Compare 1997 Ford Thunderbird Insurance Quotes

Searching for cheaper insurance for your Ford Thunderbird can be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks to find lower rates. There are both good and bad ways to buy insurance coverage so we’re going to tell you the quickest way to quote coverages for a new or used Ford and find the lowest possible price either online or from local insurance agents.

Smart consumers take time to check insurance coverage prices periodically because insurance rates go up and down regularly. Just because you found the best deal on Thunderbird insurance a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Forget all the misinformation about insurance coverage because we’re going to demonstrate the fastest and easiest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can learn to find better prices and still get good coverage. Pricing the lowest cost coverage is simple if you know the tricks. Drivers just need to know the tricks to compare company rates online.

Free Auto Insurance Quotes

Getting a lower price on 1997 Ford Thunderbird insurance is not rocket science. You just have to spend a few minutes on the computer getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. One of the best ways to compare a lot of rates at once is an all-inclusive rate comparison click here to open form in new window. This form saves time by eliminating multiple quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. Filling out one form gets you price quotes from multiple companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
  2. Another way to get quotes online consists of going to each company website to complete a price quote. For example, let’s say you want to compare Progressive, Allstate and Farmers. You would have to spend time on each company’s site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.

  3. The most time-consuming method of comparing rate quotes is driving around to and from local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can get prices online and still use a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverages for every quote you compare. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one you can’t possibly truly determine the lowest rate.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Clubs and Organizations – Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings when shopping for insurance coverage on Thunderbird insurance.
  • No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way.

Car insurance companies that may offer some of the above discounts are:

Before buying, ask each insurance company how you can save money. Some discounts might not apply everywhere.

Factors that might impact rates for a Ford Thunderbird

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating insurance coverage rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get big savings.

  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Safer cars get lower rates. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates. If the Ford Thunderbird earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates – The more you drive each year the more you will pay for insurance coverage. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. If your policy improperly rates your Thunderbird can result in significantly higher rates. Ask your agent if your insurance coverage policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
  • Where you live can impact rates – Residing in less populated areas has it’s advantages when it comes to insurance coverage. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
  • Too many insurance coverage claims drive up costs – Insurance companies award better rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.

When might I need an agent?

When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions might point out whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
  • Do I need higher collision deductibles?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Misconceptions in auto insurance advertisements

Drivers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you move to them.

How can each company say the same thing?

All companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, owns a home, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who fall outside this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads state “customers that switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can make those claims. That is why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings on Ford Thunderbird insurance.

Specific coverage details

Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Auto liability

Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It 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 for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and property damage coverage for $100,000.

Liability can pay for things such as pain and suffering, legal defense fees, structural damage, emergency aid and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Coverage for collisions

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Thunderbird from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb, sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as hitting a deer, hitting a bird and damage from flooding. The maximum payout your insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Ford Thunderbird.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for immediate expenses for surgery, nursing services, hospital visits and chiropractic care. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Compare but don’t skimp

Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, being labeled a high risk driver, high prices and lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is easier than you think.

We just showed you a lot of techniques to lower your 1997 Ford Thunderbird insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from an unexpected company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many cases, an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

More resources