2011 Ford Explorer Car Insurance Quotes

Searching for better insurance rates? Consumers have a choice when looking for low-cost Ford Explorer insurance. You can either waste hours calling around to get rate comparisons or use the internet to compare rates. There are both good and bad ways to find insurance online so you’re going to learn the proper way to get price quotes on a Ford and find the cheapest rates either online or from local insurance agents.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every discount very well, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known car insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on your policy on Explorer coverage.
  • Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% on Explorer coverage depending on your company.
  • Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for switching to them before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles equipped with air bags can receive discounts up to 30%.
  • No Charge for an Accident – A few companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your medical payments premium.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Ford could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

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

It’s a good idea to ask each company which discounts you may be entitled to. All car insurance discounts might not be offered in every state.

Factors influencing Ford Explorer insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the items used by your company to calculate your rates.

  • Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Tickets mean higher rates – Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • Where you live can impact rates – Being located in a rural area has it’s advantages when talking about insurance. City drivers have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents.
  • With age comes lower rates – Youthful drivers tend to be more careless when driving so they pay higher insurance rates. Having to add a youthful driver to your policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know your insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like real estate brokers, architects and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates due to high stress and long work hours. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and performers pay the least on Explorer coverage.
  • Bump up deductibles to save – Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your insurance will be on Explorer coverage.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

For instance, these questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
  • What is the minimum liability in my state?
  • Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
  • Do I need motorclub coverage?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
  • Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.

Advertising myths

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them.

But how can every company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer they prefer to insure. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A customer who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who do not match this ideal profile will be charged a more expensive rate and this can result in business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can state the savings. That is why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest Ford Explorer insurance rates.

What auto insurance coverages do you need?

Learning about specific coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Insurance for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for expenses for chiropractic care, prosthetic devices, surgery and nursing services. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability coverage – Liability coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for things such as medical expenses, emergency aid and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Ford Explorer.

Since 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.

Collision – Collision coverage covers damage to your Explorer caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims such as rolling your car, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This pays to fix your vehicle from 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 can pay for things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, a broken windshield, damage from flooding and hitting a bird. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Power to the consumer

Insureds change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, high prices, delays in paying claims and being labeled a high risk driver. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

We covered a lot of techniques to compare 2011 Ford Explorer insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

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