Compare 2012 Ford Explorer Insurance Quotes

No one looks forward to paying for insurance coverage, particularly when they are paying too much. There are many car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

You should make it a habit to compare prices periodically since rates are usually higher with each renewal. If you had the lowest price for Explorer insurance two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Don’t believe everything you read about insurance coverage online, so we’re going to give you some excellent ideas to slash your insurance coverage rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

  • Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% for Explorer insurance with select insurance companies.
  • Accident Forgiveness – Certain companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles on your Ford can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
  • Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
  • Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.

A partial list of companies who might offer these money-saving discounts are:

Double check with all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts might not be offered in your state.

Free Quotes for Insurance

There are a variety of methods to shop for 2012 Ford Explorer insurance, and some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you could use the web to get prices fast.

Many of the larger companies enroll in a system where insurance shoppers submit one quote, and every company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions for each company. To find out what other companies charge for 2012 Ford Explorer insurance click here to start a free quote.

The one disadvantage to comparing rates this way is you don’t know exactly which providers you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you are comparing differing limits it will be impossible to determine the best price for your Ford Explorer.

Factors determining your Ford Explorer insurance premium

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Men pay higher rates – Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both are in accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
  • Car features impact rates – Owning a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent auto theft.
  • Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs – If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies give discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
  • Traffic violations increase rates – Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even a single moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Rural vs Urban Areas – Living in a small town can be a good thing when it comes to auto insurance. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Higher deductibles cost less – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be for Explorer insurance.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
  • What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
  • How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
  • Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
  • When should I not file a claim?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Who is covered when they drive my 2012 Ford Explorer?
  • Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
  • Am I better off with higher deductibles on my 2012 Ford Explorer?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Specifics of your insurance policy

Having a good grasp of your policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

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

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as a broken windshield, hitting a bird, vandalism and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Explorer resulting 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 things such as driving through your garage door, crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Auto liability insurance

Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t 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. You commonly see policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability can pay for claims like emergency aid, funeral expenses and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Insurance for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like funeral costs, prosthetic devices, doctor visits, chiropractic care and pain medications. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Ford Explorer.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Be Smart and Buy Smart

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just learned quite a bit of information on how to lower your 2012 Ford Explorer insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

More learning opportunities