2004 Ford Ranger Car Insurance Quotes

Think you have high-priced auto insurance? You’re in good company because there are lots of people in the same boat.

Insurance companies such as Progressive, Geico and Farmers Insurance persitently shower you with catchy ads and it is difficult to see past the corporate glitz and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s smart to price shop coverage occasionally because prices tend to go up over time. If you had the lowest price on Ranger coverage on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate quote today. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance out there, but you can learn some excellent ideas to find affordable auto insurance.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Finding the best rates is not rocket science. Nevertheless, car owners must understand how big insurance companies determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.

Compare car insurance rate quotes online

To find low cost quotes, there are a couple of ways to obtain and compare prices from many car insurance companies in your state. The recommended way to lower the rate you pay for 2004 Ford Ranger insurance involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be accomplished by using one of the methods below.

  1. One of the fastest ways to find the lowest comparison rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This style of form saves time by eliminating separate quote forms for each price estimate. One form will get you price quotes from multiple low-cost companies.
  2. A harder way to find better pricing is to take the time to go to the website for every company you want to comare and fill out their own quote form. For example, let’s assume you want to view quotes from State Farm, Farmers and Geico. In order to compare rates, you need to go to each individual site and enter your policy data, which is not fast way to get rate quotes. For a list of companies in your area, click here.

Compare rates however you want, just be certain you are entering nearly identical quote data for each quote you get. If each company quotes differing limits then you won’t be able to determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when quoting car insurance, remember that comparing more company’s prices increases your odds of finding the best price. Some companies don’t provide prices over the internet, so it’s recommended that you also compare price estimates on coverage from those companies, too.

Don’t overlook these car insurance discounts

Car insurance can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that many consumers don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but some discounts are required to be requested specifically in order for you to get them. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, it’s possible you qualify for a lower rate.

  • Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who agree to allow their company to look at their driving habits by installing a telematics device like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot may get a rate reduction if they show good driving skills.
  • Low Miles Discount – Maintaining low annual mileage can qualify you for cheaper prices.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time as opposed to paying monthly you may have a lower total premium amount.
  • Switch and Save Discount – Some insurance companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current expiration date. You can save around 10% with this discount.
  • Driver Education Discount – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education if offered at their school.
  • Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner can earn you a little savings because owning a home is proof of financial responsibility.
  • Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades may save as much as 25% on a insurance coverage quote. Most companies allow this discount up until you turn 25.
  • Waiver for an Accident – Not necessarily a discount, but a handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a certain period of time.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. If you do the math and it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck. Any qualifying discounts should help lower your premiums.

Auto insurance companies who may offer some of the above discounts are:

Double check with each insurance company the best way to save money. Some discounts may not apply to policies in your area.

When to get professional advice

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

  • How can I force my company to pay a claim?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • Why am I required to buy liability insurance?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount?
  • If my 2004 Ford Ranger is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

You can change your insurance rates

When buying insurance it’s important to understand a few of the rating criteria that play a part in calculating your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what determines base rates, this enables informed choices that can help you get lower insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the items companies use to determine premiums.

  • Lower miles equals lower premium – Driving more miles in a year’s time the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of companies calculate prices based on their usage. Autos that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than vehicles that have high annual mileage. An incorrectly rated Ranger is just wasting money. Verify your policy states the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
  • Low physical damage deductibles cost more – Physical damage protection, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your vehicle. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles you choose define the amount you are willing to pay if the claim is covered. The larger the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be on Ranger coverage.
  • How much liability insurance – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage will provide protection if ever you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Lower stress equals lower premiums – Occupational choices like real estate brokers, executives and accountants generally pay higher rates than the rest of us in part from job stress and long work hours. On the other hand, jobs such as professors, engineers and performers pay lower than average rates on Ranger coverage.
  • Avoid traffic tickets – Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single chargable violation could increase your next policy renewal by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers get better prices than bad drivers. Drivers who have received flagrant tickets like DUI or willful reckless driving may face state-mandated requirements to submit a SR-22 form with their state in order to legally drive a vehicle.

Beware of misleading insurance ads

State Farm, Allstate and Geico seem to constantly run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to advertise claims about savings after switching to them. How does every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that earns them the most money. For example, this type of insured should be married and over the age of 30, has never had a policy lapse, and insures a new vehicle. A driver who matches those parameters will probably get cheap prices and will probably save if they switch.

Potential insureds who don’t meet this ideal profile will probably have to pay a higher rate and this can result in business not being written. The ads state “people that switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

Because each company has a different risk profile, you really need to do a rate comparison at every renewal. You cannot predict the company that will fit you best based on your risk profile.

Information about specific coverages

Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages available from auto insurance companies.

Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things such as backing into a parked car, rolling your car, crashing into a building and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses for EMT expenses, surgery, rehabilitation expenses and X-ray expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive auto coverage – This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as falling objects, damage from getting keyed, theft, fire damage and vandalism. The most your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Liability – Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and property damage coverage for $50,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for things like court costs, pain and suffering and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but buy higher limits if possible.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Ford Ranger.

Due to the fact that many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Be Smart and Buy Smart

When buying insurance coverage, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. Your goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to save on 2004 Ford Ranger insurance. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with the smaller companies. They can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive and Geico.

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