Save Money on Ford Explorer Insurance in Bakersfield

If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to find the cheapest price for auto insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurance carriers in Bakersfield.

First, try to learn a little about policy coverages and the things you can control to keep rates in check. Many factors that drive up the price like getting speeding tickets and a negative credit history can be eliminated by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.

Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.

Third, compare the price quotes to your current policy premium and see if you can save money. If you can save some money and make a switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.

A valuable tip to remember is to use identical coverages on each price quote and and to get rates from every insurance company. This ensures a fair rate comparison and many rates to choose from.

Unbelievable but true, almost 70% of drivers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for well over three years, and nearly half have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average premium in California being $1,400, drivers could save 35% a year by just comparing rate quotes, but they don’t want to spend time to compare rates and save money.

If you have coverage now or just want a better rate, you can use this information to reduce the price you pay without reducing protection. Finding affordable insurance coverage in Bakersfield is not that difficult. Shoppers just have to use the most efficient way to buy insurance from multiple carriers.

Companies offering Ford Explorer insurance in Bakersfield

The companies in the list below have been selected to offer price quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If more than one company is shown, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Premium rates and analysis

The premium table displayed next showcases estimates of coverage costs for Ford Explorer models. Learning as much as possible about how premiums are calculated is important for you to make smart buying decisions.

Data variables include single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can lower or raise prices significantly.

Higher deductibles lower rates

One frequently asked question is how low should you set your deductibles. The premium rates below can help you understand the cost difference between high and low physical damage coverage deductibles. The first data set uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.

Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in vehicle location which can impact auto insurance rates considerably.

Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $31 more each month or $372 annually across all Ford Explorer models than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 24 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible. Here is an example of how we made this calculation.

One thing to be aware of is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates results in a higher out-of-pocket expense when you have a physical damage claim. That will require some available funds in the event you need to pay more for the deductible.

The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Ford Explorer annual premium costs for different age groups. The prices are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.

Cheaper Bakersfield auto insurance quotes with discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t list every discount they offer very well, so the list below contains some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits that you can use to lower your rates.

• Smart Student Discounts – Excelling in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could save up to 20% off your total Explorer insurance premium.
• Seat Belt Discounts – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the medical payments premium.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with ABS braking systems or traction control are safer to drive so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Paperless Signup – A handful of companies provide a small discount for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
• No Claim Discounts – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially as opposed to policyholders that have many claims.
• Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for multiple cars with the same auto insurance company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car instead of a used Explorer can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better prices.

Policy discounts save money, but most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

The chart below shows the comparison of Ford Explorer auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The premiums are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.

A list of auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are included below.

• State Farm includes discounts for good student, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good driver, multiple autos, and driver’s education.
• GEICO may have discounts that include driver training, federal employee, good student, multi-vehicle, membership and employees, defensive driver, and air bags.
• Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including good student, hybrid vehicle, safety features, multi-policy, and multi-car.
• The Hartford offers premium reductions for defensive driver, good student, bundle, driver training, and air bag.
• MetLife offers discounts for accident-free, multi-policy, defensive driver, good driver, claim-free, good student
• Progressive may offer discounts for online quote discount, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-policy, good student, online signing, and multi-vehicle.

Before buying, ask each insurance company how many discounts you can get. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in Bakersfield. If you would like to choose from a list of insurance companies that offer some of these discounts in Bakersfield, click this link.

How Insurers Calculate Ford Explorer Insurance Costs

Many different elements are considered when pricing auto insurance. Most are fairly basic such as your driving history, but other criteria are not as apparent like your vehicle usage or how financially stable you are.

Keep the miles off and save – The higher the miles on your Ford in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. A lot of companies calculate rates partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos that do not get driven very much can get a lower rate than vehicles that have high annual mileage. It’s always a good idea to double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet reflects the correct driver usage. Improper usage on your Explorer may be costing you.

Getting married equates to better rates – Getting married can get you a discount compared to being single. Having a spouse translates into being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

Always keep your auto insurance in place – Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine. You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the California motor vehicle department.

Poor credit can mean higher costs – Having a good credit history can be a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. If your credit can be improved, you could be paying less to insure your Ford Explorer if you clean up your credit. Consumers who have very high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower ratings.

Bad drivers pay high rates – Careful drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Having a single citation could increase your next policy renewal twenty percent or more. People who have careless violations like DUI or reckless driving might be required by their state to complete a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to legally drive a vehicle.

The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions raise Ford Explorer car insurance rates for different age groups of insureds. The rates are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Ford Explorer insurance loss statistics – Insurers use data from past claims to help determine the price you pay. Vehicles that tend to have higher frequency or amount of claims will have higher rates for specific coverages.

The information below illustrates the loss history for Ford Explorer vehicles. For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles as a whole is represented as 100. Values that are under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while values over 100 point to more frequent losses or tendency to have higher losses.

When in doubt talk to an agent

When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

For instance, these questions can aid in determining if you might need professional guidance.

• Am I covered if I back into my garage door?
• Do I need more liability coverage?
• When can I cancel my policy?
• Is my Ford Explorer covered for flood damage?
• Are my company tools covered if they get stolen?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Is there coverage for my trailer?

If you’re not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Local Bakersfield auto insurance agents

Many people would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is not a bad decision Good insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can find the best rates and still choose a local agent. Putting coverage with neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in Bakersfield.

By using this simple form, your information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to find an agent due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. If you need to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, you can always search and find their rate quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Listed below are agents in Bakersfield who can help you get price quotes for Ford Explorer insurance in Bakersfield.

More insurance agents

Deciding on an provider requires more thought than just the premium amount. The answers to these questions are important, too.

• If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
• Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
• Does the company have a solid financial rating?

Once you have received satisfactory answers to your questions and low cost Ford Explorer insurance quotes, you’ve probably found an insurance company that meets the criteria to insure your vehicles. Just be aware that it’s your coverage and you can terminate coverage when you choose so never feel you are locked into any specific agency for the full policy term.

Compare but don’t skimp

We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to reduce Ford Explorer insurance car insurance rates online in Bakersfield. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may even discover the lowest car insurance rates come from a lesser-known regional company.

Affordable Ford Explorer insurance in Bakersfield is possible both online as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent agents.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.

Additional detailed information is available at these sites:

• Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Felons in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Subaru Outback in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)