Learn the Secrets to Paying Less for Lancaster Ohio Auto Insurance

If you’re new to shopping for auto insurance online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the hoards of companies selling insurance in Lancaster.

You should make it a habit to compare prices once or twice a year because insurance rates tend to go up over time. Just because you had the best rates on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the right way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using these techniques. Shopping for affordable auto insurance coverage in Lancaster can be fairly easy. But Ohio consumers must learn how companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Why your price might be higher

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.

More than one policy can earn a discount – Most companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
Where you live can impact rates – Choosing to live in less populated areas can be a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Lower population means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated Ohio areas have to deal with much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
Older drivers save more – Teenage drivers in Ohio are statistically proven to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Your car’s features help determine rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your car from being stolen.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and accountants tend to have higher rates than average due to job stress and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations such as actors, athletes and retirees receive lower rates.
Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – The liability section of your policy will protect you if you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Lancaster?

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from different in Lancasterinsurance companies. The fastest way to compare insurance prices consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The easiest and least time consuming way consumers can analyze rates would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. A single form will return quotes from all major companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A more time consuming way to compare rate quotes is to manually visit the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For instance, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from USAA, State Farm and Travelers. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Lancaster, click here.
The least efficient way to compare rates is to drive around to and from local Lancaster insurance agencies. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the professional advice that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can price shop online but buy from a local insurance agent.

It’s up to you which method you use, but ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you use different limits and deductibles on each one you can’t possibly determine the lowest rate in Lancaster. Having just a slight variation in coverages may result in large price differences. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing a large number of companies provides better odds of finding lower pricing.

Companies offer discounts so take them!

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there could be available discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but a few need to be inquired about before they will apply.

E-sign – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is that you can obtain the best rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local insurance agencies is especially important in Lancaster.

After filling out this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your business. There is no need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent.

Is a captive or independent insurance agency right for you?

When researching local Lancaster agents, there are a couple of types of agencies from which to choose. Agents are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and that require little work on your part.

When shopping rates, we recommend you contact several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.

Below are Lancaster independent insurance agents who can help you get price quote information.

Robert Eggar Agency – 1151 N Memorial Dr – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 654-1691
Jones Financial and Insurance – 2454 Beverly Hills Dr – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 653-0583
Smith and Walkenspaw Agency – 8280 Alspach Rd NW – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (614) 837-0100
Bill Green Insurance – 301 S Broad St – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 687-1155

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent primarily because of loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Shown below is a list of captive agents in Lancaster who can help you get price quote information.

Farmers Insurance Group – 654 E Main St – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 654-7667
American Family Insurance – 1112 N Memorial Dr – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 681-1779
Allstate Insurance Co – 169 W Fair Ave – Lancaster, OH 43130 – (740) 653-6714

To view a full list of captive insurance agents in Lancaster, please view this page.

Picking an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. These questions are important to ask:

Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
How long has their agency been open in Lancaster?

Once you have received good answers to all your questions and a low price estimate, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that will insure your vehicles.

Your coverage should be tailored to you

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.

Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
What are Ohio no-fault laws?
Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
What can I do if my company denied a claim?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Additional information can be found on the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Ohio drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and get help finding coverage.

The following articles may also be useful.

Smart shoppers get results

When shopping online for auto insurance, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced online and with local Lancaster insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. A few companies do not offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

You just read many ways to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with the smaller companies.