Lower Your 2004 Mercury Mountaineer Insurance Quotes

Scraping up a payment for high-priced Mercury Mountaineer insurance can drain your accounts and possibly require postponing other expenditures. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with fancy advertisements and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction and find the best price available.

You should take the time to do rate comparisons on a regular basis since prices change quite often. Just because you found the lowest price for Mountaineer coverage last year a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about insurance coverage because we’re going to show you the things you must know in order to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

How much does insurance coverage cost?

Getting a more affordable price on 2004 Mercury Mountaineer insurance can be surprisingly simple. The only requirement is to invest a little time comparing free insurance quotes to see which company has low cost insurance quotes. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  1. Hands down the most simple method to get quotes for comparison is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method keeps you from doing multiple quote forms for every company. One simple form gets prices estimates from insurance coverage companies with the best prices.
  2. A more difficult way to analyze rates consists of going to each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from Liberty Mutual, Safeco and Travelers. You would be required to take the time to go to each site and type in your information over and over, which is not fast way to get rate quotes. For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.

You can choose any of those ways to find more affodable coverage, but make absolute certain that you use the same quote data with each company. If each company quotes different liability limits it’s not possible to get a fair rate comparison.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Buying insurance coverage is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that may help make it more affordable. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but some must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.

  • Student in College – Older children who are attending college and leave their car at home can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Professional Organizations – Belonging to qualifying employment or professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your next insurance coverage statement.
  • No Accidents – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Full Payment Discount – By paying your policy upfront as opposed to paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
  • Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better premium rates.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies provide a discount for switching companies prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
  • Senior Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small discount on rates for Mountaineer coverage.
  • Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Life Insurance – Some companies give lower insurance coveragerates if you buy a life policy as well.

Discounts save money, but please remember that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Most cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

If you would like to view insurance coverage companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, click here to view.

Mercury Mountaineer insurance prices can be reduced

The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs. Multiple criteria are used in the calculation when pricing auto insurance. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but other factors are less obvious like where you live or your commute time.

The factors shown below are some of the things companies use to determine your prices.

  • Prevent theft and save – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft and help bring rates down.
  • Better auto insurance rates on safer cars – Safe vehicles cost less to insure. These vehicles reduce occupant injuries and reduced instances of injuries means your insurance company pays less and thus lower rates.
  • Prevent auto insurance policy lapses – Having a gap between insurance policy dates is a sure-fire way to increase your rates. In addition to paying higher premiums, not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you are a frequent claim filer, you should expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies award discounts to policyholders who are not frequent claim filers. Insurance coverage is designed for larger claims.
  • Liability coverage is important – Your auto insurance policy’s liability coverage will provide protection if ever a jury decides you are liable for an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is relatively inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Physical damage deductibles – Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay if the claim is covered. Protection for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, collision with a deer, or theft of your vehicle. The higher the amount you’re willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be for Mountaineer coverage.
  • Discounts for auto and home policies – Most larger insurers give lower prices to buyers that have more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to ten or even fifteen percent. Even if you qualify for this discount already, it’s always a smart idea to get quotes from other companies to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. It’s possible to still save more without the discount by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Infrequent drivers can save – Driving more miles annually the higher the price you pay to insure it. The majority of insurers price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how much you drive. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive better premium rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your policy states how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money. Having the wrong rating on your Mountaineer can cost quite a bit.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same insurance coverage

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions might help in determining whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.

  • How high should deductibles be on a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
  • Will filing a claim cost me more?
  • If I drive on a suspended license am I covered?
  • What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
  • How much liability coverage do I need in my state?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Specific coverage details

Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as fire damage, theft, damage from getting keyed, vandalism and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like pain medications, prosthetic devices, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and doctor visits. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Collision coverage

Collision insurance pays for damage to your Mountaineer caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims such as crashing into a ditch, damaging your car on a curb and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability auto insurance

This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for things like bail bonds, structural damage and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Mercury Mountaineer.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Normally the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Be a money saver!

Cheap 2004 Mercury Mountaineer insurance is attainable on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies don’t offer rates over the internet and usually these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to lower your 2004 Mercury Mountaineer insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get car insurance rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies can often provide lower car insurance rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

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