How Much Does 1997 Ford Probe Car Insurance Cost?

Trying to find better car insurance rates for your Ford Probe? Searching for better insurance prices for your Ford Probe can turn out to be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks to find lower rates.

There are both good and bad ways to buy car insurance so we’re going to tell you the best way to get price quotes for a new or used Ford and find the best price possible either online or from local insurance agents.

You should take the time to compare rates at least once a year because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you think you had the lowest rate on Probe coverage two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to learn the right way to get good coverage at a lower rate.

The quickest method we recommend to compare rate quotes is to understand most of the bigger providers allow for online access to give rate comparisons. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide details such as whether you have decent credit, if you went to college, if you require a SR-22, and what you do for a living. That rating data is automatically sent to many of the top insurers and you will receive price estimates immediately.

Smaller companies may have the best rates

Consumers can’t escape the ads for insurance coverage savings by companies like Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you change your policy.

How does every company save you money? It’s all in the words they use.

Many companies quote their best rates for the type of customer that will be a good risk. One example of a desirable risk might have to be a married female, has a low-risk occupation, and drives a vehicle with a low ISO rating. Anyone that matches those criteria will get very good prices and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who do not fit the ideal profile may receive higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The wording the ads use say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save the amount stated. That’s why companies can truthfully make claims like that.

Because of these techniques, drivers should compare quotes as often as possible. Because you cannot predict which insurance coverage company will have the lowest rate quotes.

Decisions you make can impact your insurance prices

The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at the different types of things that help calculate your auto insurance rates. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this enables informed choices that can earn you cheaper rates. Many factors are used when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving record, but other factors are more transparent such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility.

• Accidents cost more than a fine – Having just one speeding ticket or other violation can increase the cost of insurance by as much as twenty percent. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have careless violations such as DUI or willful reckless driving are required to prove financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
• Never let your auto insurance policy lapse – Driving with no insurance is against the law and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage have a gap. Not only will rates go up, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
• Save money by having multiple policies – The majority of companies will give better rates to clients who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. The discount can add up to ten percent or more. Even though this discount sounds good, consumers should still get quotes from other companies to verify if the discount is saving money. It’s possible to still save money even if you insure with multiple companies
• Lower rates for being claim-free – If you file a lot of claims you can definitely plan on increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Auto insurance companies give cheaper rates to people who are not frequent claim filers. Insurance coverage is designed for more catestrophic claims.
• Rates may be higher where you live – Having an address in a small town has it’s advantages when buying auto insurance. People in densly populated areas tend to have more aggressive driving styles and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
• Cheaper to insure gals? – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that women are safer drivers than men. The data does not necessarily mean that females are better at driving than males. Males and females get in accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage. Men also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving.
• Theft deterrents save – Selecting a car model that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all help stop auto theft.
• Safer vehicles mean better auto insurance rates – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Highly rated vehicles reduce injuries and fewer serious injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.

Car insurance companies offer many types of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there could be significant discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Certain credits will be shown at quote time, but a few must be inquired about before being credited.

• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may reduce rates when you quote car insurance on Probe coverage with select insurance companies.
• Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time as opposed to paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
• Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car instead of a used car is cheaper because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Options like air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of 20 to 30 percent.
• Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow their company to study when and where they use their vehicle remotely such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system could possibly reduce rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will qualify for a discount on a car insurance quote.
• Defensive Driver – Participating in a course in defensive driver can save you 5% or more and also improve your driving technique.
• Early Renewal Discounts – A few larger companies give discounts for renewing your policy prior to the expiration date on your current policy. You may see this discount when you get car insurance quotes online.
• Life Insurance – Larger car insurance companies have a lower premium rate if you buy life insurance.

Please keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

Some companies that have most of the discounts above include:

• Progressive
• The Hartford
• Mercury Insurance
• Geico
• AAA
• State Farm

If you are trying to find cheap car insurance quotes, ask each company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be offered on policies in your state.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different.

For example, these questions may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Why is insurance for a teen driver so high?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
• Will my insurance pay for OEM parts?
• Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
• What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?

If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Insurance policy coverages for a Ford Probe

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as a broken windshield, vandalism, theft and hitting a deer. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for immediate expenses for ambulance fees, chiropractic care, pain medications, surgery and X-ray expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Ford Probe.

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Liability – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability can pay for claims like medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford.

Collision – This coverage covers damage to your Probe resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things like rolling your car, scraping a guard rail, hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Feed the piggy bank

Discount 1997 Ford Probe insurance can be purchased both online and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not offer the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to get a better price on 1997 Ford Probe insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest car insurance. You may even discover the lowest premium rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Additional learning opportunities

• Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)
• Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
• Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
• Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)