2003 Ford Escort Insurance Quotes

There isn’t a single person who looks forward to paying premiums for insurance coverage, particularly when they are paying too much. You have so many car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to have a selection, it can be more difficult to find the lowest rates.

It’s a good idea to quote other rates every six months because insurance coverage prices fluctuate regularly. Even if you got the best deal for Escort insurance six months ago there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about insurance coverage because you’re going to get a crash course in the easiest way to save on insurance coverage.

How to compare insurance coverage quotes

There are a variety of methods you can shop for insurance coverage but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance companies in your area, or you can utilize online quotes to get the quickest rates.

The majority of car insurance companies participate in a marketplace that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company can give them a price determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for every insurance coverage company.

To compare pricing click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose the companies to get pricing from. So if you want to choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of low cost insurance coverage companies in your area. Click here for list of insurance companies.

The method you choose is up to you, but do your best to use nearly identical coverage data for every company. If you are comparing differing limits you can’t possibly make an equal comparison.

Lower rate quotes by taking advantage of discounts

Car insurance can be pricey, but you might find some hidden discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Some discounts will apply when you quote, but some discounts are required to be manually applied before you get the savings.

• Early Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
• Organization Discounts – Being a member of certain professional organizations could earn you a nice discount when shopping for car insurance.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Select insurance companies give a discount for switching policies before your current coverage expires. The savings is around 10%.
• Online Discount – Many companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing on the internet.
• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
• College Student – College-age children who live away from home at college and leave their car at home could get you a discount.

One thing to note about discounts is that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Despite the appearance that all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

A partial list of companies that may include most of the discounts above include:

• State Farm
• Farmers Insurance
• Geico
• American Family
• Nationwide
• Progressive

When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering which credits you are entitled to. A few discounts may not be offered in your area. If you would like to choose from a list of insurers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts, click here.

How much insurance coverage do I need?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Do I need rental car coverage?
• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• When should I drop full coverage on my 2003 Ford Escort?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

What determines Ford Escort insurance rates?

Lots of things are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as your driving history, but others are not as apparent like your vehicle usage or how safe your car is.

The factors shown below are most of the major factors insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• How do annual miles impact costs? – The more you drive annually the more it will cost to insure it. A lot of companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than vehicles that have high annual mileage. It’s a smart idea to ensure your vehicle rating is showing the correct driver usage. Improper usage on your Escort can result in significantly higher rates.
• Premiums increase with driving tickets – How you drive has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don’t get tickets pay less for auto insurance than their less careful counterparts. Only having one driving citation can bump up the cost by as much as twenty percent. Drivers unfortunate enough to have serious violations like reckless driving or DUI may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
• More traffic equals higher premiums – Choosing to live in areas with lower population has definite advantages when trying to find low car insurance rates. Lower population means less chance of accidents in addition to fewer liability claims. Residents of big cities tend to have traffic congestion and higher rates of accident claims. The longer drive time means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
• Cheaper rates after marriage – Having a spouse may earn you lower rates on your policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more financially stable and insurance companies reward insureds because drivers who are married file infrequent claims.
• Why do you need liability coverage? – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage will afford coverage when you are responsible for damages from an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
• Lower premiums for cars with good safety ratings – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and fewer serious injuries translates directly to fewer claims which can mean better rates for you. If your Ford scored at minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may qualify for a discount.
• Filing insurance claims can cost you more – If you are a frequent claim filer, don’t be surprised to see either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies provide the lowest premiums to insureds who are not frequent claim filers. Your car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Don’t buy incidental coverages that aren’t used – Insurance policies have a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness, and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may sound like good ideas when talking to your agent, but if you have no use for them remove them and pocket the money.

Auto insurance policy specifics

Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are the usual coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Auto liability insurance

This can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 bodily injury coverage, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage protects against things like structural damage, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering, medical expenses and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Insurance for medical payments

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses such as chiropractic care, EMT expenses and surgery. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Collision coverage protection

This coverage pays for damage to your Escort from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against things such as backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Ford Escort.

Due to the fact that many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

This coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like hitting a deer, hail damage, theft, damage from flooding and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

In the end, you save

We covered a lot of techniques to compare 2003 Ford Escort insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest prices come from some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Geico and State Farm.

Some companies may not have rates over the internet and usually these regional carriers work with independent insurance agents. Lower-priced 2003 Ford Escort insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from.

Additional information can be read at the links below

• Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
• Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)
• Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)