It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get discount car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from companies in Durham. Price quotes can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Read about how companies set rates and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as high-risk driving behaviors and a negative credit score can be rectified by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple sources. View prices
- Compare the quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you can save money and buy the policy, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Tell your current company of your intent to cancel your current policy and submit a completed policy application and payment for the new coverage. When you receive it, keep your new certificate verifying coverage above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
An important bit of advice to remember is that you use the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to compare as many companies as possible. This helps ensure an accurate price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
A recent study showed that a large majority of consumers have been with the same company for a minimum of four years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never even compared rates from other companies. With the average insurance premium being $980, North Carolina drivers can cut their rates by as much as $100 a year by just comparing rate quotes, but they don’t know how much savings they would realize if they bought a different policy.
Lowering your insurance rates isn’t really that difficult. The only requirement is to take the time to compare rates provided by online insurance companies.
The following companies are our best choices to provide quotes in Durham, NC. To find cheap car insurance in Durham, we suggest you click on several of them to get a more complete price comparison.
Three reasons to not skimp on insurance
Even though Durham Taurus insurance rates can get expensive, insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level of liability coverage if you want to drive legally. 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.
Second, if you have a loan on your Taurus, more than likely the lender will force you to have physical damage coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank will be required to insure your Ford for a much higher rate and require you to fork over for the expensive policy.
Third, insurance safeguards both your car and your personal assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your car are without a doubt worth the cost, particularly for liability claims. On average, a vehicle owner in Durham is currently overpaying as much as $800 each year so it’s important to compare rates every year to save money.
Coverage analysis
The table below highlights a range of insurance costs for Ford Taurus models. Learning how car insurance premiums are formulated can help guide drivers when making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus SE | $210 | $318 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $874 | $73 |
| Taurus SEL | $234 | $374 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $954 | $80 |
| Taurus SEL AWD | $234 | $374 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $954 | $80 |
| Taurus Limited | $234 | $374 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $954 | $80 |
| Taurus Limited AWD | $234 | $432 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $1,012 | $84 |
| Taurus SHO AWD | $258 | $432 | $254 | $16 | $76 | $1,036 | $86 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can influence premium rates substantially.
Physical damage deductible comparison
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparison tables below can help you understand the price difference when you select higher and lower policy deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus SE | $242 | $386 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $991 | $83 |
| Taurus SEL | $270 | $456 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,089 | $91 |
| Taurus SEL AWD | $270 | $456 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,089 | $91 |
| Taurus Limited | $270 | $456 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,089 | $91 |
| Taurus Limited AWD | $270 | $524 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,157 | $96 |
| Taurus SHO AWD | $298 | $524 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,185 | $99 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus SE | $134 | $204 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $676 | $56 |
| Taurus SEL | $150 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $728 | $61 |
| Taurus SEL AWD | $150 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $728 | $61 |
| Taurus Limited | $150 | $240 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $728 | $61 |
| Taurus Limited AWD | $150 | $276 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $764 | $64 |
| Taurus SHO AWD | $164 | $276 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $778 | $65 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
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-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can impact rates greatly.
Based on the figures above, using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $31 more each month or $372 a year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at least 29 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible. Here is an example of how this decision is made.
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $92 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $61 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $31 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $100): | $900 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $900 / $31 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 29 months |
An important thing to remember is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have to file a claim. You will want to have enough disposable income in the event you have to pay more for the deductible.
Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only
The diagram below shows the difference between Ford Taurus car insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The rates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There isn’t a written rule of when to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Ford Taurus replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $3,000 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $300 annually to have full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Companies offer many discounts on Ford Taurus insurance in Durham
Some insurers do not list every possible discount in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known as well as some of the hidden discounts you could be receiving when you buy Durham auto insurance online.
- Discount for Good Grades – Being a good student may save you up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having an actively deployed family member can result in better prices.
- Switch and Save Discount – Some companies reward drivers for buying a new policy before your current coverage expires. The savings is around 10%.
- Driver Education Discount – Teen drivers should participate in a local driver’s education class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Passive Restraints – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of more than 20%.
- Senior Citizens – Seniors may receive lower premium rates.
- Buy New and Save – Insuring a vehicle that is new can cost up to 25% less since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Accident Waiver – This one isn’t a discount, but a few companies such as GEICO, Progressive, and Allstate will turn a blind eye to one accident without the usual rate increase if you have no claims prior to the accident.
- Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more compared to accident prone drivers.
A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Despite the appearance that you can get free auto insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
The chart below shows the comparison of Ford Taurus insurance prices with and without some available policy discounts. The rate quotes are based on a female driver, no violations or claims, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, multi-car, safe-driver, and marriage discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be read below.
- State Farm discounts include accident-free, Drive Safe & Save, multiple policy, good driver, and good student.
- Farmers Insurance may include discounts for bundle discounts, good student, distant student, teen driver, and electronic funds transfer.
- GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including good student, multi-policy, driver training, defensive driver, and multi-vehicle.
- American Family may offer discounts for good student, bundled insurance, Steer into Savings, early bird, good driver, multi-vehicle, and air bags.
- Nationwide has discounts for anti-theft, family plan, good student, defensive driving, and easy pay.
- Progressive offers discounts including good student, online quote discount, online signing, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
Before you buy a policy, ask all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. All car insurance discounts might not apply everywhere. To see companies that offer discounts in Durham, click here.
Buying from insurance agencies
Some people just want to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Experienced insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your coverage information is sent to local insurance agents in Durham who can give free rate quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact an agency due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. If you want to quote rates from a specific company, just search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Finding a good insurer shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent in Durham should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Does the company have a local claim office in Durham?
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
- How are claims handled?
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
If you need to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Agencies in Durham may be either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either type can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s a good idea to understand the differences because it may have an impact on your selection of an agent.
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive can only quote rates from one company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. These agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are highly trained on sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Drivers often buy from exclusive agents mainly due to the brand rather than low rates.
Shown below is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Durham that can give you price quotes.
- Nationwide Insurance: Craig Insurance Group Inc
6224 Fayetteville Rd #106a – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 544-8484 – View Map - Antonio Vela – State Farm Insurance Agent
121 Sherron Rd #106 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 596-2700 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance Marsh Dawson Agency
821 Hanson Rd – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 806-5109 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel often have many company appointments so as a result can place your coverage with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, an independent agent can move your coverage and you can keep the same agent. If you are comparing auto insurance prices, we recommend you compare prices from independent agents in order to compare the most rates. Most also have access to companies that do not advertise much which could offer lower prices.
Listed below are independent agents in Durham that are able to give price quotes.
- Superior Insurance of Durham
3825 S Roxboro St #118 – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 224-8034 – View Map - Joshua E. Matthews Insurance Agency, Inc.
2144 Page Rd Suite 106 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 598-6800 – View Map - Herring and Bickers Insurance
2344 Operations Dr Suite 101 – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 479-9900 – View Map
After receiving acceptable answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that meets the requirements to service your policy. It’s important to know that you are entitled to cancel coverage at any point so don’t feel that you are obligated to any specific agency for a certain time period.
More effort can pay off
People change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, poor customer service, not issuing a premium refund or an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
Low-cost Ford Taurus insurance in Durham can be found online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide online rate quotes and most of the time these regional carriers only sell through independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost.
For more information, link through to the resources below:
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Uninsured Drivers in Durham? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a 20 Year Old Female in Durham? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Dodge Ram in Durham? (FAQ)
- How Much is Durham Car Insurance for 18 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)