If shopping for is new to you, chances are good that you are confused by the vast assortment insurance agents and companies vying for business in Bowling Green.
It’s a good habit to compare prices before your next renewal since rates trend upward over time. Even if you got the lowest rate a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower price today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn how to quote online to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.
Take these six policy discounts and save
Car insurance is not inexpensive, but you may be missing some discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts will apply when you complete an application, but a few must be specially asked for prior to getting the savings.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Low Miles Discount – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for cheaper car insurancerates.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Mature drivers may receive a discount up to 10%.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education in school.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars and trucks with ABS and/or traction control have fewer accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Professional Memberships – Joining a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on car insurance.
Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business. Any qualifying discounts will help lower the premium cost.
Larger car insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are detailed below.
- 21st Century offers discounts for good student, homeowners, air bags, theft prevention, and 55 and older.
- State Farm offers discounts including safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, anti-theft, Drive Safe & Save, student away at school, driver’s education, and multiple autos.
- AAA offers premium reductions for AAA membership discount, multi-car, good driver, education and occupation, anti-theft, and pay-in-full.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include exclusive group savings, teen driver discount, safety features, newly married, newly retired, and hybrid vehicle.
- Progressive includes discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, homeowner, online signing, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
If you need , ask each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts may not be available in Bowling Green. To see a list of insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Ohio, click here.
The best way we recommend to compare car insurance company rates takes advantage of the fact all the major auto insurance companies participate in a system to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information like your occupation, if you went to college, if your license is active, and if you lease or own. The rating information gets transmitted to many of the top insurers and they return rate quotes quickly.
To check car insurance prices now, click here then complete the form.
Your situation helps dictate your coverage
When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different.
These are some specific questions could help you determine if your situation may require specific advice.
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Are auto insurance agents used anymore?
Many people would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Experienced insurance agents are trained risk managers and help submit paperwork. One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get the best rates but also keep your business local.
Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is immediately sent to agents in your area that can provide to get your business. You never need to search for any insurance agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to you instantly. In the event you want to get a rate quote from a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Deciding on an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
Choose the right car insurance agent
If you are wanting to find an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Agencies in Bowling Green can be described as either independent agents or captive agents. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn how they differ because it may have an impact on the kind of agent you use.
Captive Agencies
These agents can only place business with one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Captive insurance agents are well schooled on the products they sell which helps them sell on service rather than price. Consumers sometimes choose to use a captive agent partially due to the brand legacy and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below are Bowling Green captive insurance agencies who may provide you with price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 725 Haskins Rd – Bowling Green, OH 43402 – (419) 354-4263
- American Family Insurance – 1224 W Wooster St # A – Bowling Green, OH 43402 – (419) 354-6024
Independent Agents
These agents do not work for one specific company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with lots of companies and get the cheapest rates. If your premiums go up, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to switch agencies. If you need cheaper car insurance rates, we recommend you compare quotes from several independent agencies to maximize your price options. A lot of them also have access to lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.
The following are independent agencies in Bowling Green that are able to give rate quotes.
- Jackson L Miller Insurance – 1084 S Main St – Bowling Green, OH 43402 – (419) 352-9476
- Berry Insurance – 1050 W Wooster St – Bowling Green, OH 43402 – (419) 354-4443
For more Bowling Green insurance agents, see this full listing of insurance agents in Bowling Green.
Can you really save $424 a year?
Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and Geico. They all make an identical promise about how much you will save if you change your car insurance policy to them.
How can each company sell you cheaper insurance coverage?
Car insurance companies have underwriting criteria for a prospective insured that will add to their bottom line. An example of this type of insured might be between the ages of 30 and 45, has a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Someone that fits those parameters will most likely get cheap prices and have a good chance to cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who do not meet those criteria will probably be forced to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “drivers that switch” not “all people who quote” can save as much as they claim. That is how companies can advertise the savings. Because every company is different, you absolutely need to quote coverage with many companies. It is just not possible to predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest auto insurance rates.
Car insurance coverages
Having a good grasp of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like theft, a broken windshield and fire damage. The most your car insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for collisions
This covers damage to your vehicle resulting 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 insurance covers things like hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (12,500/25/7,500), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for bills like hospital visits, surgery, nursing services, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance
This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage pays for things such as medical services, court costs and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Ohio state minimum liability requirements are 12,500/25,000/7,500 but drivers should carry higher limits.
A little work can save a LOT of money
In this article, we covered a lot of ways to get a better price on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices come from some of the lesser-known companies.
People leave their current company for many reasons like delays in paying claims, high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or denial of a claim. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new car insurance company is not as difficult as it may seem.
When you , you should never buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Additional reading for car insurance information
More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, read industry bulletins, and learn about specific coverages.
The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in Bowling Green