agents should be asked these questions:
- What is the financial rating for the quoted company?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Columbus?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
Be persistent and save
When you buy Columbus auto insurance online, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, lack of trust in their agent and even policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new insurance company can be less work than you think.
Throughout this article, we presented many tips how you can compare Ford C-Max Hybrid insurance car insurance rates in Columbus. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get premium rates for, the higher your chance of finding affordable Columbus auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with the least-expected company.
More information is available below:
- Five Steps to Filing an Auto Insurance Claim (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Hybrid Vehicles in Columbus? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for High Risk Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
- How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
- Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)