6 Guaranteed Ways to Reduce Car Insurance Costs in Ohio

Feel like you’re a prisoner to an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, there are many people just like you in Ohio. Consumers have many car insurance companies to pick from and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to adequately compare rates.

It’s a good idea to compare rates quite often because prices go up and down regularly. Even if you got the lowest rates six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today.

Finding affordable coverage is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques.Ohio consumers only need to know the proper methods to compare rates on the web.

How to Compare Auto Insurance

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance prices but there is one way that is less time-consuming than others. You can spend countless hours discussing policy coverages with agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.

Most car insurance companies enroll in a system where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and each company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating form submissions for every auto insurance company.

To participate in this free quote system, click here to start a free quote.

The only drawback to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify the companies to receive prices from. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare rates we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Ohio. View list of Ohio insurance companies.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use identical coverage information for every quote you compare. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to determine the best price.

Save big with these six discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
• Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Paperless Signup – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

• Pleasure use saves money – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct useage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
• Don’t skimp on liability – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage if a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
• Mature drivers pay less – Teenage drivers in Ohio have a tendency to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
• Occupation reflects on rates – Occupations such as judges, business owners and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates because of high stress levels and long work days. Conversely, occupations such as actors, engineers and retirees receive lower rates.
• Extra coverages can waste money – There are quite a few extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and term life insurance may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if they’re wasting money eliminate them to save money.
• Cautious drivers pay less – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with dangerous tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form with the Ohio DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.

Buying auto insurance from a local agent

Certain consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain lower rates but also keep your business local.

After filling out this short form, the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!

To view a directory of auto insurance agents in Ohio, click here.

Even more information is located at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio drivers can download brochures, find out industry alerts, and read consumer alerts.

More quotes mean more savings

Cheap Ohio auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Ohio agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Local independent agents are able to place your coverage with small, regional companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online.

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.