Want lower insurance rates for your Ford Escape? Feel like you’re a prisoner to high-priced insurance? Believe me when I say many consumers feel financially strained by their insurance policy. Lots of car insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the lowest cost out there.
It’s smart to do rate comparisons on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance rates trend upward over time. Just because you found the best price for Escape coverage a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about insurance because it’s time to teach you the easiest way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
There are multiple methods to compare 2014 Ford Escape insurance coverage quotes, but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance companies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get pricing more quickly.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to a marketplace where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for every insurance coverage company.
To access this free quoting program, click here (opens in new window).
The single downside to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose which insurance companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific providers to request quotes from, we put together a list of insurance coverage companies in your area. Click to view list.
Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter different values for each quote you will not be able to find the best deal for your Ford Escape.
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but some must be specifically requested in order for you to get them. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
Car insurance companies that possibly offer these money-saving discounts are:
Before buying, ask each company how you can save money. All car insurance discounts may not be available everywhere.
When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you will benefit from professional help.
If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower insurance prices.
Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” that factor into rates.
Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your policy.
How does each company claim to save you money?
Different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.
Consumers who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.
Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict the company that will have the lowest Ford Escape insurance rates.
Learning about specific coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the usual coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Collision coverage protection
This pays for damage to your Escape resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a ditch, hitting a parking meter, crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a mailbox. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverages
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as vandalism, hail damage, a broken windshield and damage from getting keyed. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for hospital visits, prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses, doctor visits and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance
Liability insurance will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers claims like pain and suffering, court costs, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and emergency aid. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.
We’ve covered many ideas to compare 2014 Ford Escape insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. They often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Cheaper insurance can be found from both online companies and with local insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies do not offer online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.
While you’re price shopping online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.