Are you regretting the purchase of overpriced auto insurance? It’s a common feeling and you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Drivers have so many insurance companies to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to find the lowest cost provider.
Choosing the best insurance company for you in Sandusky is not rocket science. Basically, every vehicle owner who has to buy auto insurance should be able to find lower rates. But Ohio car owners must understand the methods companies use to sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.
The most recommended method to get policy rate comparisons is to know the trick car insurance companies allow for online access to provide you with free rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is give them rating details like distance driven, an estimate of your credit level, if a SR-22 is needed, and types of safety features. Your rating data is instantly sent to many of the top insurers and they respond with quotes within a short period of time.
To check rates for your car now, click here and find out if you can get cheaper insurance.
Do you qualify for these seven discounts?
Auto insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but you might already qualify for some discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but once in a while a discount must be asked for prior to getting the savings.
- Homeowners Savings – Just owning your own home can earn you a little savings since owning and maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your .
- Professional Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations may earn a discount on your policy.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings up to 30%.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
- Distant College Student Discount – who are attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
- Telematics Devices – Insureds that choose to allow driving data collection to analyze vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system such as State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if they are good drivers.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
For a list of auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in Ohio, follow this link.
When do I need an agent’s advice?
When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
If you’re not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Neighborhood insurance agents
Many drivers just want to get advice from a local agent and that is not a bad decision The best thing about getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap rate quotes and also buy local.
For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, your coverage information gets sent to agents in your area who can give free rate quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to search for an agent since price quotes are sent to you instantly. You can find the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping. In the event you want to get a price quote for a specific company, just find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Finding the right insurance company is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Does the company have a local claim office in Sandusky?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- By raising physical damage deductibles, how much would you save?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
If you are wanting to find local Sandusky agents, it’s important to understand the different types of agents and how they can service your needs differently. Auto insurance agents are classified as either independent or captive depending on the company they work for.
Captive Agents
Captive agencies generally can only insure with one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. Captives cannot compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are trained well on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.
Listed below are Sandusky captive insurance agents who may provide you with price quotes.
American Family Insurance – 231 W Water St – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 624-1800
Allstate Insurance – 801 Columbus Ave – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 621-0778
State Farm Insurance – 707 Warren St – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 625-1663
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Independent agents are appointed with more than one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your premiums go up, your agent can switch companies which is easy for the insured.
When shopping rates, we recommend you get some free quotes from independent agents for maximum quote selection.
The following is a list of independent insurance agencies in Sandusky willing to provide price quotes.
Bauman Insurance Svc – 1604 E Perkins Ave # 104 – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 627-2700
Kristina M Badamy Agency – 1338 E Perkins Ave # 102 – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 239-2002
Metropolitan Insurance – 2531 Columbus Ave – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 626-9800
Frank M Valli Agency – 1907 Cleveland Rd # 18 – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 626-5673
Scheeler Agency – 419 E Perkins Ave – Sandusky, OH 44870 – (419) 625-9472
To view more Sandusky insurance agents, link to this full listing of Sandusky, OH insurance agencies.
Detailed coverages of your auto insurance policy
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the usual coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Auto liability – Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property. Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability insurance covers claims such as loss of income, pain and suffering, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Ohio state law requires minimum liability limits of 12,500/25,000/7,500 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Collision – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle, driving through your garage door and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Medical expense coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for immediate expenses like hospital visits, nursing services, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Comprehensive protection – This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as rock chips in glass, hail damage and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Due to the fact that many Ohio drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 12,500/25/7,500), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Leave no stone unturned
You just read a lot of tips how to lower your auto insurance prices. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best prices are with the smaller companies. Regional companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Progressive or Geico.
The cheapest auto insurance can be bought both online and with local Sandusky insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and these regional carriers provide coverage only through independent agencies.
Additional reading for auto insurance information
Even more information is located at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, discover disciplinary actions, and find a variety of consumer forms.
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