Save Money on Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance in Raleigh

We don’t have to point out that fact that auto insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Consumers who get price comparisons will, in all likelihood, move their business because there is a good probability of finding a lower-cost company. A recent study showed that consumers who compared rate quotes regularly saved $3,400 over four years compared to those who never shopped around for cheaper prices.

If saving the most money on insurance is the reason you’re reading this, then understanding how to quote and compare coverages can save time and money.

If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find cheaper prices for Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance is to start doing a yearly price comparison from different companies who sell auto insurance in Raleigh. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.

• First, take a little time to learn about how auto insurance works and the things you can control to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that increase rates like traffic citations and a negative credit history can be controlled by making minor changes in your lifestyle. Keep reading for tips to prevent high prices and earn a bigger discount.
• Second, request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple sources.
• Third, compare the quotes to your existing policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

A key point to remember is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on each quote request and to quote with as many carriers as you can. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and the best price selection.

If you have insurance now, you will be able to find better prices using these methods. This article’s goal is to familiarize you with the best ways to compare prices and how you can save the most money. Although North Carolina drivers must learn how insurance companies sell insurance online because it varies considerably.

When quoting car insurance, remember that making a lot of price comparisons helps locate more affordable rates. Not every company provides online rate quotes, so you should also compare quotes from the smaller companies as well.

The car insurance companies shown below are our best choices to provide price quotes in North Carolina. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you get prices from several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.

Car insurance is not optional

Even though Raleigh Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates can get expensive, car insurance may be required for several reasons.

• Most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry specific limits of liability insurance coverage in order to drive the car 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.
• If you took out a loan on your Ford, almost every bank will make it mandatory that you have full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank may buy a policy for your Ford for a lot more money and force you to pay the higher price.
• Car insurance preserves both your Ford and your personal assets. It also can pay for many types of medical costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay to defend you if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.

The benefits of having insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially when you need to use it. The average driver in America is wasting up to $850 per year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to ensure rates are competitive.

Car insurance statistics for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The premium table shown next outlines detailed analysis of coverage costs for Ford Explorer Sport Trac models. Having insight into how car insurance prices are figured can aid in making smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.

Premium data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can modify coverage rates greatly.

Deductible comparison

One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The comparisons below can help illustrate the costs and benefits when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.

Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can decrease or increase premium rates noticeably.

Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $9 more each month or $108 annually than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at a minimum 28 months between claims, you would probably come out ahead by selecting a higher deductible.

One important issue to know is that increasing deductibles to save money means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket if you have a claim. You should have enough extra savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.

Annual premiums comparing men and women in Raleigh

The information below shows the difference between Ford Explorer Sport Trac annual premium costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac full coverage rates compared to liability only

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage. The information is based on no claims or violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.

Guidelines for eliminating full coverage

There is no definitive rule of when to exclude full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Ford Explorer Sport Trac book value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $2,000 after the deductible is paid. If premium cost is more than $200 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some conditions where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good idea. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not opt for liability only.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you might find some hidden discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain reductions will be credited at the time you complete a quote, but some discounts are required to be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

• College Student – Older children living away from Raleigh attending college and do not have a car may be insured at a cheaper rate.
• Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
• Telematics Data – Drivers that enable their company to scrutinize their driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as Drivewise from Allstate or Snapshot from Progressive might see lower rates if their driving habits are good.
• Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Insuring several vehicles on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount for every vehicle.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control have fewer accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Own a Home – Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
• Driver Training Discounts – Taking part in a course that instructs on driving safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and that can save you a little bit as well.

As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way.

The chart below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The information is based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.

Popular auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are included below.

• GEICO offers discounts including driver training, five-year accident-free, anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, good student, defensive driver, and military active duty.
• MetLife offers discounts for good student, claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy, and good driver.
• State Farm has discounts for Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, defensive driving training, and multiple policy.
• Progressive includes discounts for online signing, online quote discount, good student, continuous coverage, and homeowner.
• Mercury Insurance discounts include good driver, good student, professional/association, type of vehicle, and low natural disaster claims.
• 21st Century may include discounts for defensive driver, anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, teen driver, 55 and older, homeowners, and theft prevention.
• Allstate has savings for premier discount, teenSMART discount, premier plus, FullPay discount, safe driver, and good student.

If you need lower rates, check with each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. A few discounts may not be offered in Raleigh. To find insurance companies who offer discounts in Raleigh, follow this link.

Different people need different insurance coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

• Can good grades get a discount?
• When should I remove my kid from my policy?
• Is other people’s property covered if stolen from my vehicle?
• Does my Ford Explorer Sport Trac need full coverage?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• Which companies will insure me after a DUI?
• Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
• Can my babysitter drive my car?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

North Carolina car insurance companies ranked

Ending up with the top company is difficult considering how many choices drivers have in North Carolina. The company ratings shown next could help you decide which car insurance companies you want to consider when comparing rate quotes.

Top 10 Raleigh Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank

1. Travelers – A++
2. USAA – A++
3. GEICO – A++
4. State Farm – A++
5. Titan Insurance – A+
6. Esurance – A+
7. Progressive – A+
8. The Hartford – A+
9. Allstate – A+
10. Nationwide – A+

Top 10 Raleigh Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service

1. Travelers
2. Nationwide
3. Allstate
4. State Farm
5. Liberty Mutual
6. GEICO
7. American Family
8. Esurance
9. Titan Insurance
10. AAA Insurance