The most effective way to find cheaper auto insurance rates is to compare prices once a year from insurers that insure vehicles in Durham.
- First, read about how insurance companies determine prices and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many risk factors that result in higher prices such as high-risk driving behaviors and bad credit can be controlled by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Second, compare prices from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple sources. Click to view companies
- Third, compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save some money and make a switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
The key aspect of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing similar deductibles and liability limits on every quote and and to get rate quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. This provides a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.
It’s shocking but over 70% of North Carolina drivers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for well over three years, and 38% of customers have never shopped around. With the average premium in the United States being $1,847, drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year, but they won’t spend time to compare rate quotes.
Finding a lower price on insurance is a fairly straight forward process. The only requirement is to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing price quotes from different insurance companies.
It’s so fast and easy to compare price quotes online that it makes it a waste of time to waste gas driving to insurance agencies in your area. Buying insurance online eliminates this option unless your situation requires the professional advice that only an agent can give. Some companies do allow you to get the lowest quotes online and have a local agent actually service the policy.
The companies shown below provide free quotes in North Carolina. To buy the best auto insurance in NC, we suggest you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.
Car insurance is not optional in North Carolina
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Ford Fusion Hybrid in Durham, insuring your vehicle is not optional due to several reasons.
- Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry specific limits of liability insurance in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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 took out a loan on your Fusion Hybrid, it’s most likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you have physical damage coverage 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 require you to reimburse them for it.
- Insurance safeguards both your assets and your Ford. It will also provide coverage for all forms of medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers legal expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your car definitely exceed the price paid, especially when you need to use it. An average driver in America is currently overpaying as much as $855 a year so compare quotes from several companies at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Premium rates and analysis
The premium information shown below outlines different insurance rates for Ford Fusion Hybrid models. Being more informed about how insurance prices are formulated can help customers make decisions when shopping around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $232 | $594 | $404 | $24 | $122 | $1,376 | $115 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data variables include single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in your specific Durham location which can impact prices noticeably.
An analysis of deductible level
The hardest decision when buying coverage is which deductible level should you buy. The premium rates below may aid in understanding the price difference between high and low insurance deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $440 | $312 | $18 | $94 | $1,107 | $92 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $134 | $276 | $312 | $18 | $94 | $834 | $70 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in specific garaging location which can alter price quotes significantly.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $22 more each month or $264 for a full year than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at least 34 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead going with the higher deductible.
The chart below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can raise or lower Ford Fusion Hybrid annual premium costs for each age group. The costs are based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Insurance premiums based on gender
The diagram below shows the comparison of Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance rates for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no claims or violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
How much more does full coverage cost?
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Ford Fusion Hybrid premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in North Carolina. The rate quotes are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Guidelines for dropping full coverage
There is no definitive formula to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Ford Fusion Hybrid settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $4,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $400 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some conditions where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
Auto insurance policy discounts you can’t miss
Companies do not list all possible discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down a few of the more well known as well as some of the hidden discounts you could be receiving when you buy Durham auto insurance online.
- Cautious Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than their less cautious counterparts.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you combine your home and auto policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- E-sign Discounts – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive for buying your policy online.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking time to complete a course that instructs on driving safety is a good idea and can lower rates and make you a better driver.
- Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
- Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education in high school.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of more than 20%.
- Low Miles Discount – Low annual miles can earn better auto insurance rates on cars that stay parked.
- Buy New and Save – Insuring a vehicle that is new is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though you would think adding up those discounts means a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The information below illustrates the comparison of Ford Fusion Hybrid car insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The premiums assume a female 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 claim-free, marriage, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-car discounts applied.
If you would like to choose from a list of insurers who offer online Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance quotes in Durham, click here to view.
Exclusive and independent auto insurance agents
A small number of people still prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Professional insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent.
Upon completion of this short form, the coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to contact any insurance agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. If you have a need to get a rate quote from one company in particular, just go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Picking the best provider needs to be determined by more than just the quoted price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Durham?
Two types of Durham auto insurance agents
If you are searching for a good Durham insurance agent, there are a couple of types of agencies and how they are distinctly different. Auto insurance agencies are categorized either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either one can write policy coverage, but it’s a good idea to understand the differences since it could factor into the selection process.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can only provide one company’s prices such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents are unable to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
The following are exclusive insurance agencies in Durham who can help you get price quote information.
Andy Jones – State Farm Insurance Agent
4519 N Roxboro St – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 477-0054 – View Map
Nationwide Insurance: Craig Insurance Group Inc
6224 Fayetteville Rd #106a – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 544-8484 – View Map
Allstate Insurance Agent: Reginald Wright
2310 S Miami Blvd Ste 131 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 484-2493 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type do not work for one specific company so they can quote policies with any number of different companies and find you cheaper rates. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparison shopping, you definitely need to get some free quotes from several independent agencies for maximum quote selection.
Listed below are Durham independent agents that can give you price quotes.
Tyson Insurance
3814 N Duke St # A – Durham, NC 27704 – (919) 471-8222 – View Map
Reliable Insurance Agency of North Carolina Inc.
3325 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd #200 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 864-9048 – View Map
Bull City Insurance
121 Sherron Rd #302 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 596-0671 – View Map
After you get good answers to all your questions as well as cheap Fusion Hybrid insurance quotes, you may have found an insurance agency that can properly insure your vehicles.
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When selecting a policy, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.
- Does coverage follow the driver or the vehicle?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- Is my Ford Fusion Hybrid covered if I use it for business?
- How much liability coverage do I need in North Carolina?
- Does low annual mileage earn a discount?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Durham?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Get the best coverage at the most affordable price
We just showed you many ways to reduce Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance rates online in Durham. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting cheaper Durham auto insurance quotes. You may even find the lowest rates come from a small local company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than their larger competitors like Progressive and GEICO.
Budget-conscious Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not have online price quotes and these smaller providers only sell through local independent agents.
Additional articles
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- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Inexperienced Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Drivers with Bad Credit in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 70 in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)