Cheaper 2003 Ford Explorer Insurance Rates

Want the cheapest car insurance rates for your Ford Explorer? Finding lower rates for car insurance can seem to be challenging for beginners to comparing rates online. You have so many choices that it can easily become more work than you anticipated to find the best price.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Buying affordable coverage can be fairly easy. Nevertheless, consumers do need to understand how insurance companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Rates

There are several ways of comparing rates from different insurance companies. The recommended way to find the cheapest 2003 Ford Explorer insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. One of the best ways consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. One quote request will get you rate comparisons from auto insurance companies with the best prices. It’s the fastest way to compare.
  2. A different way to shop for auto insurance online is going to each company website and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from USAA, Safeco and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing the exact same coverages for every company. If you compare different deductibles it will be impossible to determine the lowest rate for your Ford Explorer. Slightly different coverages can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies helps you find the best rates.

The insurance bait and switch

Insurance providers like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you move your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don’t measure up to these standards will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before they will apply.

  • Club Memberships – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on your policy for Explorer insurance.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
  • No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Student in College – Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less for Explorer insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
  • New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in school.

It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, insurance coverage companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will reduce your premiums.

Car insurance companies that may have these benefits are:

Check with each company which discounts they offer. Savings might not apply in your state.

Situations that might require an agent

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.

These are some specific questions might point out if you could use an agent’s help.

  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
  • How can I force my company to pay a claim?
  • Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?
  • Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • How much liability insurance is required?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

Parts of your auto insurance policy

Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage covers damage to your Explorer resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims like colliding with a tree, damaging your car on a curb, scraping a guard rail, hitting a mailbox and sideswiping another vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like rock chips in glass, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, hitting a bird and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses like X-ray expenses, chiropractic care, pain medications and nursing services. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Liability insurance – This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as structural damage, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, loss of income and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Ford Explorer.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Shop around and save

As you restructure your insurance plan, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheaper 2003 Ford Explorer insurance can be purchased from both online companies and with local insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices, questionable increases in premium and high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching companies is not as hard as you think.

More information can be found at the links below