Cheap 2003 Ford Escort Insurance Quotes

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Because there are so many choices, it is very difficult to find the right provider.

Finding the best rates is not that difficult. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using this information. But drivers should learn how the larger insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.

Parts of the Ford Escort rate equation

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • Increase deductibles and save – Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your Ford. Examples of covered claims could be collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be on Escort coverage.
  • Always keep insurance in force – Allowing your car insurance policy to lapse is a sure-fire way to increase your car insurance rates. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with your state DMV.
  • Big city or small town – Living in a small town can save you money when talking about car insurance. City drivers regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Safer cars cost less to insure – Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates. If your Ford Escort has ratings of a minimum an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website you may qualify for a discount.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment – Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping car theft.
  • Protect yourself with liability coverage – The liability section of your policy will protect you when you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Traffic violations increase rates – Even a single moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 form with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • Older drivers pay less – Teen drivers tend to get distracted easily when driving so car insurance rates are higher. Adding a teen driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.

Compare the Market for Insurance Coverage

To find the best insurance coverage prices, there are several ways to compare rate quotes and find the best price. The fastest way to find the lowest 2003 Ford Escort rates is to get quotes online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

  1. The most efficient way to find the lowest comparison rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. Completing one form gets you price quotes from multiple low-cost companies.
  2. A harder way to get comparison quotes is to manually visit the website for each individual company to request a price quote. For example, let’s assume you want to compare Auto-Owners, GEICO and Progressive. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

It’s up to you which method you use, but ensure you’re using apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If the quotes have different deductibles it will be very difficult to find the best deal for your Ford Escort. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

Save on 2003 Ford Escort insurance

Car insurance companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find insurance coverage savings.

  • Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Student in College – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Multi-car Discount – Insuring more than one vehicle on the same insurance coverage policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% on Escort coverage depending on your company.
  • Paperwork-free – A few companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application digitally online.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of providers with discount insurance coverage rates, click here.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if your situation might need professional guidance.

  • What exactly is covered by my policy?
  • Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
  • Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Car insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of a auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the normal coverages available from auto insurance companies.

Insurance for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for bills for hospital visits, chiropractic care and nursing services. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability auto insurance

Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other 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. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which means a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability coverage protects against things such as medical expenses, loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, theft, a broken windshield and falling objects. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Ford Escort.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Collision protection

Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers things like driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, crashing into a ditch and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.

More quotes mean more savings

We’ve covered a lot of information how to shop for 2003 Ford Escort insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a small local company. They may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

Low-cost insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

For more information, link through to these articles: