It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find lower priced auto insurance rates in Cleveland is to start comparing prices regularly from providers who sell insurance in Ohio.
- First, learn about what is in your policy and the steps you can take to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as distracted driving and an unacceptable credit history can be rectified by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Read the full article for the details to find cheap rates and get additional discounts.
- Second, compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices from many different companies.
- Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Fourth, notify your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to the new company. Once received, place your new certificate of insurance somewhere easily accessible.
One tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get price estimates from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this enables a level playing field and maximum price selection.
Smart shoppers know that car insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. People who compare rates at least once a year will, in all likelihood, switch to a new company because they have a good chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent survey discovered that drivers who routinely shopped for cheaper coverage saved about $865 annually as compared to drivers who never shopped around.
If finding the best rates on insurance is your target objective, then having some insight into how to get free comparison quotes and analyze cheaper coverage can make it simple to find affordable coverage.
Cleveland auto insurance discounts
Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize every discount they offer very clearly, so the list below details some of the best known and also the lesser-known credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Cleveland car insurance online. If you do not double check each discount available, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Accident Waiver – This one isn’t a discount, but some companies like State Farm and GEICO permit an accident without getting socked with a rate hike with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a driver safety class could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a lower price if you buy a life policy as well.
- Distant Student – Older children who attend college more than 100 miles from Cleveland and don’t have a car could qualify for this discount.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying insurance coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Theft Deterrent – Vehicles that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your Cleveland car insurance quote.
- Claim-Free Discount – Drivers with accident-free driving histories are rewarded with significantly better rates on Cleveland car insurance quote in comparison to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though you would think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, that’s just not realistic. Any qualifying discounts will definitely reduce the premium cost.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer include:
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including good student, driver training, seat belt use, five-year accident-free, and military active duty.
- USAA discounts include driver training, good student, defensive driver, multi-policy, and safe driver.
- Progressive may have discounts that include multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, good student, homeowner, online signing, and multi-policy.
- American Family includes discounts for TimeAway discount, accident-free, air bags, good driver, good student, and bundled insurance.
- Esurance may include discounts for claim free, multi-policy, defensive driver, safety device, anti-lock brakes, renters, and good driver.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts for alternative fuel, youthful driver, pay in full, mature driver, and early shopping.
- State Farm has savings for passive restraint, multiple autos, good student, accident-free, multiple policy, driver’s education, and Drive Safe & Save.
If you need inexpensive Cleveland car insurance quotes, ask each company or agent which discounts they offer. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policyholders in Cleveland. To view insurers that offer discounts in Ohio, follow this link.
When comparing insurance rates, know that having more price comparisons will improve the odds of getting the best rates.
The following companies are ready to provide quotes in Cleveland, OH. If you want to find cheap auto insurance in Cleveland, we recommend you get rates from several of them to get the best price comparison.
Different people need different insurance coverages
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your financial needs are unique so your insurance needs to address that.
For example, these questions may help highlight whether you might need professional guidance.
- Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
- Is motorclub coverage worth it?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Should I buy full coverage?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- Who is covered by my policy?
- Does coverage follow the driver or the vehicle?
If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk 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
Get rate quotes but work with a local neighborhood Cleveland car insurance agent
Some people still prefer to get advice from a local agent and often times that is recommended A nice benefit of comparing insurance online is the fact that drivers can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is important especially in Cleveland.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Cleveland who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific insurance provider, you can always go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Finding the right provider requires you to look at more than just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- What companies can they write with?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in Cleveland?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
Car insurance companies ranked
Ending up with a highly-rated auto insurance provider can be difficult considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Cleveland. The company rank data in the next section may help you choose which providers you want to consider purchasing coverage from.
Top 10 Cleveland Car Insurance Companies Overall
- USAA
- 21st Century
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
- American Family
Coverage specifics
Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Insurance for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, EMT expenses and prosthetic devices. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Since many Ohio drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Collision protection
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things such as damaging your car on a curb, colliding with a tree, crashing into a building and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your Highlander Hybrid to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)
This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hitting a deer, damage from getting keyed, hitting a bird, falling objects and hail damage. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability can pay for claims like repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Ohio requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The chart below shows why the minimum limit may not provide you with enough coverage.
Don’t give up on cheap premiums
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced full coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.
Budget-conscious Toyota Highlander Hybrid insurance can be sourced from both online companies and with local Cleveland insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent insurance agencies.
To learn more, feel free to visit these articles:
- Frontal Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Sentra in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Accord in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Ride Shares in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for Retired Military in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda Civic in Cleveland? (FAQ)
- New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)