Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Cleveland?
Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio, with a population of 381,009 according to the US Census Bureau. Although the city itself has a total area of 82.47 square miles, Cleveland is also the anchor city of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton Combined Statistical Area, a metropolitan hub of 3,515,646 and a major interstate travel route as well.
Cleveland residents are used to commuting to work; Census data shows the average worker commutes over 23 minutes to work each day. With three-quarters of an hour spent on the road daily, most residents need a reliable vehicle for transportation and to drive legally they must, of course, have auto insurance and plates for each vehicle. For houses that have two vehicles and drive 5 days a week to work, this can turn into nearly four hours of driving a week. And that’s before you consider how far they must go for groceries, entertainment, and kids school activities or hobbies.
Buying auto insurance can be complicated and confusing. If you’ve financed your vehicle, you’ll likely be required to carry full coverage so that the loan company is reimbursed if the car is damaged in an accident. If your car is fully paid for, you can choose the minimal, legally required coverage and lower your payment costs, but you may not have enough coverage to pay for everything if you’re in an accident. Many Cleveland drivers choose a plan somewhere in the middle of these two options by adding on a few extras to the minimum coverage plan.
What Insurance Coverage is Needed for Drivers in Cleveland
In Cleveland, Ohio you are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance as follows:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $25,000 per accident
While that may seem like plenty, you should keep in mind that the average three-day hospital stay can cost around $30,000. Likewise, property damage coverage of $50,000 may not be enough if you hit a brand-new truck or car.
Another aspect you should look at is additional policy riders for coverage such as damage from a falling tree or hailstorm, or vandalism and theft of vehicles. Cleveland ranks 118th for car theft nationwide, which is a per capita rate of 258. If you live or work in a higher crime area, you should definitely consider adding a theft rider to your policy.
Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Cheap Car Insurance in Cleveland by Insurer
Calling companies for auto insurance quotes can be both confusing and time consuming. Although your rate will be determined by a wide range of factors such as age, gender, credit score, education, and driving record, there are some companies that are consistently lower than others. The following information is based on averages and your personal rate may be higher or lower.
Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Cleveland
As mentioned previously, credit rating plays a part in determining your vehicle insurance rates. If your credit is not that great, the following companies specialize in insuring drivers with bad credit scores. Again, the prices listed are average and yours may be higher or lower depending on your personal information.
Do you have bad credit and need car insurance? Check out this guide to help you in your search.
Differences Between the Two Main Coverages
What is Liability Only Insurance Coverage?
Liability insurance will pay for the injuries and/or damages that you cause to others in the case of a collision where you were at fault. In most cases, liability insurance will cost less than full-coverage insurance, but then again, they are both very different in what they cover. Liability is mandatory in all U.S. states, although how much liability you are required to have differs between states. Even if it wasn’t mandatory to have liability insurance, accidents can happen anytime and, if they do, you will need to be able to pay for the damages that you cause if you were the one to blame.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance
Full coverage auto insurance in Arizona pays for your injuries and the damages made to your car as well as for others and isn’t just a specific type of a policy but it is instead liability, comprehensive insurance, and collision all combined. Full coverage insurance is not mandatory, but is good to have since it will help pay for your car to be fixed in the event of an accident that causes you injury or damage to your car, even if you were at fault. If the other person that collided with you was at fault, then their insurance will cover the damages to your car and your injuries. This is why there are laws requiring everyone to have insurance to cover the damages they cause.
What is the Difference Between the Two Types of Car Insurance?
Liability coverage kicks in when you back up and hit a kid on a skateboard you did not see. It will also pay for a gate you run into and damage.
Collision insurance pays out when you back into a large rock at a campground, denting your pickup’s tailgate. It will pay to get the tailgate repaired.
Comprehensive coverage will pay for the repair costs when something flies out of the back of a semi-truck and you end up with a cracked windshield.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in Ohio by City
Additional cities in Ohio you can check out.
Columbus
Toledo
Akron
Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates
The following auto insurance discounts can be used to help lower your premiums in Cleveland:
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Avoid Accidents:
When your record is clear of at-fault accidents, insurers see you as a better financial risk. Thus, your premiums will be lower.
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Don’t Speed:
If you have one or more speeding tickets, your insurance rates will be higher. This is because high speeds are associated with accidents, and if you speed you are more likely to be deemed at-fault in an accident.
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Shop Around:
There are at least twenty auto insurance companies currently active in Cleveland. Their premium rates are spread over a wide range, so be sure to compare prices and make sure you get the best, and most affordable, policy for you.
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Comprehensive Insurance Packages:
Insurance companies like when you use them for more than simple auto insurance. Thus, they frequently offer packages that include homeowner’s insurance, or other policies, on the same account. When you opt for one of these comprehensive policies, the company is often able to lower your automobile premium as part of the deal.
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Multiple Vehicles:
Similar to purchasing a comprehensive insurance package, combining multiple vehicles on the same policy results in lower premiums. Consider this a bulk purchase for your auto insurance.
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Military and Student Discounts:
Sometimes insurance companies have special discounts for certain demographics, like active military or students.
Using this guide to take full advantage of all driver discounts.
Reasons that Affect Your Automobile Insurance Rates in Cleveland
Because of the traffic issues in the area, “State” car insurance rates can be quite high based on the area you live in. The risk factors are higher where there is more traffic, so the area is one important factor in your auto insurance rates. As we have seen, other factors that affect your car insurance rate include your age, marital status, how many cars and drivers you have in your household, your driving record, what type of coverage you need, the age and type of your vehicle, the insurance agency, and the average mileage you drive each year. These factors can make huge differences in how much money you have to spend each year on automobile insurance.
Since insurance rates can fluctuate from company to company, it is imperative that drivers thoroughly educate themselves about automobile insurance and shop around in order to find the very best deal. You literally can save a thousand or more dollars per year by getting quotes from several carriers.
Do you have a bad driving record and need cheap insurance? Check out this guide.
Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Cleveland and Reviews
Helpful Cleveland, Ohio Vehicle Resources:
Live Traffic Accidents by City
https://www.ohgo.com/cleveland
DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/