How to Save on Ford Expedition Insurance in Durham

It’s an obvious conclusion that insurance companies don’t want their policyholders to compare prices. Drivers who shop for lower rates will, in all likelihood, move their business because there is a significant possibility of finding more affordable rates. A study showed that people who compared price quotes annually saved approximately $865 a year as compared to drivers who never shopped around.

If finding the cheapest rates on Ford Expedition insurance in Durham is the reason you’re here, then having some insight into the best way to shop and compare cheaper coverage can make it easier to shop your coverage around.

The preferred way to find affordable Ford Expedition insurance is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers who sell insurance in Durham.

Step 1: Try to learn a little about coverages and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that increase rates such as your driving record and a bad credit score can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.

Step 2: Get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote rates for a wide range of companies. Compare rates now

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates and determine if there is any savings. If you can save money and switch companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.

Step 4: Provide adequate notice to your current company of your intent to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application to your new company or agent. Don’t forget to place your new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location.

An important part of this process is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same amount of coverage on each price quote and and to analyze as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this enables a fair rate comparison and maximum price selection.

Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage in Durham is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to save money using the ideas you’re about to read. Drivers only need to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around from many companies at once.

Compare free Durham Ford Expedition insurance price quotes

Finding a better price on insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. Just invest a little time comparing rates to discover which company has affordable Durham auto insurance quotes.

Doing price comparisons online is so simple that it replaces the need to spend time driving to insurance agents’ offices. Doing it all online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless your situation requires the professional abilities that only an agent can give. Drivers can obtain prices from the web but still have the advice of a local agent.

The car insurance companies shown below provide quotes in North Carolina. If your goal is to find the cheapest auto insurance in Durham, NC, we recommend you get price quotes from several of them to get the best price comparison.

Lower your auto insurance rates with discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you might be missing out on some discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but some need to be requested specifically before being credited.

• Seat Belt Discounts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
• Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed in the military can result in better rates.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low annual miles could qualify for better premium rates on cars that stay parked.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car model may earn a small discount because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for signing up prior to your current Expedition insurance policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
• Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but some insurance companies may permit one accident before they charge you more for coverage if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.

One last thing about discounts, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, you aren’t that lucky.

The illustration below shows the comparison of Ford Expedition insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The rates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, marriage, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.

A list of companies and their possible discounts can be found below.

• GEICO offers discounts including air bags, anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, federal employee, military active duty, and multi-policy.
• Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for annual mileage, accident-free, type of vehicle, good driver, and good student.
• Farmers Insurance has savings for switch companies, bundle discounts, good student, alternative fuel, distant student, and multi-car.
• Auto-Owners Insurance discounts include student away at school, safe vehicle, multiple vehicles, air bags, and multi-policy.
• Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include newly married, safety features, preferred payment discount, teen driver discount, and exclusive group savings.
• SAFECO policyholders can earn discounts including accident prevention training, safe driver, multi-car, anti-lock brakes, and anti-theft.
• Progressive has discounts for homeowner, multi-policy, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, good student, online signing, and online quote discount.
• USAA offers discounts for vehicle storage, new vehicle, annual mileage, family discount, multi-policy, and safe driver.

When getting free Durham auto insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to every company to apply every possible discount. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not be available in Durham. If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies with the best discounts in Durham, click here.

Ford Expedition coverage statistics

The premium information shown next covers a range of coverage costs for Ford Expedition models. Learning a little about how prices are formulated can aid in making decisions when shopping around.

Above prices assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Information does not factor in zip code location which can affect auto insurance rates substantially.

Comparison of policy deductibles

When comparing car insurance rates, the most common question is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The premium rates below determine the rate fluctuation between low and high insurance deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific Durham garaging location which can decrease or increase prices significantly.

Based on these figures, using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $19 more each month or $228 every year averaged for all Expedition models than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 21 months between claims, you would probably be better off going with the higher deductible. The table below illustrates an example of how this calculation is made.

