Cheap Insurance for a Ford Edge in Bakersfield

If you want to save the most money, the best way to get more affordable Ford Edge insurance is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurers who can sell car insurance in Bakersfield. Drivers can shop around by following these steps.

• Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the factors you can control to drop your rates. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates like careless driving and poor credit rating can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
• Step 2: Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from multiple companies. Get quotes now
• Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

One key aspect when comparing rates is to compare the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and and to analyze as many companies as you can. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.

It’s safe to conclude that auto insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Drivers who compare rates at least once a year are very likely to move their business because the odds are good of finding a lower rate. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that people who made a habit of comparing rates saved as much as $3,500 over four years compared to policyholders who never compared other company’s rates.

If saving money on auto insurance is your goal, then having a grasp of how to get rate quotes and compare insurance coverage can help make the process easier.

Affordable rates with discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically at the time of purchase, but once in a while a discount must be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.

• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
• Save with More Vehicles Insured – Drivers who insure multiple cars or trucks with the same insurance company qualifies for this discount.
• Driver Training Discounts – Participating in a course that instructs on driving safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
• Theft Deterrent System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are less likely to be stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Driver Education Discount – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better premium rates.

You should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

The diagram below compares Ford Edge annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premiums are based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, 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 marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, and homeowner discounts applied.

Car insurance companies that may have most of these discounts include:

• The Hartford
• American Family
• Progressive
• Travelers
• Farmers Insurance
• USAA
• Liberty Mutual

When comparing rates, check with each insurance company which credits you are entitled to. Some credits may not be available in Bakersfield. To see a list of insurance companies who offer cheap Ford Edge insurance quotes in Bakersfield, click here.

The following companies provide comparison quotes in Bakersfield, CA. If several companies are displayed, we suggest you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Ford Edge insurance statistics and information

The rate table displayed below showcases different insurance coverage prices for Ford Edge models. Understanding how insurance premiums are figured can assist in making decisions on which coverage to buy.

Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in zip code location which can impact prices significantly.

Rate comparison for different deductibles

One frequently asked question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The tables below sum up the differences in price of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.

Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can revise premium rates noticeably.

Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $16 more each month or $192 every year than requesting 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 usually have at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you elect the higher deductible.

Rate increases following a ticket or accident

The illustration below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions influence Ford Edge yearly insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Premiums by gender and age

The diagram below shows the difference between Ford Edge auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The diagram below illustrates the difference between Ford Edge auto insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rate quotes are based on no violations or claims, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.

Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?

There is no definitive guideline to exclude full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Ford Edge settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying over $700 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Six Things That Impact Your Insurance Prices

When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand some of the factors that help calculate your policy premiums. If you have some idea of what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that may result in much lower annual insurance costs. Many factors are taken into consideration when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as traffic violations, but some are not as apparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

Lower auto insurance rates for being claim-free – Companies in California provide the best rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.

Low coverage deductibles cost more – The deductibles you choose tell how much the insured will be required to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. Physical damage insurance, also called ‘full coverage’, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a stationary object, damage from fire, and damage from wind. The larger the amount you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the bigger discount you will receive.

Having a spouse is a bonus – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your auto insurance bill. Marriage means you’re more mature and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.

Safer the car lower the rate – Safer cars cost less to insure. The safest vehicles help reduce the chance of injuries in an accident and fewer serious injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can mean better rates for you. If your Ford scored at minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it may be receiving lower rates.

Advanced theft deterrents – Choosing to buy a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.

Gaps in coverage mean higher auto insurance rates – Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a guaranteed way to increase your auto insurance rates. In addition to paying higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.

Ford Edge claim statistics – Insurance companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle in order to profitably underwrite each model. Vehicles that historically have a trend towards higher claim severity or frequency will cost more for specific coverages. The next table illustrates the insurance loss data used by companies for Ford Edge vehicles.

For each coverage category, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, is a value of 100. Values that are below 100 imply a favorable loss record, while numbers that are greater than 100 point to more losses or statistically larger claims.

You may want advice from an insurance agent

A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and we recommend doing that Most agents can help you choose the best coverages and help file insurance claims. One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is you can get lower prices but also keep your business local. Putting coverage with local agents is definitely important in Bakersfield.

Upon completion of this quick form, the coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents who can give free rate quotes to get your business. There is no need to find an agent on your own because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. If you wish to get a comparison quote from a particular provider, just navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.

Choose the right auto insurance agent

If you want to buy car insurance from local Bakersfield agents, there are two different agency structures and how they operate. Insurance agencies in Bakersfield may be either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either type can sell car insurance policies, but it’s worth learning the subtle differences because it can factor into which type of agent you select.

Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not employed by one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with multiple insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If your premiums go up, they simply switch companies in-house and that require little work on your part. When comparing car insurance rates, you absolutely need to include price quotes from several independent agencies for the best price selection.

Shown below are Bakersfield independent insurance agencies who can help you get pricing information.

More Bakersfield agents

Exclusive Agencies

These agents can only quote rates from one company like State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable on sales techniques which aids in selling service over price.

Shown below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Bakersfield who can help you get rate quotes.

More Bakersfield agents

Selecting an car insurance agent should include more criteria than just the quoted price. These are some questions you should get answers to.

• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
• Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
• Does the company have a solid financial rating?
• How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
• Is there a local claims center in Bakersfield?
• Are they able to provide referrals?
• Which companies can they place coverage with?

Insurance is not optional in California

Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Ford in Bakersfield, paying for insurance may not be optional for several reasons.

• Most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance coverage in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you bought your Ford Edge with a loan, most lenders will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Ford for a much higher rate and force you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
• Insurance protects not only your Ford Edge but also your financial assets. It also can pay for medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you have damage to your Ford as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of buying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially when you need to use it. The average driver in California overpays as much as $855 a year so it’s important to compare rates at least once a year to save money.

Shop smart and save

More affordable car insurance in Bakersfield can be found online in addition to many Bakersfield insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide rates over the internet and many times these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

You just learned some good ideas how to compare Ford Edge insurance auto insurance rates in Bakersfield. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get premium rates for, the better likelihood of getting affordable Bakersfield car insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower premium rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

Additional information can be read at the links below

• What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has Affordable Bakersfield Car Insurance for a Toyota Tacoma? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Requiring a SR22 in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21 in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Ford Fusion in Bakersfield? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Bakersfield Auto Insurance Rates for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
• Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Institute)
• Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)