Compare 2003 Ford Escape Insurance Rates

Trying to come up with a payment for high-priced car insurance can deplete your personal savings and put a big crunch on your finances. Doing a rate comparison can help to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

There are many car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is easy if you know what you’re doing. In a nutshell, every driver who is shopping for insurance most likely will be able to cut their insurance bill. Although consumers need to learn the way companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

How to find the cheapest insurance coverage

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from local insurance coverage companies. The easiest way by far to find the lowest 2003 Ford Escape rates is to jump online and get quotes. This is quite simple and can be completed in a couple minutes as outlined below.

  1. The fastest and easiest way to find low rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for a different quote for each company. One simple form will get you rate comparisons from all major companies.
  2. A different way to find more affordable insurance consists of going to each company’s website and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let’s say you want to compare Liberty Mutual, 21st Century and GMAC. In order to get each rate, you would have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

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

The approach you take is up to you, just make sure you use nearly identical quote data on every price quote you get. If you are comparing different liability limits you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. Just remember that comparing a wide range of rates helps increase your odds of locating lower pricing.

Are you getting every discount?

Car insurance companies do not advertise every disount available very clearly, so the following list contains a few of the more well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving when you buy insurance coverage online.

  • College Student – Older children who live away from home to go to college and won’t have access to an insured vehicle could qualify for this discount.
  • Multi-line Discount – Select insurance carriers reward you with a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy a life policy as well.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
  • Good Grades Discount – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount up to age 25.
  • Home Ownership Discount – Owning your own home or condo can get you a discount since owning and maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
  • Online Discount – Many companies provide a small discount just for signing your application on your computer.
  • Air Bag Discount – Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of up to 25% or more.

Don’t be shocked that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, that’s just not realistic.

Companies and some of their more popular discounts are detailed below.

  • Progressive offers premium reductions for good student, online quote discount, continuous coverage, multi-policy, online signing, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
  • SAFECO has discounts for accident prevention training, teen safe driver, anti-theft, bundle discounts, multi-car, and drive less.
  • American Family may offer discounts for mySafetyValet, Steer into Savings, early bird, defensive driver, accident-free, good student, and TimeAway discount.
  • MetLife offers discounts including good driver, accident-free, defensive driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and good student.
  • Geico offers discounts for anti-theft, five-year accident-free, good student, anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, and multi-vehicle.
  • The Hartford may include discounts for vehicle fuel type, air bag, good student, bundle, and anti-theft.

It’s a good idea to ask each insurance company how many discounts you can get. Discounts may not apply to policyholders in every state.

When in doubt talk to an agent

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
  • Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
  • What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

The Ford Escape insurance rate equation

Many factors are taken into consideration when pricing auto insurance. Most are fairly basic like an MVR report, but others are less obvious such as your marital status or your commute time.Part of the insurance coverage buying process is learning the rating factors that help determine the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this enables informed choices that could help you find lower insurance coverage prices.

  • Poor credit score equals high rates – Having a bad credit score can be an important factor in determining what you pay. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower ratings. If your credit leaves room for improvement, you could save money insuring your 2003 Ford Escape by improving your rating.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount – Some insurers will award discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to check prices from other companies to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Drive less and get lower premiums – Driving more miles each year the higher your rate. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Autos not used for work or commuting receive better premium rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Escape is throwing money out the window. Ask your agent if your insurance coverage policy is rated on the right rating data.
  • Avoid insurance coverage policy lapses – Driving without insurance coverage in place is not a good idea and insurance coverage companies will penalize you for letting your insurance coverage expire. In addition to paying higher premiums, being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state department of motor vehicles.
  • High deductibles reduce premiums – The deductibles you choose represent how much money you are willing to pay if the claim is covered. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a stationary object, collision with a deer, or theft of your vehicle. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be for Escape coverage.
  • Do you really need to file that policy claims? – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies award cheaper rates to people who do not file claims often. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
  • Job can influence rates – Occupational choices like military personnel, executives and emergency personnel usually pay higher premium rates attributed to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, professions such as scientists, students and the unemployed get better rates for Escape coverage.

Insurance coverages 101

Knowing the specifics of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverages offered by insurance companies.

Auto liability insurance – Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability coverage pays for things like emergency aid, attorney fees, pain and suffering, medical services and structural damage. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.

Coverage for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses such as doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses and hospital visits. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your 2003 Ford Escape.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as rolling your car, scraping a guard rail and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverages – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as rock chips in glass, hail damage and falling objects. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Smart shoppers get results

Cost effective 2003 Ford Escape insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare rates from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies don’t offer price quotes online and many times these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent agencies.

When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your objective should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, but do not skimp to save money.

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