Affordable Ford Escape Insurance in San Francisco

It takes a little time, but the best way to get budget car insurance rates is to annually compare prices from insurance carriers who can sell car insurance in San Francisco. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.

First, spend some time learning about auto insurance and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices like tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unacceptable credit score can be rectified by making minor changes to your lifestyle. This article gives more details to help prevent expensive coverage and get bigger discounts.

Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote rates from multiple sources.

Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.

Fourth, notify your current company to cancel your existing policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application for the new coverage. As soon as coverage is bound, keep your new certificate verifying proof of insurance with your vehicle’s registration.

The critical component of shopping around is to compare identical limits and deductibles on each quote and and to analyze every company you can. This enables a level playing field and plenty of rates choose from.

It’s a fact that car insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Insureds who compare other prices will probably buy a different policy because of the good chance of finding a policy with better rates. A recent study showed that consumers who compared rates once a year saved on average $865 annually compared to other drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.

If finding the lowest rates on Ford Escape insurance in San Francisco is the reason you’re reading this, learning how to shop and compare insurance premiums can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.

The best way we recommend to compare car insurance company rates for Ford Escape insurance in San Francisco is to take advantage of the fact all the major auto insurance companies participate in online systems to quote your coverage. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is give them some information such as if you’re married, if you require a SR-22, how much education you have, and deductibles desired. The rating information is sent automatically to many different companies and you get price estimates instantly to find the best rate.

If you would like to compare rates now, click here and enter your coverage details.

The companies shown below can provide quotes in California. If multiple providers are shown, it’s highly recommended you compare several of them to get the most affordable price.

Insurance analysis for a Ford Escape

The premium information displayed below highlights a range of coverage prices for Ford Escape models. Knowing how auto insurance premiums are formulated can aid in making smart policy decisions.

Price data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can influence coverage prices greatly.

Comparison of policy deductibles

One frequently asked question is how high should your deductibles be. The following tables highlight the rate differences between low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rate quotes do not factor in specific location which can alter price quotes greatly.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $25 more each month or $300 for a full year averaged for all Escape models than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would most likely save money by selecting a higher deductible.

The chart below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Ford Escape insurance rates for different age groups. The costs are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied.

Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage

The example below shows the difference between Ford Escape yearly insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The costs are based on no violations or claims, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no definitive guideline of when to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than about 10% 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 pretend your Ford Escape book value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company will settle for is $4,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $400 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Ford Escape insurance discounts in San Francisco

Auto insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but you might find some hidden discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some discounts apply automatically at the time you complete a quote, but some need to be specifically requested before they will apply.

• Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying a new car model can save up to 30% because newer models keep occupants safer.
• Discount for Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Ford could earn lower prices on the low mileage vehicles.
• Full Payment Discount – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying a policy with multiple cars with the same company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your San Francisco auto insurance quote.
• E-sign Discounts – A handful of auto insurance companies provide a small discount for buying your policy online.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive lower premium rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Ford Escape insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the rates. The costs are based on a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.

Companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.

• Farm Bureau may have discounts that include safe driver, 55 and retired, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, good student, and youthful driver.
• Liberty Mutual offers discounts including good student, newly married, multi-car, new vehicle discount, multi-policy, new move discount, and newly retired.
• State Farm offers premium reductions for good student, accident-free, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, passive restraint, and student away at school.
• Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for company car, air bags, student away at school, paid in full, anti-theft, and safe vehicle.
• GEICO has discounts for multi-policy, defensive driver, good student, anti-theft, and membership and employees.
• SAFECO may include discounts for teen safe driver, homeowner, teen safety rewards, multi-car, and accident prevention training.

Double check with all the companies what discounts are available to you. Savings might not be offered on policies in San Francisco. To view auto insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in San Francisco, click here.

Protect more than your Ford Escape

Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford Escape in San Francisco, paying for car insurance is not optional due to several reasons.

• The majority of states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability insurance in order to drive the car. 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 have a lien on your Ford Escape, almost every bank will stipulate that you buy insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Ford at a more expensive rate and require you to pay for it.
• Insurance protects both your Ford Escape and your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, will also pay to defend you 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, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of having insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially for larger claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying over $700 annually so you should quote your policy with other companies at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Local San Francisco car insurance agents and car insurance

A small number of people still like to talk to an insurance agent and that can be a great decision Professional insurance agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and also buy local. Putting coverage with local agents is especially important in San Francisco.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in San Francisco that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home because prices are sent instantly to you. If you want to get a price quote from a specific company, feel free to visit that company’s website to submit a rate quote request.

Choosing an provider requires you to look at more than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:

• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in San Francisco?
• If your car is totaled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?