Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance Rate Quotes in Oakland

No one in their right mind likes buying auto insurance, especially when they are paying too much.

It’s an obvious conclusion that car insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. People who shop around for cheaper price quotes are highly likely to buy a new policy because they have a good chance of finding coverage at a more affordable price. A recent survey revealed that people who compared price quotes annually saved over $70 a month as compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.

If finding the cheapest price on auto insurance is the reason for your visit, then learning a little about how to find and compare auto insurance can help simplify the process.

How to quote cheaper Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Oakland

It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get discount car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from companies who sell auto insurance in Oakland. Prices can be compared by following these guidelines.

Step 1: Try to understand how auto insurance works and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unfavorable credit rating can be improved by paying attention to minor details.

Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple companies. Start a quote

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

One thing to point out is to try to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and a thorough selection of prices.

Due to the increasing number of companies to choose from that have lower-cost insurance for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac in Oakland, it can be hard to choose the best insurer.

Insurance data for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The price information below highlights estimates of insurance policy prices for Ford Explorer Sport Trac models. Being more informed about how car insurance premiums are formulated is important for you to make smart buying decisions.

Price data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in your specific Oakland location which can decrease or increase auto insurance rates significantly.

Where to set your deductibles

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for insurance is which deductible level should you buy. The premium rates below can help you visualize how much more rates are of buying low and high comp and collision deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in specific location which can decrease or increase prices greatly.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs an average of $41 more each month or $492 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at least 22 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose a higher deductible. The table below illustrates the way you can do this calculation yourself.

One important issue to know is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket at claim time. You will want to have some money saved in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.

Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies

The illustration below shows the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac premium 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, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.

When to stop buying full coverage

There is no set guideline of when to stop paying for full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is about 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s say your Ford Explorer Sport Trac settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $3,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing you more than $300 a year to have full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

There are some conditions where only buying liability is not a good idea. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not drop full coverage.

Oakland Insurance Costs are Influenced by These Factors

Many things are used when quoting car insurance. Some factors are common sense such as your driving record, but others are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your commute time.

Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” used by companies to determine your prices.

• Decrease rates by maintaining coverage – Driving your car without having proper coverage is not a good idea and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance expire. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
• Poor credit can mean higher prices – An insured’s credit history can be an important factor in determining what you pay. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your Ford Explorer Sport Trac if you improve your credit rating.
• Discounts for alarm systems – Buying a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you some money. Theft deterrent systems such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all hinder car theft and help bring rates down.

• The type of vehicle makes a difference – The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in your car insurance bill. Smaller low performance passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

  The following chart uses these variables: married female driver age 50, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Ford Explorer Sport Trac policy rates compared to other models that have different performance risks.

Best car insurance in Oakland

Insuring your vehicle with the best car insurance provider can be rather challenging considering how many companies are available to choose from in Oakland. The company rank data shown next can help you pick which providers to look at shopping prices with.

Top 10 Oakland Car Insurance Companies Overall

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. AAA of Southern California
4. State Farm
5. The Hartford
6. AAA Insurance
7. GEICO
8. The General
9. Titan Insurance
10. Progressive

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

Budget-friendly insurance in Oakland can be sourced both online as well as from insurance agents, so get free Oakland car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies only sell through independent agents.

Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, questionable increases in premium, poor customer service or even delays in responding to claim requests. Whatever your reason, finding the right insurance provider is not as difficult as it may seem.

We just covered a lot of ways to lower your Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates in Oakland. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher your chance of finding cheaper Oakland car insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced insurance comes from a small mutual company.

Steps to buying lower priced Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Oakland

If you want to save the most money, the best way to find affordable Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Oakland is to start doing a yearly price comparison from providers who sell insurance in California.

First, read about coverages and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic violations, accidents, and an unacceptable credit rating can be eliminated by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.

Second, obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can provide price quotes for a wide range of companies.

Third, compare the new quotes to your existing rates to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate quote, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

An important bit of advice to remember is that you use the same level of coverage on each price quote and and to look at as many companies as possible. This ensures a fair price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.

More tips and info about insurance can be read at these sites:

• A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for a Subaru Impreza in Oakland? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Oakland Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers? (FAQ)
• Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)