Saving money on insurance is always hard for beginners to buying insurance online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a ton of work to compare prices.
Shopping for lower car insurance rates can be a daunting task if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way to do it. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quotes to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Most major companies are enrolled in a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and every company then returns a price quote based on that information. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests for each company.
To get comparison pricing now click here (opens in new window).
The one disadvantage to getting quotes like this is you can’t choose the companies to get pricing from. If you wish to select from a list of companies to compare, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.
Whichever way you use, be sure to compare the exact same quote information for every quote you compare. If each company quotes different deductibles it’s impossible to determine the best price for your Ford Explorer. Having just a slight variation in limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that getting more free quotes provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.
Companies that sell car insurance don’t list all their discounts very well, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find insurance coverage savings.
It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.
For a list of companies offering insurance coverage discounts, click here.
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
For example, these questions could help you determine if you will benefit from professional help.
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.
Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses such as funeral costs, rehabilitation expenses, pain medications and ambulance fees. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Liability car insurance – This can cover damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. It protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like structural damage, medical expenses, attorney fees and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Ford Explorer.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Collision – Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Explorer from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things like crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.