Save on 1997 Ford Escort Insurance Quotes

Finding low-cost insurance for a new or used Ford Escort can normally be a painful process, but you can follow a few tricks and make it easy.

There is a right way and a wrong way to buy insurance and we’ll show you the quickest way to compare rates for a new or used Ford and locate the lowest possible price.

Consumers should take time to check insurance prices before your policy renews because prices fluctuate regularly. Even if you think you had the best rates for Escort coverage six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about insurance because you’re going to learn one of the quickest ways to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Your Ford Escort insurance rate is a complex equation

It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine insurance coverage rates. Understanding what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Do men or women drive better? – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn’t mean men are worse drivers. They both tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.
  • Add-on coverages can add up – There are a lot of add-on coverages you can purchase on your insurance coverage policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and membership fees are some examples. They may seem good initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
  • Safer cars cost less to insure – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates. If your Ford Escort has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov or an “acceptable” rating on iihs.org you may qualify for a discount.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates – Teen drivers tend to get distracted easily when driving so insurance coverage rates are higher. Having to add a teen driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Having a spouse can save you money – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on insurance coverage. Marriage is viewed as being more responsible and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

Discounts mean cheaper 1997 Ford Escort insurance rates

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but a few need to be inquired about before you will receive the discount. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
  • Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less for Escort coverage than drivers with accidents.
  • Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Accident Waiver – Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% for Escort coverage with select insurance companies.
  • Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

Keep in mind that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

Car insurance companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts are:

Double check with all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Some discounts might not be offered in every state.

Tailor your coverage to you

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

These are some specific questions might help in determining if your situation could use an agent’s help.

  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Will filing a claim cost me more?
  • Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
  • What is roadside assistance coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Car insurance 101

Having a good grasp of insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Collision insurance

This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Escort from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as backing into a parked car, colliding with a tree, rolling your car and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for medical expenses

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses such as EMT expenses, surgery, nursing services, dental work and chiropractic care. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

This provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Ford Escort.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The maximum amount 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.

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance protects you from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers claims like attorney fees, legal defense fees, court costs, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible.

Spend less. Save more.

People switch companies for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers, poor customer service and unfair underwriting practices. Whatever your reason, switching companies is actually quite simple.

As you shop your coverage around, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Budget-conscious 1997 Ford Escort insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

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