View 1998 Ford Contour Insurance Rates

Are you irritated from being strong-armed to insure your Ford every month? You are in the same boat as millions of other drivers.

Lots of car insurance companies contend for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare car insurance companies to find the best price available.

You should take the time to quote other rates before your next renewal since insurance prices trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates for Contour insurance a couple years back you can probably find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the best way to find great coverage at a great price.

Low cost auto insurance prices

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance prices and some are easier and takes less work. You could spend your day talking about coverages with agents in your area, or you can stay home and use the web to get prices fast.

Many popular insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers submit their information once, and every company can give them a price for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quote requests for each company.

To enter your information into the quoting system, click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly the insurers you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare rates, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in your area. Click to view list.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure you compare apples-to-apples information with every price quote. If you have different deductibles it’s not possible to determine the lowest rate for your Ford Contour. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages could skew the results. It’s important to know that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find lower pricing. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide quotes online, so you also need to get quotes on coverage from those companies, too.

Learn how to get car insurance for less

Part of the car insurance buying process is learning the different types of things that aid in calculating the price you pay for car insurance. If you know what determines base rates, this enables informed choices that may result in lower rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting your rate level.

  • If you don’t need it don’t buy it – Insurance companies have many additional extra coverages you can purchase on your car insurance policy. Coverages like rental car coverage, accident forgiveness, and extra life insurance coverage may not be needed and are just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so eliminate them to save money.
  • Save money with alarms and GPS tracking – Choosing to buy a car that has a built-in theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft deterrent systems such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems can thwart car theft.
  • Premiums increase with driving tickets – Being a careful driver can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Even a single moving violation could increase your next policy renewal by twenty percent. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better prices as compared to those with violations. Drivers who have received severe tickets like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to maintain a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
  • A coverage lapse can increase rates – Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay higher rates, failure to provide proof of insurance will get you fines or a revoked license.
  • Your age impacts your rates – Mature drivers have been proven to be more responsible, are lower risk to insure , and usually have better credit.Young drivers are statistically shown to be easily distracted when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates.
  • Fewer miles means better prices – The more miles you rack up on your Ford annually the higher your rate. A lot of insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than cars that get driven a lot. Having the wrong rating on your Contour is throwing money out the window. It’s a good idea to make sure your car insurance policy reflects how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Save with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t list their entire list of discounts very clearly, so the following list contains both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts that may be available.

  • Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll and complete driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
  • No Accidents – Claim-free drivers have much lower rates as opposed to frequent claim filers.
  • Membership in Organizations – Participating in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could qualify you for a break on insurance.
  • Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents can save up to 40% or more on their auto insurance quote for Contour insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with primary and secondary vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the fact that it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

Some of the larger companies that may offer quotes with most of the discounts above possibly include:

Check with each company or agent to give you their best rates. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not apply in every state. For a list of insurers that offer multiple discounts, click here to view.

Special considerations

When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your situation might need an agent’s assistance.

  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • What is an SR-22 filing?
  • If my 1998 Ford Contour is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Should I get collision insurance on every vehicle?
  • Can my babysitter drive my car?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Parts of your car insurance policy

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.

Collision coverage

This will pay to fix damage to your Contour caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers things like sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

UM/UIM Coverage

This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your 1998 Ford Contour.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Auto liability insurance

This will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for claims like bail bonds, pain and suffering, funeral expenses and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as fire damage, rock chips in glass, a broken windshield, vandalism and falling objects. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as ambulance fees, dental work and EMT expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Get your money’s worth

You just read quite a bit of information on how to get a better price on 1998 Ford Contour insurance. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best rates are with a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

More affordable auto insurance is possible from both online companies and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide rate quotes online and most of the time these regional carriers work with independent insurance agencies.

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