Lower Your 2004 Ford Taurus Insurance Rates

Looking for the cheapest car insurance rates for your Ford Taurus? Are you sick and tired of sacrificing other expenses to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are no different than many other drivers.

Insurance companies such as Progressive, State Farm and Geico continually hit you with advertising and it can be hard to see past the corporate glitz and find the best price available.

Low cost auto insurance quotes online

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, but one way is more efficient than others. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Many insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company then gives them pricing. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms to every company.

To compare rates now click to open in new window.

The single downside to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify the providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick specific providers to compare, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

The method you choose is up to you, but make sure you are using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits on every price quote you get. If you enter different coverage information it will be next to impossible to find the best deal for your Ford Taurus. Just slight variations in insurance coverages or limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when price shopping your coverage, making a lot of price comparisons will increase your chances of finding more affordable insurance.

Get lower rates with these discounts

Some providers don’t necessarily list every discount very clearly, so the list below details both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious car insurance savings.

• Auto/Life Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a break if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
• Payment Discounts – By making one initial payment instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars and trucks with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and can earn a small discount on your policy.
• Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
• Use Seat Belts – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to buckle their seat belts can save a little on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.

A little disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though you would think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

If you would like to choose from a list of providers with significant discounts, follow this link.

Find cheap insurance with these tips

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that are used to determine the rates you pay for insurance. If you know what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that could result in lower rates. Many things are used in the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Some factors are common sense like a motor vehicle report, although others are more obscure such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.

Shown below are a few of the things utilized by car insurance companies to help set your prices.

• Optional features impact premiums – Choosing a vehicle with advanced anti-theft systems can get you a discount on your insurance. Theft deterrent systems like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all help stop your vehicle from being stolen.
• Do you really need roadside assistance? – Insurance policies have a lot of extra add-on coverages that you can buy on your 2004 Taurus policy. Things like replacement cost coverage, high-cost glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money remove them and pocket the money.
• See if your company offers a multi-policy discount – Most major insurance companies provide lower prices to buyers who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you already get this discount, it’s always a smart idea to shop around to help ensure you have the lowest rates.
• Men are more aggressive – Statistics have proven that females tend to be a little less risky than males. It does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Males and females are in auto accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. Not only are claims higher, but men get ticketed for serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI). Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and thus pay the highest rates.

Auto insurance can be complex

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover if you could use an agent’s help.

• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
• What is medical payments coverage?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
• Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
• What is no-fault insurance?
• Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Geico, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you change your insurance policy to them. How can each company offer drivers better rates?

All companies look for specific characteristics for the type of driver that earns them the most money. An example of a profitable risk profile may need to be a married female, has never had a policy lapse, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. A customer who matches that profile will most likely get cheap car insurance rates as well as save money with a new company.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to these stringent criteria will be quoted a more expensive rate which results in the prospect going elsewhere. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone who quotes” will save that much if they switch. That’s why companies can make claims that they all have the best prices. This really emphasizes why drivers should do a rate comparison at every renewal. It’s impossible to know with any certainty which company will have better premium rates than you’re paying now.

Parts of your insurance policy

Having a good grasp of your insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverage

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 coverage pays for things like damage from flooding, fire damage, rock chips in glass and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Taurus from colliding 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 coverage pays for things like driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter, hitting a mailbox and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Liability car insurance

This coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. It does not cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 bodily injury coverage, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for claims like emergency aid, funeral expenses, structural damage, attorney fees and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills for things like hospital visits, chiropractic care, EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 2004 Ford Taurus.

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. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.

Feed the piggy bank

We covered a lot of ways to get a better price on 2004 Ford Taurus insurance. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest priced insurance coverage comes from the smaller companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

Budget-conscious 2004 Ford Taurus insurance can be sourced online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some companies may not have internet price quotes and these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.

More detailed insurance coverage information is available in the articles below:

• Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
• Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)