Ford Escape Insurance Rates in Bakersfield

Nobody rejoices having to buy insurance, especially when they are aware that they are paying too much.

Shocking but true, the vast majority of consumers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for over three years, and nearly the majority have never even compared rates from other companies. With the average insurance premium being $1,847, American drivers could save themselves 47% a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they mistakenly think it’s difficult to compare other rate quotes. Companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO promote their brand names with ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

You need to compare prices yearly because insurance prices are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you found the best deal on Ford Escape insurance in Bakersfield at your last renewal you may be paying too much now. There are lots of tips to save on Escape insurance on the internet, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some great ways to lower your insurance rates in Bakersfield.

Finding more affordable auto insurance rates is a great way to save money. You just need to take the time comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies.

Doing price comparisons online is so simple that it makes it a waste of time to call or drive to each insurance agency near you. Doing it all online has made agencies unnecessary unless your situation requires the professional abilities of a licensed agent. However, consumers can get prices online but have a local agent actually write the policy.

The providers in the list below have been selected to offer quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you get price quotes from several of them to find the cheapest car insurance rates.

Cheaper rates on Ford Escape insurance in Bakersfield with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may be missing some discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but occasionally some discounts must be specially asked for before you get the savings.

• Responsible Driver Discount – Drivers without accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
• Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner may trigger a policy discount on car insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
• Military Deployment Discount – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower car insurance rates.
• Membership in Organizations – Joining a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your next car insurance statement.

Discounts lower rates, but most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, you aren’t that lucky. Any amount of discount will lower your overall premium however.

The example below shows the comparison of Ford Escape insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The rates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-car discounts applied.

A list of companies and a partial list of their discounts are detailed below.

• Farmers Insurance has discounts for mature driver, homeowner, business and professional, switch companies, early shopping, youthful driver, and bundle discounts.
• Esurance offers premium reductions for anti-theft, safety device, multi-policy, Switch & Save, anti-lock brakes, and paid-in-full.
• State Farm discounts include good student, driver’s education, multiple policy, Drive Safe & Save, defensive driving training, and good driver.
• GEICO may have discounts that include air bags, federal employee, five-year accident-free, military active duty, and anti-lock brakes.
• Allstate may offer discounts for anti-lock brakes, teenSMART discount, anti-theft, eSmart discount, farm vehicle, and defensive driver.

When getting a coverage quote, ask all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts listed above may not be offered in your state. If you would like to view car insurance companies who offer discounts in California, click here to view.

Rate information and statistics

The price information below outlines a range of insurance rates for Ford Escape models. Having a better idea how car insurance prices are established is important for making informed decisions.

Table data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can decrease or increase insurance rates considerably.

Can higher deductibles save money?

One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The comparison tables below approximate the costs and benefits between high and low physical damage coverage deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 deductible and the second pricing table uses a $500 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in specific Bakersfield garaging location which can change coverage rates noticeably.

Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible costs roughly $25 more each month or $300 for a full year across all Ford Escape models than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 16 months between claim filings, you would save money going with the higher deductible.

The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Ford Escape insurance costs for each different age group. The information is based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Ford Escape insurance rates by age and gender

The example below shows the comparison of Ford Escape insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The data is based on no claims, a clean driving record, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.

Liability only or full coverage

The information below compares Ford Escape insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The premium estimates are based on no claims or violations, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.

Should you buy full coverage or liability only?

There is no exact formula for excluding full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s pretend your Ford Escape replacement cost is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are currently paying more than $600 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are a few situations where removing full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.

Why Your Insurance Prices might be higher

Many different elements are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. Some are obvious like a motor vehicle report, although others are less apparent like where you live or your commute time. The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at the factors that go into determining your premiums. If you know what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that could result in better insurance rates.

The itemized list below are some of the things that factor into prices.

• Pay less with a high NHTSA crash test rating – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. Safe vehicles reduce occupant injuries and reduced instances of injuries means lower claim amounts and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Ford has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it may cost less to insure.
• Better insurance rates with anti-theft devices – Driving a car that has a built-in theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Systems that thwart thieves like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system help track and prevent auto theft.

• More performance means more cost – The type of car you need insurance for makes a huge difference in how high your rates are. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest premiums, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.

  The data below assumes a married male driver age 40, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Ford Escape insurance rates compared to other models of vehicles that have different performance rating factors.

• Bundle policies and save money – Most major companies give better rates to policyholders that buy multiple policies in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you already get this discount, you may still want to check prices from other companies to help guarantee you have the best rates.
• Too many policy claims drive up premiums – Car insurance companies in California give lower rates to insureds who are not frequent claim filers. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
• Where you live factors in – Being located in less populated areas of the country has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers and short commutes means fewer accidents. People who live in big cities have more auto accidents and higher rates of accident claims. More time commuting statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
• Credit rating impact insurance costs – Having a good credit history is likely to be a major factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history leaves room for improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your Ford Escape if you improve your credit rating. People that have high credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower ratings.

• Insurance loss data for Ford Escape vehicles – Companies include the past claim history for a vehicle when they file their rates in each state. Vehicles that the statistics show to have a higher amount or frequency of claims will have higher premium rates. The table below outlines the historical insurance loss data for Ford Escape vehicles.

  For each coverage category, the claim probability for all vehicles averaged together is represented as 100. Values that are under 100 represent a good loss history, while numbers above 100 show a trend for more claims or an increased chance of larger losses than average.

  
  

  Ford Escape Insurance Loss Statistics

  Vehicle Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Ford Escape 4dr 2WD	80	91	83	94	94	92
  Ford Escape 4dr 4WD	81	84	94	85	90	77

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years

Neighborhood agents and auto insurance

A lot of people still prefer to sit down with an agent and we recommend doing that Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. An additional benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find cheap auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent.

After filling out this short form, the quote information is emailed to companies in Bakersfield who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. If you have a need to get a comparison quote from a specific auto insurance provider, feel free to go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.

Picking an insurance company requires you to look at more than just a low price. Below are some questions you should ask.

• Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
• Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Will the quote change when the policy is issued?
• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Budget-friendly car insurance in Bakersfield can be bought online in addition to local insurance agencies, so get free Bakersfield car insurance quotes from both of them in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agencies.

When you buy Bakersfield car insurance online, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where an insured dropped physical damage coverage and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best possible price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Steps to finding cheaper Ford Escape insurance in Bakersfield

If you want to save money, the best way to save on Ford Escape insurance in Bakersfield is to start comparing prices regularly from different companies who sell auto insurance in California.

• Step 1: Try to learn a little about individual coverages and the factors you can control to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that cause high rates such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a lousy credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Step 2: Obtain price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can quote prices for a wide range of companies. View rates
• Step 3: Compare the new rates to your current policy to determine if you can save on Escape insurance. If you find a lower rate, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.

The key thing to know about shopping around is to try to use identical coverages on every quote and and to look at as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and maximum price selection.

Even more information can be found at these sites:

• Vehicle Size and Weight FAQ (iihs.org)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Electric Cars in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Teachers in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Ford Fusion in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)