Save on 2004 Ford Thunderbird Insurance Cost

Searching for cheaper car insurance rates for your Ford Thunderbird? Finding a different company that has inexpensive insurance can be a challenge if you’ve never received price quotes online. But relax because there is an easy way to compare rates.

It is always a good idea to compare prices once or twice a year because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the best premium rates for Thunderbird insurance last year you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to learn the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Informed consumers can cut insurance costs

Lots of factors are used when you quote your car insurance policy. Some factors are common sense like a motor vehicle report, but others are less apparent like your vehicle usage or how financially stable you are.

  • Marriage reduces risk – Having a spouse may save some money on your auto insurance bill. It usually means you are more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Gender and car insurance premiums – Over the last 30 years, statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women tend to get into at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but guys have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get higher numbers of serious violations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving.
  • Deter theft and lower rates – Purchasing a vehicle that has a built-in theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all help stop auto theft and help lower rates.
  • Always have auto insurance – Having a lapse in insurance coverage is a guaranteed way to increase your rates. In addition to paying higher premiums, failure to provide proof of insurance may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then be required to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state department of motor vehicles.
  • When should you not file a policy claims? – If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies generally give discounts to insureds who do not file claims often. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
  • Save money by raising deductibles – Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, insures against damage to your Ford. A few examples of covered claims would be a dented fender, hail damage, or theft. Your deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance for Thunderbird insurance.
  • Liability protection limits are a factor – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are responsible for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
  • More mileage equals more premium – Driving a lot of miles annually the higher the price you pay to insure it. The majority of insurers calculate prices based on their usage. Autos that are left in the garage receive better premium rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Incorrect rating for your Thunderbird is just wasting money. It’s always a good idea to double check that your auto insurance policy reflects how each vehicle is driven.

Get cheaper insurance coverage with discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you might already qualify for some discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Most are applied at quote time, but occassionally some discounts must be requested specifically before you get the savings.

  • Paper-free Discount – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive just for signing your application on the web.
  • Good Student Discount – Excelling in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
  • ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars and trucks equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims are rewarded with significantly better rates on insurance quote in comparison to drivers who are more careless.
  • Payment Method – By paying your entire bill at once rather than paying in monthly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off the PIP or medical payment premium.
  • Telematics Data – People who choose to allow driving data submission to look at their driving habits by using a telematic data system like Allstate’s Drivewise could see a rate decrease if they show good driving skills.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts may get savings up to 30%.
  • Driver Training Discounts – Passing a safe driver course is a good idea and can lower rates if you qualify.

Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, that’s just not realistic.

If you would like to see a list of insurance companies who offer discounts, follow this link.

But the ad said I’d save 15% in 15 minutes!

Car insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate continually stream television, radio, and online ads. They all have a common claim that drivers can save some big amount just by moving your coverage to them. Is it even possible that every company can make the same claim? It’s all in the words they use.

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that will generate a profit. An example of a profitable risk profile should be over the age of 40, has no claims, and insures a new vehicle. Someone that fits those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and will also pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Insureds who fall short of the ideal profile will probably be forced to pay a higher rate and this can result in the customer buying from someone else. The ads state “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make claims that they all have the best rates. Because of these techniques, drivers must get price quotes at each policy renewal. It is impossible to predict which company will provide the lowest prices.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions may help highlight if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • When should I remove comp and collision on my 2004 Ford Thunderbird?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • How can I find cheaper teen driver insurance?
  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
  • Where can I find high-risk insurance?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Insurance coverage basics

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Comprehensive protection

This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as fire damage, a broken windshield, vandalism, theft and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Liability car insurance

Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000.

Liability coverage pays for things such as court costs, medical services, attorney fees, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This gives you protection from other drivers when they 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 2004 Ford Thunderbird.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage covers damage to your Thunderbird from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against things like colliding with a tree, hitting a mailbox, rolling your car and backing into a parked car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Medical expense coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses such as ambulance fees, prosthetic devices, X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses and EMT expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Make an honest buck

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

More affordable auto insurance is available from both online companies and from local insurance agents, so you need to quote insurance with both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies work with local independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to reduce 2004 Ford Thunderbird insurance rates online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. You may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.

Even more information is located in the articles below: