Cheap 1997 Ford Contour Insurance Rates

Nobody looks forward to buying insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. You have multiple car insurance companies to buy insurance from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to find the best rates.

You should make it a habit to price shop coverage once or twice a year because prices trend upward over time. Even if you think you had the lowest price on Contour insurance a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Block out anything you think you know about insurance because you’re about to learn the easiest way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs

Finding lower auto insurance rates can be quick and easy. All you need to do is spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rates online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This type of form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. A single form will return price quotes from multiple companies.
  2. A more time consuming way to find lower rates is spending the time to visit the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare Geico, State Farm and Progressive. To get each rate you have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

  3. The least efficient way to get comparison rates is to drive around to and from local insurance agencies. The internet can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you want the professional guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll talk about that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you enter differing limits it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best.

What determines your Ford Contour insurance premium

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for insurance coverage. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower insurance coverage prices.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine your rates.

  • Extra coverages can waste money – There are a lot of extra coverages you can purchase on your insurance coverage policy. Things like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem good initially, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • Are you male or female? – The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men are in accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Don’t let your coverage lapse – Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.You may need to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state DMV.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself – Companies award better rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • High deductibles save money – Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less your insurance coverage will be on Contour insurance.
  • Your age impacts your rates – Teenage drivers are statistically proven to get distracted easily behind the wheel so insurance coverage rates are higher. If you’ve ever had to add a teen driver onto a policy can really hurt. Older drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
  • Where do you drive? – The more miles you rack up on your Ford each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your insurance coverage policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money. Incorrect usage on your Contour can cost quite a bit.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all available discounts very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known insurance coverage savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Driver Safety – Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Homeowners Savings – Owning a home can save you money because owning a home shows financial diligence.
  • Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
  • Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get reduced rates on Contour insurance.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of providers offering insurance coverage discounts, click here to view.

Situations that might require an agent

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions could help you determine if you may require specific advice.

  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • What if I total my 1997 Ford Contour and owe more than it’s worth?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in my state?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.

Auto insurance coverage options for a Ford Contour

Knowing the specifics of auto insurance helps when choosing the right coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Auto collision coverage

This pays for damage to your Contour resulting from a collision with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for things such as hitting a parking meter, colliding with a tree, damaging your car on a curb, sustaining damage from a pot hole and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for immediate expenses like funeral costs, doctor visits, pain medications, EMT expenses and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability auto insurance

Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. It protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers things such as court costs, emergency aid, medical expenses and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

UM/UIM Coverage

This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your 1997 Ford Contour.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like damage from flooding, a broken windshield and theft. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

One last thing

Budget-conscious 1997 Ford Contour insurance can be bought both online in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

We just presented some good ideas how to reduce insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced insurance coverage comes from a small mutual company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

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