Compare 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance Quotes

Looking for cheaper car insurance rates for your Ford Explorer Sport Trac? Nobody I know anticipates paying for car insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high. Insurance companies such as Geico, Progressive and Allstate all claim big savings with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the corporate glitz and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

More discounts mean cheaper premiums

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that can dramatically reduce your bill. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but once in a while a discount must be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit.

• Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new vehicles are generally safer.
• Membership in Organizations – Having an affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a simple method to lower premiums when shopping for insurance coverage.
• Student Driver Training – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
• Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less as opposed to bad drivers.
• Safety Course Discount – Participating in a class that teaches defensive driving techniques could earn you a small percentage discount depending on where you live.
• Include Life Insurance and Save – Some insurance carriers give better prices if you take out some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
• Renewal Discounts – A few companies offer discounts for renewing your policy before your current policy expires. You could save around 10% when you buy insurance online.
• Distant Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Having worked for a branch of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease on Explorer Sport Trac insurance depending on your insurance coverage provider.
• Early Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like you could get a free insurance coverage policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts should help lower your premiums.

Insurance companies that have some of the above discounts are:

• Mercury Insurance
• Farmers Insurance
• Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• Allstate
• Geico

Before you buy a policy, ask each company or agent the best way to save money. Some discounts listed above might not apply in your area. To choose providers with discount rates, click here to view.

Buy Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance cheaper

Many different elements are taken into consideration when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable like your driving record, but others are less obvious like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating.

• Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Attentive drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than their less careful counterparts. Even one speeding ticket may increase your cost to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have gotten multiple violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 form with their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Do you have enough liability protection? – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. It is affordable coverage when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Gals tend to be lower risk – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. The data does not necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both genders are in fender benders in similar numbers, but the males get into accidents with more damage. Men also statistically receive more major tickets such as reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 tend to get in the most accidents so it costs more to insure them.
• Cut auto insurance rates and deter theft – Choosing to buy a car with a theft deterrent system can earn a premium discount. Anti-theft devices such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all aid in stopping car theft.

It’s not one size fits all

When choosing adequate coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if you would benefit from professional advice.

• Do I need more liability coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• When would I need additional glass coverage?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
• Are rock chip repairs covered?
• Do I need an umbrella policy?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Advertising and auto insurance

Drivers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and Geico. All the ads seem to make the promise of big savings if you change your policy.

But how can every company lower your car insurance rates? Just pay attention to how they say it.

Most companies have specific criteria for the type of driver that will not have excessive claims. An example of this type of driver might have to be a female over age 40, owns a home, and has a short commute. Someone who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and will save if they switch.

Drivers who don’t measure up to these standards will see a higher rate which results in business not being written. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “people that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how companies can make it sound like they have such great premium rates.

Different companies use different criteria so you absolutely need to get price quotes at each policy renewal. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest car insurance rates for your situation.

Insurance policy specifics

Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from flooding, theft, damage from getting keyed, fire damage and a broken windshield. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Insurance for medical payments

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for funeral costs, chiropractic care, dental work, X-ray expenses and rehabilitation expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Coverage for liability

Liability coverage protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/25 that means you have $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against things like legal defense fees, structural damage, attorney fees, funeral expenses and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Collision coverage

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Explorer Sport Trac caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree, rolling your car and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Save your hard earned cash

As you quote insurance, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Cheap 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance is available online in addition to many insurance agents, so you need to shop insurance with both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance coverage companies may not offer price quotes online and usually these small, regional companies work with independent insurance agents.

To read more, feel free to visit the resources below:

• Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Insitute)
• What is Covered by an Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)