Compare 2004 Ford Explorer Insurance Rates

Trying to find lower car insurance rates? Buyers have options when searching for the best price on Ford Explorer insurance. They can either waste time calling around getting price quotes or leverage the internet to find the lowest rates.

There is a better way to shop for car insurance so we’re going to tell you the proper way to compare rates for your Ford and get the best price possible from local insurance agents and online providers.

Consumers need to get comparison quotes quite often because insurance rates are rarely the same from one policy term to another. If you had the lowest rate for Explorer insurance last year you will most likely find a better price today. Don’t believe everything you read about car insurance out there, but we’re going to give you the best ways to lower your car insurance premiums.

You may qualify for discounts

Some insurers don’t list all available discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find credits available to you.

• Distant College Student Discount – Youth drivers who live away from home to go to college and do not take a car to college could qualify for this discount.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed in the military could trigger a small discount.
• Data Collection Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow data collection to scrutinize when and where they use their vehicle by using a telematics device such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system could see a rate decrease if they are good drivers.
• Air Bag Discount – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 25 to 30%.
• Claim Free – Drivers who stay claim-free can earn big discounts in comparison to frequent claim filers.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to participate in a local driver’s education class in school.
• Policy Bundle Discount – If you can bundle your home and auto insurance with one company you will save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
• Good Student Discount – Excelling in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Ford could earn discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
• Seat Belt Discounts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% on medical payment and PIP coverage.

Discounts save money, but please remember that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.

A few of the larger companies and their possible discounts are shown below.

• 21st Century offers discounts including 55 and older, good student, homeowners, anti-lock brakes, theft prevention, and early bird.
• State Farm includes discounts for anti-theft, good student, good driver, passive restraint, and Drive Safe & Save.
• AAA policyholders can earn discounts including anti-theft, multi-policy, education and occupation, pay-in-full, good driver, AAA membership discount, and multi-car.
• Liberty Mutual has savings for newly retired, exclusive group savings, good student, multi-policy, new move discount, safety features, and teen driver discount.
• Progressive may have discounts that include continuous coverage, online signing, online quote discount, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and good student.

If you need lower rates, check with all the companies to apply every possible discount. Some discounts listed above may not be available in every state. To find auto insurance companies that offer multiple discounts, follow this link.

Seven tips to get lower-cost insurance prices

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine your insurance rates. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that could result in lower insurance prices.

• More stress means more cost – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as judgesairline pilots and financial analysts tend to pay the highest average rates in part from intense work requirements and long work days. Conversely, occupations like farmers, students and retirees pay lower than average rates for Explorer insurance.
• Premiums increase with driving tickets – Even one ticket may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums as compared to those with violations. Drivers who have gotten serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find that they have to to maintain a SR-22 with their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
• Safer cars cost less to insure – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety reduce occupant injuries and fewer serious injuries means lower claim amounts which can result in lower premiums. If your Ford has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may be receiving a better rate.
• Limits of liability – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in when you are ruled to be at fault for damages from an accident. It will provide for a legal defense to defend your case. It is affordable coverage compared to physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
• Lower insurance rates with continuous coverage – Not maintaining insurance is a misdemeanor and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage cancel without a new policy in place. Not only will rates go up, not being able to provide proof of insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.
• Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most major insurers will award discounts to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to ten or even fifteen percent. Even if you already get this discount, you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
• Your gender affects rates – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that females are better at driving than males. They both cause auto accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage. They also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Male teenagers cause the most accidents and therefore pay the highest rates.

There’s no such thing as the perfect insurance coverage policy

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

These are some specific questions might help in determining whether or not you might need professional guidance.

• Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
• Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
• Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
• Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
• Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
• Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
• What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
• Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
• Do I need replacement cost coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Can you really save if you switch?

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for cheaper insurance coverage from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make an identical promise about how much you will save if you switch to their company.

How is it plausible that every one can charge you a lower premium? It’s all in the words they use.

Insurance coverage companies require specific criteria for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable insured should be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. Anyone who fits those characteristics will qualify for the lowest premium rates and will save a lot if they switch.

Insureds who don’t meet those criteria will probably be forced to pay higher rates which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict with any certainty which company will provide you with the cheapest prices.

The coverage is in the details

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Ford Explorer.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Coverage for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as hospital visits, pain medications, nursing services and dental work. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like hitting a bird, a broken windshield, falling objects, damage from a tornado or hurricane and damage from getting keyed. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Collision coverages – This covers damage to your Explorer caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a building, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

Liability insurance – This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show values of 25/50/25 that means you have a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, court costs, repair costs for stationary objects, medical expenses and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.

In conclusion

We covered a lot of ways to lower your 2004 Ford Explorer insurance prices. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better likelihood of getting affordable insurance. Consumers may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Drivers switch companies for many reasons like high prices, unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service or even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, switching car insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.

When searching for inexpensive insurance quotes, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, but do not skimp to save money.

More tips and info about car insurance is available in the articles below:

• Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
• Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Insitute)