Amazingly, 70% of consumers renewed their policy with the same company for well over three years, and just short of a majority have never quoted rates to find lower-cost coverage. Cleveland drivers could cut their rates by $700 a year just by shopping around, but they just don’t understand how much they could save if they switched to a cheaper policy.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get cheaper Ford Freestyle insurance in Cleveland is to compare quotes once a year from companies that insure vehicles in Ohio. You can shop around by completing these steps.
Step 1: Learn about individual coverages and the things you can control to drop your rates. Many risk factors that drive up the price such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and your credit history can be improved by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Step 2: Request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing coverage to determine if you can save on Freestyle insurance in Cleveland. If you find a lower rate, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Step 4: Notify your company or agent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to the new insurer. As soon as coverage is bound, store the certificate verifying proof of insurance along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
One piece of advice is to compare similar deductibles and liability limits on every price quote and to quote with as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and the best price quote selection.
Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Cleveland is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have coverage now, you stand a good chance to be able to buy cheaper auto insurance using this strategy. You only have to learn the tricks to get comparison rates instantly.
Lower-cost Cleveland car insurance rates with discounts
Some insurance providers don’t necessarily list every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known as well as some of the hidden discounts that may be available.
- Auto/Life Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a lower premium rate if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Ford could qualify for slightly better rates than normal.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
You should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
Some companies who might offer some of the discounts shown above include:
When getting free Cleveland auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to each company or agent to give you their best rates. All car insurance discounts might not apply in Cleveland. To find companies with the best Ford Freestyle insurance discounts in Ohio, click this link.
Auto insurance coverages and their meanings
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Ford Freestyle.
Since many Ohio drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/25), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, a broken windshield, fire damage, damage from getting keyed and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your Freestyle resulting from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers claims like scraping a guard rail, hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole, driving through your garage door and damaging your car on a curb. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible on your Freestyle to save money on collision insurance.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, ambulance fees and pain medications. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability insurance
Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/25 which means a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against things such as medical services, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford. Ohio state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The illustration below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Ohio car insurance companies
Picking the best car insurance company is difficult considering how many choices there are in Ohio. The information below could help you select which coverage providers you want to consider purchasing a policy from.
Top 10 Cleveland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- GEICO
- AAA Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- Allstate
- 21st Century
- Travelers
Find cheaper rates by comparing often
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Budget-friendly insurance in Cleveland is available on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide price quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies.
We just showed you a lot of techniques to get a better price on Ford Freestyle insurance in Cleveland. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Cleveland auto insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Additional resources
- Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Accidents in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Immigrants in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Police Officers in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Veterans in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for a Chevrolet Equinox in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Size and Weight FAQ (iihs.org)
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)