Lower Your 2003 Ford Explorer Insurance Quotes

When trying to find lower-priced insurance, are you baffled by the number of auto insurance sources that you can choose from? You’re not alone. There are so many sources to choose from that it can quickly become a difficult situation to find the best auto insurance rates.

You should make it a habit to do rate comparisons periodically because auto insurance prices go up and down regularly. Just because you found the best rate on Explorer insurance last year there may be better deals available now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the best methods to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Get lower-cost auto insurance with discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that could help you make your next renewal payment. Certain reductions will be credited at the time of quoting, but some need to be manually applied before being credited.

  • Distant College Student Discount – Youth drivers who attend college more than 100 miles from home and won’t have access to an insured vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
  • Club Memberships – Belonging to qualifying clubs or civic groups could qualify you for a break when getting a car insurance quote.
  • Paperwork-free – A few auto insurance companies will provide an incentive for buying a policy and signing up on the internet.
  • Defensive Driver Discount – Passing a course that instructs on driving safety can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Seat Belt Discounts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt may be able to save a few bucks off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to scrutinize their driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could possibly reduce rates if they are good drivers.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – A few insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
  • Accident Free – Drivers who stay claim-free can save substantially in comparison to policyholders that have many claims.

One thing to note about discounts is that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works.

If you would like to view insurance companies with significant discounts, follow this link.

Compare quotes for insurance

To find the cheapest car insurance quotes, there are several ways to compare rate quotes from many different insurance companies. The best method to do a complete rate comparison is simply to get online rate quotes. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.

  1. The easiest and least time consuming way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This quick form prevents you from having to do a different quote to each individual insurance company. A single, simple form compares rates from multiple companies. Just one form and you’re done.
  2. A less efficient way to find lower rates is spending the time to visit the website of each company and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll assume you want rates from Progressive, Esurance and Travelers. To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site and type in your information over and over, which explains why we recommend starting with the first method. To view a list of companies in your area, click here.
  3. If you have time to kill, the last method to find cheaper rates is going to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to get quotes online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you want the advice and guidance of an agent trained in personal lines coverage. Drivers can price shop online but buy the policy through an agent.

Take whichever approach you prefer, but try to keep the same coverages and limits on every price quote you get. If you use different deductibles it will be impossible to make a fair comparison for your Ford Explorer. Just slight variations in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. And when comparing insurance rates, know that comparing more rates from different companies helps increase your odds of locating the best offered rates.

Insurance price influencing factors

Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for insurance. When you know what positively or negatively positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Reserve claims for larger damages – Auto insurance companies give lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect much higher rates or policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • Gender impacts rates – Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. The data does not necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Males and females are responsible for fender benders in similar percentages, but males cause more damage. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • High premiums for teen drivers – Mature drivers are more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims , and are generally more financially stable.Youthful drivers have a tendency to be less responsible when driving with friends therefore insurance rates are much higher.
  • Save mileage and save money – The higher the miles on your Ford annually the more you’ll pay to insure it. Most insurance companies charge rates determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Improper usage on your Explorer is just wasting money. Make sure your policy states the right rating data, because it can save money.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When buying the best insurance coverage coverage, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in my state?
  • Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?
  • What is no-fault insurance?
  • If my 2003 Ford Explorer is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Auto insurance 101

Learning about specific coverages of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, falling objects and a broken windshield. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses for things like dental work, X-ray expenses, nursing services, EMT expenses and prosthetic devices. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Liability car insurance

Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers things such as court costs, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, attorney fees and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Ford Explorer.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Collision insurance

This coverage covers damage to your Explorer from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for things like hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Pennies from heaven

Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices or questionable increases in premium. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

As you quote car insurance, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, an accident victim reduced full coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best cost.

Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and usually these small insurance companies work with independent agents. Budget-conscious 2003 Ford Explorer insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture.

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