Lower Your 2001 Ford Focus Insurance Rates

Trying to find cheaper insurance coverage rates for your Ford Focus? Nobody I know looks forward to buying insurance coverage, especially knowing the cost is way too high.

There are many insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to adequately compare rates.

Discounts mean cheaper Ford Focus insurance rates

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but less common discounts must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

  • Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive better insurance rates on Focus coverage.
  • Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared with frequent claim filers.
  • Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Ford could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
  • Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

Insurance companies that possibly offer some of the above discounts include:

Double check with all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. Discounts might not apply everywhere.

How to Compare Insurance Costs

All major insurance companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO quote price estimates directly from their websites. Getting online rates is fairly simple as you simply enter the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their system gets information on your driving record and credit history and gives you a price quote based on many factors. Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time it takes to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s very important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to find the lowest insurance rates.

The easy way to compare rates

A quicker way to lower your rates uses one simple form to return rates from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. As soon as the form is sent, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the quotes that you receive.

If you find a better price you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. It only takes a few minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To quickly use this form to compare rates, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you complete the form with the limits and deductibles as close as possible to your current policy. Doing this assures you will have a price comparison using the same coverage and limits.

Complexity of Ford Focus insurance rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. Marriage means you’re more mature and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Don’t skimp on liability – Liability coverage is the protection if a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save – Some insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as doctors, social workers and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates attributed to stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations such as scientists, students and performers have the lowest average rates on Focus coverage.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions can aid in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • How do I buy GAP insurance?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
  • Who is covered when they drive my 2001 Ford Focus?
  • What is PIP insurance?
  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • What is roadside assistance coverage?
  • How can I force my company to pay a claim?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Save $474 a year. For real?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all make the same claim of big savings if you change your coverage to them. How do they all make the same claim?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will be charged more money and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

That is why it’s extremely important to get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest Ford Focus insurance rates.

Insurance coverages explained

Understanding the coverages of insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are the normal coverages found on most insurance policies.

Coverage for liability – Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage pays for things like emergency aid, loss of income, attorney fees and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Focus from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers things like sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox, crashing into a ditch, driving through your garage door and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

UM/UIM Coverage – This provides protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Ford Focus.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Frequently these limits are set the same as your liablity limits.

Medical costs insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills for rehabilitation expenses, nursing services, doctor visits and prosthetic devices. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision – This pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hail damage, theft, rock chips in glass and hitting a bird. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Knowledge is power

The cheapest 2001 Ford Focus insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read a lot of ways to reduce insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

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