How Much Does 1997 Ford Thunderbird Car Insurance Cost?

Did you come to the realization that you have an overpriced car insurance policy? You’re in good company because there are a lot of people just like you who feel imprisoned by their car insurance policy.

Insurance companies such as Geico, 21st Century and Progressive constantly blast consumers with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to see through the cute green geckos and mayhem and find the best price available.

The cheapest auto insurance quotes online

There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is less time-consuming than others. You could waste time discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in your area, or you can utilize online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Most car insurance companies participate in a marketplace where insurance shoppers complete one form, and every company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company.

To find out what other companies charge click here to start a free quote.

The one downside to doing it this way is that consumers can’t choose which providers to get quotes from. If you wish to select individual companies to request quotes from, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

How you compare quotes is your choice, just try to keep apples-to-apples information for every company. If you have differing limits then you won’t be able to determine which company has the best rates. Slightly different coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. It’s important to know that quoting more increases the change that you will find more affordable rates. Some smaller insurers to not give prices over the internet, so it’s recommended that you also compare price quotes on coverage from those companies, too.

Why you might pay higher rates

Many factors are used in the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are less obvious such as whether you are married or your commute time.

The following are a few of the things utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.

• GPS tracking and theft deterrents systems cut prices – Buying a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Systems that thwart theives such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
• Eliminate unneeded add-on coverages – There are many extra coverages that sound like a good idea at the time when buying auto insurance. Add-on coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage could be just wasting money. The coverages may be enticing when talking to your agent, but if you’ve never needed them in the past think about removing them and cutting costs.
• What are your comp and collision deductibles? – Deductibles for physical damage tell how much you are willing to pay if a covered claim is submitted. Physical damage coverage, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be rearending another vehicle, vandalism, or theft of your vehicle. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less money you will pay for auto insurance on Thunderbird coverage.
• Don’t abuse insurance claims – If you file a lot of claims you can look forward to higher rates. Car insurance companies generally give cheaper rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
• Fewer miles means better premiums – The higher the miles on your Ford each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Vehicles that have low annual miles qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance policy correctly shows the correct usage for each vehicle. An improperly rated Thunderbird may be costing you.
• Responsible credit saves on auto insurance – Your credit history is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your 1997 Ford Thunderbird by improving your credit score. Drivers with very high credit ratings tend to be better risks to insure as compared to drivers with poor credit.
• Always keep your policy in force – Having an insurance coverage lapse can be a guaranteed way to bump up your auto insurance costs. In addition to paying higher rates, getting caught without coverage may result in fines and jail time.

Are you getting every discount?

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise the entire discount list very well, so we researched a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that you can inquire about if you buy car insurance online.

• Sign Online – Many insurance companies provide a small discount for buying your policy over the internet.
• Organization Discounts – Affiliation with qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount when getting a car insurance quote.
• Active Military Service – Having an actively deployed family member may lower your rates slightly.
• Buy New and Save – Buying insurance on a new vehicle can save you some money because new model year vehicles keep occupants safer.
• Low Miles Discount – Keeping the miles down on your Ford could earn cheaper premium rates.
• Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Buying a policy with more than one vehicle with the same insurance company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Defensive Driver – Taking time to complete a driver safety course is a good idea and can lower rates and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Drivers over the age of 55 could receive reduced rates on Thunderbird coverage.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you can afford to pay the entire bill rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.

You can save money using discounts, but most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.

Insurance companies who may offer most of the discounts above possibly include:

• Esurance
• The Hartford
• AAA
• Geico
• State Farm

When quoting, ask every insurance company which discounts they offer. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in your area. To choose providers who offer discounts, click this link.

When in doubt talk to an agent

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
• Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• What is the minimum liability in my state?
• How much can I save by bundling my policies?
• What is UM/UIM insurance?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Auto insurance coverage information

Learning about specific coverages of your insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Liability coverages

Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers things like medical expenses, pain and suffering and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Thunderbird caused by collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Ford Thunderbird.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Usually these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Medical expense coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits, doctor visits, funeral costs and dental work. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from 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 can pay for claims like hitting a bird, a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane and falling objects. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Quote often and quote early

You just learned some good ideas how you can save on 1997 Ford Thunderbird insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best car insurance rates are with a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed collision coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your objective should be to buy enough coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

For more information, link through to these articles:

• Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
• Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Insitute)