Unthinkable but true, nearly 70% of customers have remained with the same auto insurance company for four years or more, and just under half have never compared rates from other carriers. Drivers in the United States could save roughly $859 a year just by shopping around, but they don’t believe how much money they would save if they switched to a cheaper policy.
Really, the only way to find low-cost prices for auto insurance rates in Columbus is to regularly compare price quotes from different companies that insure vehicles in Ohio. You can shop around by completing these steps.
Step 1: Take a few minutes and learn about what is in your policy and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many rating criteria that drive up the price like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a bad credit score can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. This article gives more ideas to get cheaper coverage and get discounts that may be overlooked.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your existing coverage to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
Step 4: Give notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit the completed application along with a down payment for the new coverage. As soon as you have the new policy, put the new certificate of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
The most important part of this process is to make sure you enter the same level of coverage on every quote and and to get quotes from as many different companies as possible. Doing this enables an accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Locating the best rates in Columbus is really quite easy. If you have a policy now, you will be able to buy cheaper insurance using the tips covered below. But Ohio consumers can benefit by having an understanding of the way companies calculate your policy premium because rates are impacted by many factors.
Cheapest companies for Kia Amanti insurance in Ohio
The providers in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Columbus, OH. If the list has multiple companies, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them to find the cheapest auto insurance rates.
Do you qualify for these ten discounts?
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may be missing some discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. A few discounts will be applied when you purchase, but once in a while a discount must be inquired about prior to getting the savings. If you do not double check each discount available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Memberships – Participating in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could earn you a nice discount when shopping for auto insurance.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Government Employee Discount – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
- No Accidents – Columbus drivers who stay claim-free are rewarded with significantly better rates on Columbus auto insurance quote when compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Requiring all passengers to buckle up can save 10% or more off the medical payments premium.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for primary and secondary vehicles with one company can get a discount for every vehicle.
- College Student Discount – Children who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Columbus and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
- E-sign – Many larger companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of nearly 15% which can help you find low cost Kia Amanti insurance.
It’s important to note that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, nobody gets a free ride.
Some of the insurance companies that may offer policyholders many of the previously listed discounts include:
If you need affordable Columbus auto insurance quotes, ask every company to give you their best rates. All car insurance discounts might not be offered everywhere. To see auto insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Columbus, click here to view.
Independent versus exclusive insurance agents
Some consumers would prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that is a personal choice. A good thing about comparing car insurance online is the fact that drivers can get better rates and still have a local agent.
Upon completion of this simple form, the quote information is instantly submitted to companies in Columbus that can give you free Columbus auto insurance quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to even leave your home as quotes are delivered instantly to you. You can find better rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you need to quote rates from a specific company, feel free to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
Deciding on an provider is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Any agent in Columbus should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they have 24-hour customer assistance?
- What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
- What discounts might you be missing?
- When do they do a full risk review?
If you want to use an insurance agent, you should know the types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Car insurance agents in Columbus can be described as either independent or exclusive.
Exclusive Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents can only place business with one company such as AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are well schooled on what they offer and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below are exclusive insurance agencies in Columbus that are able to give price quote information.
Scott Dawson – State Farm Insurance Agent
5871 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 891-2886 – View Map
Nikki Ogunduyile – State Farm Insurance Agent
20 S 3rd St #210 – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 274-7130 – View Map
Gary Snowden – State Farm Insurance Agent
1369 Georgesville Rd – Columbus, OH 43228 – (614) 272-2300 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents that choose to be independent can quote rates with many companies so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If your premiums go up, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, you will want to get insurance quotes from a couple of independent agencies in order to compare the most rates.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Columbus willing to provide price quotes.
John Dawson Associates
6025 Cleveland Ave – Columbus, OH 43231 – (614) 890-1660 – View Map
Augustine Insurance Agency
3851 N High St – Columbus, OH 43214 – (614) 267-1973 – View Map
Central Ohio Insurance Services, Inc
1205 Hill Rd N – Pickerington, OH 43147 – (614) 861-3100 – View Map
Information about specific coverages
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Coverage for collisions
Collision coverage covers damage to your Amanti from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible on your Amanti to get cheaper collision coverage.
Auto liability insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims such as bail bonds, loss of income, attorney fees, medical services and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Ohio requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The chart below demonstrates why buying low liability limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
Comprehensive coverages
This coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as a broken windshield, hitting a deer, falling objects, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, surgery and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Ohio drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Affordable car insurance rates are possible
We just covered a lot of ways to find lower-cost Kia Amanti insurance in Columbus. The key concept to understand is the more you quote Columbus auto insurance, the better likelihood of getting affordable Kia Amanti insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices are with the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
Some insurance companies do not offer rates over the internet and most of the time these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agencies. More affordable car insurance in Columbus can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Columbus, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
Much more information about car insurance in Ohio can be read at these links:
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- How Much are Columbus Auto Insurance Quotes for Uninsured Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Low Income Drivers in Columbus? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a 20 Year Old Female in Columbus? (FAQ)
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)