The best way to find affordable car insurance rates in Durham is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers in North Carolina. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Get a basic knowledge of coverages and the modifications you can make to lower rates. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and poor credit history can be amended by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Step 2: Request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can give you price quotes for many different companies. Begin your rate comparison
- Step 3: Compare the new quotes to your existing policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save some money, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
The most important part of shopping around is to try to compare the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote and and to look at all possible companies. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
It’s safe to assume that auto insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. People who compare price quotes will probably move their business because of the high probability of finding a lower rate. A recent survey revealed that people who routinely shopped for cheaper coverage saved an average of $3,400 over four years compared to those who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the cheapest price for auto insurance is the reason you’re reading this, then knowing how to shop and compare coverage rates can save money and time.
Learn How to Find Insurance at a Discount
One of the most helpful ways to save on insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the things that go into determining your insurance rates. If you know what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower premium levels.
The itemized list below are most of the major factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your prices.
Costs for men may be higher – Over time, data shows that women are safer drivers than men. It does not mean females are better drivers. Both sexes cause at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to get higher numbers of serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI).
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Lincoln Navigator insurance rates for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Lower insurance rates with theft deterrents – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft deterrent systems such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all help prevent your car from being stolen.
Get a ticket, pay higher premiums – Being a careful driver has a big impact on rates. Attentive drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Only having one chargeable violation could increase your next policy renewal to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have received license-revoking violations like DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to maintain a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and accidents can drive up Lincoln Navigator auto insurance rates for different age categories. The data is based on a married female driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Cheaper rates with high deductibles – Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles state the amount of money you are required to spend if the claim is covered. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Examples of some claims that would be covered would be a windshield broken by a bird, hail damage, and having a roll-over accident. The larger the amount you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Car plus home equals more savings – Most larger insurance companies give discounts to policyholders that purchase more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, drivers will still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Lower rates come with age – Older, more experienced drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims, and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers have been known to be inattentive and easily distracted when at the wheel of a vehicle so insurance rates are higher.
The data below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Lincoln Navigator claim probability – Car insurance companies factor in insurance loss information when determining insurance prices. Models that have higher frequency or amount of claims will have higher rates. The table below outlines the historical insurance loss data for Lincoln Navigator vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles compiled together is represented as 100. Percentage values below 100 imply a favorable loss record, while percentage values above 100 show a trend for more claims or statistically larger losses.
| Specific Lincoln Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Navigator 4dr 2WD | 109 | 114 | 61 | |||
| Lincoln Navigator 4dr 4WD | 93 | 89 | 82 | |||
| Lincoln Navigator L 4dr 2WD | 129 | 69 | ||||
| Lincoln Navigator L 4dr 4WD | 101 | 116 | 119 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Data for Lincoln Navigator insurance
The premium table displayed next outlines different coverage prices for Lincoln Navigator models. Having insight into how insurance quotes are determined can help you make informed decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator 2WD | $258 | $594 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,292 | $108 |
| Navigator 4WD | $258 | $594 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,292 | $108 |
| Navigator L 2WD | $286 | $594 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,320 | $110 |
| Navigator L 4WD | $286 | $594 | $324 | $20 | $96 | $1,320 | $110 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact auto insurance rates substantially.
Policy deductibles
The hardest decision when buying coverage is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The rates shown below may help to conceptualize how much more you’ll pay between low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator 2WD | $242 | $440 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,045 | $87 |
| Navigator 4WD | $242 | $440 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,045 | $87 |
| Navigator L 2WD | $266 | $440 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,069 | $89 |
| Navigator L 4WD | $266 | $440 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $1,069 | $89 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator 2WD | $196 | $354 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $888 | $74 |
| Navigator 4WD | $196 | $354 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $888 | $74 |
| Navigator L 2WD | $216 | $354 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $908 | $76 |
| Navigator L 4WD | $216 | $354 | $250 | $14 | $74 | $908 | $76 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can alter coverage prices greatly.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $13 more each month or $156 each year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $250 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at least 19 months between claims, you would probably save some money if you choose the higher deductible. The illustration below shows a better example of how you can perform this determination yourself.
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $88 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $75 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $13 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $13 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 19 months |
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
The chart below illustrates the difference between Lincoln Navigator auto insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in North Carolina. The rates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no written rule of when to eliminate physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 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 say your Lincoln Navigator replacement cost is $6,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $5,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are currently paying more than $500 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where buying only liability insurance is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Companies offer many discounts on Lincoln Navigator insurance in Durham
Car insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few must be specifically requested before they will apply. If you do not double check each discount available, you are just wasting money.
- Military Deployment Discount – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower car insurance rates.
- No Claim Discounts – Durham drivers who stay claim-free are rewarded with significantly better rates on Durham auto insurance quote when compared to bad drivers.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save a little off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Good Driver Discounts – Insureds without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car model is cheaper because newer models keep occupants safer.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Low annual miles can earn cheaper prices.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.
The information below illustrates the comparison of Lincoln Navigator insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The prices are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.
Some of the insurance companies that may offer most of these discounts include:
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies which discounts you qualify for. Some credits may not be offered in Durham. To view providers who offer free Lincoln Navigator insurance quotes in Durham, click this link.
Find cheaper rates by being thorough
In this article, we covered many ways to get a better price on Lincoln Navigator insurance in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest auto insurance rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
For more information, take a look at the following helpful articles:
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Durham Auto Insurance for Drivers with Accidents? (FAQ)
- How Much are Durham Auto Insurance Quotes for 17 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Durham Auto Insurance Quotes for Infrequent Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Tacoma in Durham? (FAQ)
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Uninsured Motorist Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)