How to Compare Greensboro Ford Explorer Insurance

It takes a little time, but the best way to get the cheapest auto insurance rates in Greensboro is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers in North Carolina. This can be done by following these guidelines.

• First, take a few minutes and learn about the different coverages in a policy and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as speeding tickets, accidents and a poor credit score can be controlled by paying attention to minor details.
• Second, request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can quote prices for a wide range of companies.
• Third, compare the new rates to the price on your current policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.

The most important part of shopping around is to use identical coverages on every quote and and to get quotes from as many carriers as you can. This guarantees the most accurate price comparison and a thorough price selection.

It’s shocking but the majority of drivers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of drivers have never even shopped around for cheap coverage. Most drivers in Greensboro could save as much as $94 every year just by getting comparison quotes, but most undervalue the amount of money they would save if they switched to a cheaper policy.

This article will teach you a little about the best way to quote coverages and how you can save the most money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to find the best rates using this information. But North Carolina car owners do need to learn how big insurance companies compete online and use it to your advantage.

Cheapest Ford insurance rate quotes in Greensboro

The companies shown below are ready to provide free rate quotes in Greensboro, NC. To find cheap auto insurance in Greensboro, NC, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.

Insurance coverage details

The information below covers estimates of insurance prices for Ford Explorer models. Having insight into how car insurance prices are determined can be of help when making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.

Data assumes married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can change auto insurance rates significantly.

Raise deductibles and save

One frequently asked question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The figures shown below outline how much more rates are when you buy lower versus higher coverage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Greensboro which can raise or lower premiums noticeably.

Based on these figures, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $18 more each month or $216 a year than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 42 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible. The illustration below shows the way you can decide this on your own policy.

One big caveat is that higher deductibles means you will have to pay more of your own money when you have a physical damage claim. You need enough money in the bank in the event you need to pay the deductible.

The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice and can raise or lower Ford Explorer insurance rates for different categories of driver ages. The premiums assume a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Annual premiums for males versus females

The information below illustrates the difference between Ford Explorer insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Full coverage rates compared to liability-only

The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The premiums assume a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.

Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?

There is no set guideline for eliminating full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than about 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Ford Explorer book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $5,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying in excess of $500 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are a few situations where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.

Take policy discounts and save on Ford Explorer insurance in Greensboro

Not too many consumers would say insurance is affordable, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Many discounts should be triggered when you complete an application, but some need to be inquired about in order for you to get them.

• Claim Free – Claim-free drivers are rewarded with significantly better rates on Greensboro car insurance quote compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Safe Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents could pay up to 40% less as compared to drivers with claims.
• Defensive Driver – Passing a course teaching defensive driver skills could save 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles could earn lower insurance rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS braking systems or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Student Discounts – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
• Student Discount for Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully take a driver’s education course in school or through a local driver safety program.

Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance prices with and without discounts applied to the rates. The prices are based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, multi-car, and marriage discounts applied.

If you would like to see a list of insurance companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in North Carolina, click this link.

Smart Consumers Save on Insurance

Lots of things are considered when you get a price on insurance. Some factors are common sense like your driving record, but others are more transparent like your vehicle usage or your commute time. Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the factors that aid in calculating the price you pay for insurance. If you have some idea of what influences your rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can earn you cheaper rates.

• Pay lower rates if you’re married – Having a significant other actually saves money when shopping for insurance. Having a spouse generally demonstrates drivers are more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.

• Premiums are impacted by vehicle performance – The make and model of the car you own makes a huge difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest performance passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.

  The next chart uses these variables: married female driver age 20, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Ford Explorer rates compared to other models of vehicles that have a range of performance rating factors.

• Urban areas may pay more – Choosing to live in less populated areas may provide you with better prices when talking about insurance. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. People in densely populated areas regularly have more road rage incidents and longer commute times. Spending more time driving statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
• High comp and collision deductibles cost less – Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend if a covered claim is submitted. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Examples of some claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, or theft of your vehicle. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
• Compare rates if you bundle your policies – Many companies will award a discount to policyholders that buy multiple policies such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even with this discount applied, it’s in your best interest to compare Ford Explorer rates in Greensboro to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• GPS tracking and theft deterrents reduce prices – Selecting a car model with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack can thwart car theft.
• Only buy coverage you need – Insurance companies have many extra coverages that may not really be needed if you aren’t diligent. Add-on coverages like replacement cost coverage, accident forgiveness, and Farm Bureau memberships are probably not needed. They may seem like a good idea when discussing your needs, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

• Ford Explorer historical loss data – Auto insurance companies analyze the history of losses to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Models that tend to have increased claim numbers or amounts will have higher premium rates. The information below illustrates the historical insurance loss data for Ford Explorer vehicles.

  For each insurance policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together is a value of 100. Values that are below 100 represent a good loss history, while values over 100 point to more claims or an increased likelihood of larger losses.

  
  

  Insurance Loss Ratings for Ford Explorer Vehicles

  Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Ford Explorer 4dr 2WD	80	90	79	75	70	82
  Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD	94	94	97	75	70	85

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

When to talk to an insurance agent

A lot of people prefer to get advice from a local agent and that can be a great decision One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find cheap car insurance rates and still have a local agent. Putting coverage with local insurance agents is definitely important in Greensboro.

Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is sent to insurance agents in Greensboro who can give free rate quotes for your business. There is no need to visit any agencies since rate quotes are delivered instantly to you. You can find lower rates AND an agent nearby. If you want to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, you would need to navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.

When researching a local insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different agency structures that you can select. Agencies in Greensboro are either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can write business with an assortment of companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If premiums increase, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing car insurance prices, you will definitely want to get quotes from several independent insurance agents in order to have the best price comparison.

Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Greensboro who may be able to give you price quote information.

View more Greensboro agents

Exclusive Agents

Exclusive agencies can only quote rates from one company like Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agencies are highly trained in insurance sales which helps them sell on service rather than price.

Listed below are exclusive agents in Greensboro willing to provide price quote information.

View more Greensboro agents

Picking an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions you should ask.

• If they are an independent agency in Greensboro, which companies do they recommend?
• Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?

More quotes mean more insurance savings

Affordable Ford Explorer insurance in Greensboro can be bought on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer internet price quotes and these smaller providers only sell through independent agencies.

We just presented many tips how you can reduce Ford Explorer insurance rates online in Greensboro. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the best rates are with a small mutual company. They may have significantly lower car insurance rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.

More tips and info about insurance can be found at these sites:

• New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for a Jeep Wrangler in Greensboro? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for a Toyota Tundra in Greensboro? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Greensboro Auto Insurance Quotes for a Ford F-150? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers Over Age 70 in Greensboro? (FAQ)
• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)