It’s an obvious assumption that insurance companies don’t want you comparing rates. People who shop around for cheaper price quotes will most likely switch to a new company because the odds are good of finding a lower rate. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that consumers who regularly shopped around saved $70 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding the cheapest price on Ford Explorer insurance is your ultimate target, then understanding how to find companies and compare insurance premiums can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
Truthfully, the best way to get more affordable car insurance rates is to do an annual price comparison from providers who sell insurance in Omaha.
- First, spend some time learning about how car insurance works and the modifications you can make to keep rates down. Many rating criteria that drive up the price like your driving record and poor credit can be controlled by paying attention to minor details.
- Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Third, compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a better price and switch companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
One thing to point out is that you’ll want to compare similar limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. This ensures a fair rate comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
What Determines Ford Explorer Insurance Premiums?
Many things are considered when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving record, but other criteria are less obvious such as your credit history or how safe your car is. The best way to find cheaper insurance is to take a look at the rating factors that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better insurance rates.
The following are most of the major factors used by your company to calculate your premiums.
Rates go up with performance – The performance of the car or truck you need to insure makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The lowest performance passenger vehicles receive the most favorable rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
The data below uses these variables: single female driver age 40, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Ford Explorer insurance premiums compared to other makes and models that have a range of risk factors.
Liability risk factors – Your insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in if ever you are determined to be liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Location can influence price – Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas is a good thing when it comes to insurance. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and lower theft and vandalism rates. City drivers have more auto accidents and a longer drive to work. More time commuting means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
Married drivers get better costs – Having a spouse may earn you lower rates when buying insurance. Having a spouse may mean you are more stable financially and insurance companies reward insureds because married couples file fewer claims.
Insurance policy lapses lead to higher premiums – Having an insurance coverage lapse is a quick way to increase your renewal premiums. Not only will you pay higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you fines or a revoked license. You may have to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Nebraska motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Multi-policy discounts can save money – Some companies will give lower prices to customers who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, consumers should still compare other company rates to guarantee you are still saving the most.
Rates increase with driving citations – Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Attentive drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers unfortunate enough to have serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may face state-mandated requirements to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
The example below demonstrates how speeding tickets and accident claims increase Ford Explorer car insurance costs for different age groups. The data assumes a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Vehicle theft costs us all – Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your premiums. Systems that thwart thieves like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
Ford Explorer insurance loss statistics – Car insurance companies analyze historical claim data to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Vehicles that historically have higher losses will have a higher premium rate.
The data below shows the historical insurance loss data for Ford Explorer vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles combined as an average is represented as 100. Values under 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers that are greater than 100 show a trend for more claims or larger claims.
Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ford Explorer 4dr 2WD | 80 | 90 | 79 | 75 | 70 | 82 |
Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD | 94 | 94 | 97 | 75 | 70 | 85 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Ford Explorer insurance rate analysis
The coverage information displayed below showcases a range of coverage prices for Ford Explorer models. Having a better idea how prices are established can be of help when making informed purchases.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explorer XLT 2WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,048 | $87 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,048 | $87 |
Explorer XLT 4WD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,048 | $87 |
Explorer XLT AWD | $258 | $382 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,048 | $87 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $292 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,166 | $97 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $292 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,166 | $97 |
Explorer Limited 2WD | $292 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,166 | $97 |
Explorer Limited 4WD | $292 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,166 | $97 |
Explorer Limited AWD | $292 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,166 | $97 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in Omaha location which can change coverage rates significantly.
Physical damage deductible comparison
When buying auto insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The tables below can help illustrate the differences in price of buying low and high physical damage deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explorer XLT 2WD | $232 | $320 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $985 | $82 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $232 | $320 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $985 | $82 |
Explorer XLT 4WD | $232 | $320 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $985 | $82 |
Explorer XLT AWD | $232 | $320 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $985 | $82 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
Explorer Limited 2WD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
Explorer Limited 4WD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
Explorer Limited AWD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explorer XLT 2WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Explorer XLT 4WD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Explorer XLT AWD | $188 | $258 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $854 | $71 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $212 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $934 | $78 |
Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $212 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $934 | $78 |
Explorer Limited 2WD | $212 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $934 | $78 |
Explorer Limited 4WD | $212 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $934 | $78 |
Explorer Limited AWD | $212 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $934 | $78 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Nebraska minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in Omaha location which can decrease or increase coverage prices greatly.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $11 more each month or $132 each year across all Ford Explorer models than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $250 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at least 23 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you opt for a higher deductible.
Calculate savings of higher deductibles
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $86 |
Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $75 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $11 |
Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $11 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 23 months |
One important caveat is that a higher deductible results in having to pay to pay more out-of-pocket when you have a claim. You need some money saved in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
The information below shows how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease Ford Explorer annual premium costs for different categories of driver ages. The premiums assume a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Comparison of auto insurance rates by gender
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance rates for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on a clean driving record, no claims, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only in Omaha
The example below illustrates the difference between Ford Explorer annual premium costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The premiums are based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to buy liability coverage only
There is no definitive formula to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Ford Explorer replacement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premiums are more than $300 annually for physical damage coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Ford Explorer insurance discounts in Omaha
Some companies do not list every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Own a Home – Just being a homeowner can save a few bucks due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
- Paperless Signup – A handful of companies provide a small discount for buying a policy and signing up on the internet.
- Pay Early and Save – By paying your entire bill at once instead of paying each month you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Good Grades Discount – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up to age 25.
- Drive Safe and Save – Accident-free drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates compared to accident prone drivers.
As a sidenote, some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, nobody gets a free ride.
The example below shows the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance costs with and without discounts applied. The price estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Nebraska state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, multi-car, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.
To see car insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Nebraska, click this link.
Get the best coverage at the lowest price
As you prepare to switch companies, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, an insured dropped liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to buy enough coverage at the best possible price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
In this article, we covered a lot of ways to get a better price on Ford Explorer insurance in Omaha. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive Omaha car insurance quotes. You may even discover the best rates are with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies often have lower car insurance rates on specific markets compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.
Some companies do not offer internet price quotes and these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agents. Cost effective Ford Explorer insurance is available on the web and also from your neighborhood Omaha agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis.
Much more information about insurance in Nebraska can be read at these links:
- Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Equinox in Omaha? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Nissan Rogue in Omaha? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Omaha Auto Insurance for Postal Workers? (FAQ)
- Insuring a Leased Car (Insurance Information Institute)
- Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)