Lower Your 2005 Ford Escape Insurance Quotes

Want lower car insurance rates for your Ford Escape? Are you kicking yourself for buying overpriced car insurance? It’s a common feeling and many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.

There is such a variety of auto insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have a selection, more options can take longer to find the best rates.

Cheaper rates with discounts

Insurance coverage is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but there’s a good chance there are discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but some must be requested specifically in order for you to get them. If you do not check that you are getting every discount available, you could be paying more than you need to.

  • Bundled Policy Discount – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy with the same insurance company you could earn a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers who elect to allow their company to monitor driving manner by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive may get a rate reduction as long as they are good drivers.
  • No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially in comparison with bad drivers.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could qualify you for better premium rates.
  • Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current coverage expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Paperless Signup – Certain insurance coverage companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on the web.
  • Theft Deterent System – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently so companies will give you a small discount.
  • New Car Discount – Buying a new car model can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
  • Government Employee Discount – Federal government employees could cut as much as 10% off on Escape coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Memberships – Participating in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations is a simple method to lower premiums when getting a auto insurance quote.

You can save money using discounts, but most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

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

How insurers calculate Ford Escape insurance prices

Many different elements are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, but others are less apparent such as your credit history and annual miles driven.

The itemized list below are a few of the “ingredients” used by companies to determine prices.

  • Remove unneeded add-on coverages – Insurance companies have many optional add-on coverages that sound like a good idea at the time on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for things like rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage, and extra equipment coverage are examples of these. The coverages may be enticing when deciding what coverages you need, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
  • Car plus home equals more savings – Lots of companies allow lower prices to insureds that have more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. The discount can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s always a smart idea to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to save even more by splitting coverages up.
  • Don’t get traffic citations – Being a careful driver has a big impact on rates. Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Having just one citation can boost insurance rates to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers unfortunate enough to have dangerous citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find that they have to to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state’s licensing department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Long commutes cost more – The higher the miles on your Ford every year the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies calculate prices partially by how you use the vehicle. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. A policy that improperly rates your Escape may be costing you. Verify your vehicle rating properly reflects annual mileage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Do safer cars cost less to insure? – Vehicles that have high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates. If your Ford Escape is rated at a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org it is probably cheaper to insure.
  • Always have auto insurance – Driving any period of time without insurance can get your license suspended and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may result in a license revocation or jail time. You may then have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Do you know your deductibles? – Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles are how much the insured will be required to pay in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be rearending another vehicle, fire damage, and damage caused by road hazards. The more of the claim the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance on Escape coverage.

What is the best car insurance coverage?

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
  • What is an SR-22 filing?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • When should I remove comp and collision on my 2005 Ford Escape?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Insurance specifics

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the usual coverages available from insurance companies.

Auto liability

This can cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against claims like attorney fees, medical expenses, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like hitting a deer, fire damage, vandalism and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Insurance for medical payments

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses for pain medications, nursing services, doctor visits and hospital visits. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision insurance

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for claims like scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Shop. Compare. Save.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced full coverage only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate and still be able to protect your assets.

Cheap 2005 Ford Escape insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agencies.

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