Lower Your 2002 Mercury Cougar Insurance Rates

No one in their right mind looks forward to buying insurance coverage, particularly when the prices are way too high. Numerous insurers battle for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the cheapest price

It’s smart to quote other rates quite often since prices change frequently. Just because you had the best deal for Cougar insurance a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about insurance coverage because you’re about to learn the proper way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to cut your premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Buying car insurance is quite easy. Consumers only need an understanding of the proper methods to compare price quotes over the internet.

Low cost auto insurance prices

Most major insurance companies allow consumers to get insurance quotes direct online. Doing online price comparisons can be done by anyone as all you need to do is type in the coverage amounts you desire as requested by the quote form. Once you submit the form, their quoting system collects your driving record and credit report and gives you a price quote based on the data you entered. Online price quotes makes it simple to compare prices but the time required to go to many different websites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for the lowest price.

Keep reading for an easier way to compare prices

A less time-consuming method to compare auto insurance pricing makes use of a single form that gets prices from several companies at one time. It saves time, eliminates repetitive work, and makes quoting online a lot less work. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated and you can select any or none of the quotes that you receive.

If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. It only takes a few minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To save time and find out how much you can save on auto insurance, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you input the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This guarantees you’re receiving an apples-to-apples comparison using the same coverage and limits.

Take advantage of these discounts

Some companies don’t always publicize every policy discount very well, so the list below contains a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden ways to save on car insurance.

• Discounts for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new is cheaper since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers without accidents may save up to 50% more for Cougar insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
• First Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm may permit one accident before they charge you more for coverage so long as you haven’t had any claims for a specific time period.
• Discounts for Federal Employees – Having worked for a branch of the government could cut as much as 10% off for Cougar insurance with a few car insurance companies.
• Active Service Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could trigger a small discount.
• Defensive Driver Discount – Taking time to complete a course that instructs on driving safety could earn you a small percentage discount if you qualify.
• Distant College Student Discount – Youth drivers who are enrolled in higher education away from home and do not take a car to college can receive lower rates.

It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Larger car insurance companies and some of the discounts include:

• State Farm includes discounts for safe vehicle, multiple policy, good driver, defensive driving training, passive restraint, student away at school, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
• Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for bundle discounts, multi-car, pay in full, early shopping, and alternative fuel.
• Geico discounts include federal employee, seat belt use, driver training, defensive driver, emergency military deployment, daytime running lights, and air bags.
• American Family policyholders can earn discounts including good student, accident-free, defensive driver, multi-vehicle, TimeAway discount, mySafetyValet, and air bags.
• Nationwide has savings for multi-policy, defensive driving, Farm Bureau membership, accident-free, business or organization, family plan, and anti-theft.
• Progressive has discounts for online quote discount, online signing, good student, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and continuous coverage.

Before purchasing a policy, check with every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some discounts might not be offered on policies in your area.

Five factors that affect insurance costs

A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the factors that are used to determine the level of your policy premiums. If you know what determines premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that can earn you lower rates.

• Annual miles impacts premiums – The higher the miles on your Mercury in a year’s time the higher the price you pay to insure it. Many insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how much you drive. Vehicles that are left in the garage receive better premium rates than vehicles that have high annual mileage. It’s a smart idea to ensure your car insurance coverage properly reflects the correct driver usage, because it can save money. Improper usage on your Cougar may be costing you higher rates.
• Deter theft and pay less – Choosing to buy a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Systems that thwart theives like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all aid in stopping auto theft and help lower rates.
• Your gender affects rates – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. This data doesn’t prove that females are better drivers. Females and males are responsible for auto accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more major tickets such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly. Young males are the most expensive to insure so it costs more to insure them.
• Rental and towing coverage may not be needed – Insurance policies have a lot of extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your car insurance policy. Insurance for coverage for rental cars, better glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
• Youthful drivers pay more – More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents , and usually have better credit.Young drivers tend to be careless and easily distracted when driving with friends therefore car insurance rates are much higher.

Special considerations

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
• If my 2002 Mercury Cougar is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
• What is an SR-22 filing?
• Do I pay less for low miles?
• When should I drop full coverage on my 2002 Mercury Cougar?
• Do I need higher collision deductibles?

If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Car insurance coverages 101

Learning about specific coverages of car insurance can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages offered by car insurance companies.

Collision protection

Collision coverage 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 the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for claims like colliding with a tree, colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car and hitting a mailbox. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Coverage for liability

This provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers things like repair costs for stationary objects, medical services, pain and suffering and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Medical costs insurance

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for doctor visits, hospital visits, EMT expenses, pain medications and rehabilitation expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like a broken windshield, fire damage, hitting a deer and theft. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Mercury Cougar.

Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

A little work can save a LOT of money

Budget-conscious 2002 Mercury Cougar insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not provide online quoting and many times these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Other information

• Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
• Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Red Light Cameras (State Farm)
• Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)
• Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Insitute)