Save Money on Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance in Irvine

Really, the only way to get more affordable auto insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from insurers who can sell car insurance in Irvine.

1. Try to understand how insurance companies determine prices and the things you can change to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices such as traffic citations, accidents, and an unacceptable credit history can be controlled by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
2. Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple sources.
3. Compare the price quotes to your current policy premium to see if cheaper Explorer Sport Trac coverage is available in Irvine. If you can save money and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
4. Give notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment and a completed application to the new company. Once coverage is bound, place the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an accessible location in your vehicle.

One bit of advice is to make sure you enter the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on every quote request and to quote with as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this enables the most accurate price comparison and maximum price selection.

A study showed that most car insurance customers have stayed with the same insurance company for more than four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never compared quotes from other companies. Most drivers in Irvine could save themselves roughly 35% a year by just shopping around, but they underestimate how much money they would save if they bought a different policy.

When shopping for inexpensive Irvine car insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways of comparing price quotes from different Irvine insurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online.

Comparison shopping rate quotes online is easy and it takes the place of having to drive around to insurance agencies in your area. The fact that you can get quotes online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional advice of a local agency. It is possible with some companies price shop online but have a local agent actually write the policy. It’s important to know that quoting more will increase your chances of finding lower pricing. Some companies don’t provide Irvine Explorer Sport Trac insurance quotes online, so it’s necessary to compare price quotes from them, too.

The companies in the list below offer quotes in California. If you want the best cheap car insurance in California, we suggest you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance charts and tables

The coverage information below covers a range of insurance policy prices for Ford Explorer Sport Trac models. Being aware of how auto insurance premiums are formulated can be useful when making informed coverage decisions.

Table data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in specific Irvine garaging location which can affect coverage prices considerably.

Policy deductible comparison

When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The data tables below outline the rate fluctuation when you choose different policy deductibles. The first table uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second data table uses a $500 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in Irvine location which can alter prices significantly.

Based on this data, using a $250 deductible costs an average of $16 more each month or $192 for a full year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible. Here’s the way you can come to your own conclusion.

One thing to be aware of is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a claim. You should have some extra savings in the event you need to pay the deductible for vehicle repair.

The chart below highlights how deductible selection and can raise or lower Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance prices for each age group. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Insurance rates by gender and age in Irvine

The example below illustrates the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance prices for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, full coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The diagram below illustrates the difference between Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance prices with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in California. The price estimates are based on no claims or driving citations, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There isn’t a written rule to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than about 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Ford Explorer Sport Trac replacement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance Cost Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating your premiums. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to lower rates.

The itemized list below are some of the factors insurance companies consider when setting your rate level.

Frequent claims will increase rates – Auto insurance companies in California generally give lower rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can definitely plan on increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Your car insurance is designed for larger claims.

Use one insurance company and save – Some insurance companies afford lower prices to insureds that have more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be as much as ten percent or more Even if you qualify for this discount already, you still need to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money.

Never let your policy expire – Having an insurance coverage lapse can be a guaranteed way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will rates go up, the inability to provide proof of insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You will then be forced to file a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department.

Pay more for higher performance vehicles – The performance level of the car you drive makes a significant difference in determining your rates. The lowest performance passenger vehicles generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

The chart below uses these variables: single male driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different performance rating factors.

Do you save by driving less? – Driving more miles annually the higher the price you pay to insure it. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how much you drive. Autos that have low annual miles receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. It’s a smart idea to ensure your insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct driver usage. Having the wrong rating on your Explorer Sport Trac may be wasting your money.

Higher prices for specific employers – Occupational choices like real estate brokers, air traffic controllers, and accountants tend to pay higher rates than the rest of us due to intense work-related stress and incredibly demanding work hours. On the other hand, jobs like professors, students and homemakers have lower than average premiums.

Low comp and collision deductibles cost more – Insurance for physical damage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, covers damage that occurs to your Ford. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and having your car stolen. The deductibles you choose represent how much money you are required to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more of the claim you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the bigger discount you will receive.

Policy add-ons add up – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Things like coverage for rental cars, towing coverage, and term life insurance are probably not needed. These coverages may sound good when deciding what coverages you need, but if you don’t need them get rid of them and save.

Three reasons to insure your Explorer Sport Trac

Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac in Irvine, paying for auto insurance may be required for several reasons.

• Most states have minimum liability requirements which means you are required to buy specific limits of liability in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you took out a loan on your Ford Explorer Sport Trac, almost all lenders will force you to have comprehensive coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you let the policy lapse, the lender will be forced to insure your Ford at a more expensive rate and require you to pay much more than you were paying before.
• Auto insurance protects not only your car but also your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical transport and hospital expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay to defend you in the event you are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, particularly for liability claims. On average, a vehicle owner in Irvine is currently overpaying as much as $810 a year so it’s important to compare rates once a year at a minimum to save money.

Car insurance company ratings

Selecting a good quality insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many companies provide coverage in Irvine. The information below may help you pick which car insurance companies to look at comparing prices from.

Top 10 Irvine Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

1. Titan Insurance – 95%
2. USAA – 94%
3. AAA of Southern California – 92%
4. AAA Insurance – 91%
5. Nationwide – 90%
6. State Farm – 90%
7. The Hartford – 89%
8. GEICO – 89%
9. The General – 88%
10. 21st Century – 88%

Top 10 Irvine Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service

1. AAA of Southern California
2. State Farm
3. Esurance
4. AAA Insurance
5. Progressive
6. Liberty Mutual
7. GEICO
8. Allstate
9. Titan Insurance
10. The Hartford