Gender-based car insurance rates in Durham

The chart below visualizes the comparison of Ford Expedition car insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no claims or driving citations, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Local insurance agents

Many people just prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Professional agents can help you build your policy and help in the event of a claim. A nice benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, the coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Durham who can give free rate quotes for your business. You won’t even need to contact any agents since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. If you want to get a rate quote from a particular provider, feel free to go to their quote page and complete a quote there.

Deciding on a insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Below are some questions you should ask.

• When do they do a full risk review?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
• Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• How experienced are they in personal risk management?
• Does their agency support local causes in Durham?
• Is insurance their full-time profession?
• What is the financial rating for the quoted company?

When do I need an agent’s advice?

When selecting a policy, there is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether you may require specific advice.

• Do I pay less for low miles?
• Is my son or daughter covered when driving my car?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

How Insurance Providers Determine Ford Expedition Insurance Premiums

Lots of things are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable like your driving record, but other criteria are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how safe your car is. An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that are used to determine your insurance rates. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this enables you to make decisions that could help you find cheaper rates.

• Liability coverage – Liability coverage is the protection when you are determined to be liable for damages from an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to comp and collision, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
• Save by driving safer vehicles – Cars with five star safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Vehicles built for safety help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders. If the Ford Expedition scored at minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it may be receiving lower rates.
• Higher rates for high stress occupations – Jobs such as lawyers, social workers, and accountants usually pay higher premium rates because of intense work-related stress and long work hours. Conversely, professions such as farmers, historians and retirees generally pay rates lower than average.

• Traffic violations are costly – Attentive drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Even one moving violation may cause rates to rise forty percent or more. Drivers who have gotten severe citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to complete a SR-22 with their state’s department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.

  The diagram below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault claims increase Ford Expedition insurance prices for different ages of insureds. The prices are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.

• Premiums are affected by your credit rating – An insured’s credit score can be an important factor in determining what you pay. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your Ford Expedition if you improve your credit rating. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better risks to insure than those with lower credit ratings.
• High deductibles equal low rates – Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Physical damage protection, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of covered claims are a windshield broken by a bird, hail damage, and damage from wind. The more expense you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the less your insurance will be.
• Pay less after the wedding – Having a spouse can get you a discount when shopping for insurance. It generally demonstrates drivers are more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Infrequent drivers can save – Driving more miles every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers charge rates based on their usage. Vehicles that have low annual miles qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. An improperly rated Expedition may be costing you higher rates. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating is rated on the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.

• Ford Expedition insurance loss data – Companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when setting premium rates. Vehicles that the statistics show to have increased claim numbers or amounts will have higher rates.

  The table shown below demonstrates the actual insurance loss data for Ford Expedition vehicles. For each coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, is set at 100. Percentages below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while numbers above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or tendency to have larger claims.

  
  

  Insurance Loss Ratings for Ford Expedition Vehicles

  Vehicle Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Ford Expedition 4dr 2WD	67	88	82	55	45	70
  Ford Expedition 4dr 4WD	70	98	90	54	62	56
  Ford Expedition EL 4dr 2WD	74	104	97	52
  Ford Expedition EL 4dr 4WD	88	96	110	63	60	96

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
  Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

Why insurance is not optional

Even though it can be expensive, insurance may be required for several reasons.

• The majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific limits of liability coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you have a loan on your vehicle, most banks will have a requirement that you have insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may buy a policy for your Ford at a significantly higher premium and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
• Insurance protects your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will also pay for medical bills for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay for a defense attorney if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your Ford gets damaged, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of having insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying over $855 a year so it’s important to compare rates once a year at a minimum to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Cheaper auto insurance is a realistic goal

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

We covered some good ideas how to compare Ford Expedition insurance prices in Durham. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding inexpensive Durham auto insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like Progressive and GEICO.

Much more information about auto insurance in North Carolina can be found on the following sites:

• Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
• How Much is Durham Car Insurance for Young Drivers? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for High School Students in Durham? (FAQ)
• What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)