Cheaper 2002 Ford Explorer Insurance Rates

Scraping up a payment for pricey Ford Explorer insurance can sap your savings and force you to cut corners elsewhere. Price shopping at each renewal can help to make ends meet.

Many auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a company and get the best coverage at the lowest rate

You need to price shop coverage once or twice a year because insurance prices go up and down regularly. Even if you got the best deal on Explorer insurance a year ago other companies may now be cheaper. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the best methods to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are insured now or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. Consumers only need an understanding of the proper methods to find the lowest price over the internet.

Verify you’re applying every discount

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there may be some discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain credits will be shown at quote time, but a few must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.

• Senior Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive a discount up to 10% on Explorer insurance.
• College Student – Children who are enrolled in higher education away from home and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
• Discounts for Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% on Explorer insurance depending on your company.
• Home Ownership Discount – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
• Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with qualifying clubs or civic groups could trigger savings when shopping for insurance coverage.
• Student Discounts – Performing well in school may save as much as 25% on a insurance coverage quote. The discount lasts until age 25.
• Theft Deterent – Cars with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10% off your insurance coverage quote.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

A few popular companies and a selection of discounts can be found below.

• State Farm may include discounts for safe vehicle, multiple policy, Steer Clear safe driver discount, anti-theft, driver’s education, accident-free, and defensive driving training.
• Nationwide may offer discounts for family plan, defensive driving, easy pay, anti-theft, business or organization, good student, and Farm Bureau membership.
• Geico policyholders can earn discounts including federal employee, multi-policy, military active duty, membership and employees, and defensive driver.
• AAA offers discounts for multi-car, multi-policy, anti-theft, good student, education and occupation, AAA membership discount, and good driver.
• 21st Century may have discounts that include 55 and older, theft prevention, driver training, early bird, defensive driver, homeowners, and anti-lock brakes.
• The Hartford has savings for good student, bundle, anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, driver training, and defensive driver.

If you want low cost insurance coverage quotes, ask each company or agent how many discounts you can get. Some discounts may not be available in your area. To find insurance coverage companies who offer free insurance coverage quotes, follow this link.

Six things that influence your insurance premiums

Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious like a motor vehicle report, although others are less apparent such as your marital status and annual miles driven.Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

• See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – Most larger auto insurance companies will give lower prices for people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to guarantee you are still saving the most.There is a good possibility that you can save even more than the discount even if you have your coverage with different companies
• Remove unneeded extra coverages – There are quite a few extra add-on coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Add-on coverages like replacement cost coverage, death and dismemberment, and extra equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
• Auto insurance policy lapses lead to higher rates – Having a gap between insurance policy dates is a sure-fire way to bump up your auto insurance costs. In addition to paying higher rates, getting caught without coverage might get you a license revocation or jail time. You will then be forced to file a SR-22 with your state DMV.
• Liability protection is critical – Liability insurance kicks in if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court to defend your case. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Safer occupants lowers auto insurance rates – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums.
• How’s your driving record? – Being a careful driver influences premium rates substantially. Careful drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than people who have multiple driving citations. Getting just one ticket may cause rates to rise twenty percent or more. People who have license-revoking tickets such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may be required to prove financial responsibility with their state’s licensing department in order to drive a vehicle legally.

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
• Should I buy more coverage than the required minimum liability coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Drivers can’t get away from ads for auto insurance savings from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to advertise the message that drivers can save some big amount if you switch to them.

That’s great but how can every company make the same claim?

Companies give the cheapest rates for a prospective insured that will add to their bottom line. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be over age 30, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. Anyone that meets those criteria will get very good prices and will most likely save if they switch.

Insureds who do not fit these standards may be required to pay higher premium rates and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.

Because every company is different, drivers must do a quote comparison often. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rate quotes.

Insurance coverage specifics

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages available from insurance companies.

Collision – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against claims like colliding with a tree, hitting a mailbox, rolling your car, crashing into a building and scraping a guard rail. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for immediate expenses for prosthetic devices, surgery, hospital visits and X-ray expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverage – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as damage from flooding, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, fire damage and hitting a bird. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your 2002 Ford Explorer.

Since many drivers 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 should not be overlooked. Most of the time these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Liability auto insurance – Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, medical services, loss of income and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as much as you can afford.

Have the Midas touch

You just read some good ideas how to lower your 2002 Ford Explorer insurance car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding cheaper insurance coverage. Consumers may even find the lowest car insurance rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

When searching for cheap insurance coverage quotes, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, someone sacrificed physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Other information

• What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Stockton? (QuoteStockton.com)
• How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Red Light Cameras (State Farm)
• Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Insitute)
• If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Insitute)