Has it been over a year since you last compared quotes for low-cost insurance rates in Fort Wayne, IN? Fort Wayne drivers have many options when trying to find affordable Ford Explorer insurance. They can either waste time contacting agents to compare prices or utilize the internet to compare rates.
There are both good and bad ways to buy insurance and you need to know the quickest way to quote coverages on a Ford and obtain the best price possible either online or from Fort Wayne insurance agents.
It’s shocking but most insurance policyholders have been with the same company for more than four years, and about 40% of consumers have never compared rates to find cheap insurance. The average driver in Indiana could cut their rates by almost 55% a year, but they don’t invest the time required to compare rate quotes online.
If you have a current insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, follow these tips to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. This article’s intent is to tell you the most effective way to quote insurance. You just have to use the fastest way to compare different rates from many different companies online.
Don’t overlook these ten Ford Explorer insurance discounts
Insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but you can get discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some insurance carriers give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- One Accident Forgiven – Not really a discount, but companies like Allstate, State Farm and GEICO will turn a blind eye to one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a specific time period.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds with no claims or accidents have much lower rates when compared to bad drivers.
- Paper-free Discount – Some of the larger companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks shop Fort Wayne auto insurance on your computer.
- Data Collection Discounts – People who choose to allow driving data collection to spy on driving habits remotely such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive could see a rate decrease if they have good driving habits.
- Driver Training Discounts – Completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Driver Education Discount – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers take driver’s ed class in school.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Buying insurance on a new vehicle is cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Early Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you can avoid monthly service charges.
As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, that’s just not realistic.
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, Indiana state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer include:
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including good driver, multiple autos, passive restraint, accident-free, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- American Family has discounts for Steer into Savings, TimeAway discount, accident-free, air bags, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, and good driver.
- AAA offers discounts including good driver, pay-in-full, good student, education and occupation, and AAA membership discount.
- GEICO may offer discounts for driver training, five-year accident-free, membership and employees, anti-lock brakes, good student, military active duty, and emergency military deployment.
- Mercury Insurance discounts include accident-free, ease of repair, good student, good driver, professional/association, multi-car, and location of vehicle.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts for youthful driver, homeowner, distant student, switch companies, teen driver, and alternative fuel.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for continuous coverage, online quote discount, homeowner, online signing, and good student.
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies to give you their best rates. Savings might not be offered in Fort Wayne. To locate insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in Indiana, click here to view.
All major car insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate give price estimates direct online. Getting quotes for Ford Explorer insurance in Fort Wayne is pretty painless as all you need to do is type in your personal and coverage information into the quote form. After the form is submitted, their rating system will order your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information based on the data you entered.
Getting online quotes for Ford Explorer insurance in Fort Wayne makes it easy to compare insurance prices and it’s absolutely necessary to compare as many rates as possible in order to get the cheapest possible prices on car insurance.
To find out what other companies charge, consider comparing rates from the companies shown below. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you replicate coverages and limits identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you are getting a price comparison using the exact same coverages.
The companies shown below offer free quotes in Fort Wayne, IN. If you want cheap auto insurance in Indiana, we suggest you compare several of them to get the best price comparison.
Ford Explorer insurance coverage information
The premium information displayed below outlines a range of insurance premium costs for Ford Explorer models. Knowing how insurance prices are determined is important for drivers to make informed decisions when comparing rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer XLT 2WD | $136 | $202 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $698 | $58 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $136 | $202 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $698 | $58 |
| Explorer XLT 4WD | $136 | $202 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $698 | $58 |
| Explorer XLT AWD | $136 | $202 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $698 | $58 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $154 | $244 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $758 | $63 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $154 | $244 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $758 | $63 |
| Explorer Limited 2WD | $154 | $244 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $758 | $63 |
| Explorer Limited 4WD | $154 | $244 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $758 | $63 |
| Explorer Limited AWD | $154 | $244 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $758 | $63 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Indiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in specific garaging location which can affect auto insurance rates considerably.
Male drivers compared to female drivers in Fort Wayne
The example below shows the difference between Ford Explorer auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no claims or driving citations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage or liability only
The example below shows the comparison of Ford Explorer insurance premiums with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The premiums are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to switch to liability coverage only
There is no specific rule of when to exclude full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Ford Explorer book value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $3,000 after the deductible is paid. If it’s costing in excess of $300 annually for full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not financially feasible. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not eliminate full coverage.
How to know if you need help
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
- Does every company file a SR-22 automatically?
- What are the best liability limits?
- How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?
- Am I covered if I back into my garage door?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
- Is my teenager covered with friends in the car?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Do I need a local insurance agent?
Some people just want to go talk to an agent and we recommend doing that Good agents will help you protect your assets and will help you if you have claims. A good thing about comparing rates online is the fact that drivers can get better rates and still have a local agent. And supporting local agents is important especially in Fort Wayne.
Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance data gets sent to insurance agents in Fort Wayne that can provide free Fort Wayne auto insurance quotes to get your business. There is no reason to visit any agencies since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. In the event you want to quote rates from one company in particular, you just need to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
Different types of auto insurance agents in Fort Wayne
When searching for a local insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies from which to choose. Fort Wayne agents are categorized either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference in the companies they write for because it may have an impact on which type of agent you select.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by one company and that is an advantage because they can write policies through lots of different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If prices rise, they can switch companies in-house which makes it simple for you.
If you are trying to find cheaper rates, we recommend you contact a couple of independent agencies to maximize your price options. Most also write with small mutual carriers who may have lower rates.
Shown below is a small list of independent agents in Fort Wayne that can give you free price quotes.
- Wise Insurance Agency
7410 Bluffton Rd – Fort Wayne, IN 46809 – (260) 747-5373 – View Map - Northern Insurance
7113 W Jefferson Blvd – Fort Wayne, IN 46804 – (260) 969-5613 – View Map - PMG Agency
3711 Rupp Dr #103 – Fort Wayne, IN 46835 – (260) 436-9669 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can usually just insure with one company such as State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. They are unable to shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on what they offer which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. A lot of people choose to use an exclusive agent partially due to high brand loyalty rather than low rates.
The following are Fort Wayne exclusive agents willing to provide price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Jay Raj
702 W Coliseum Blvd d – Fort Wayne, IN 46808 – (260) 484-5577 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: Kevin Gwozdz
5721 Covington Rd – Fort Wayne, IN 46804 – (260) 436-2866 – View Map - Kent Paul – State Farm Insurance Agent
1505 W Dupont Rd – Fort Wayne, IN 46825 – (260) 478-2222 – View Map
Selecting a auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a cheap quote. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Does their agency support local causes in Fort Wayne?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
Why you need car insurance
Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford Explorer in Fort Wayne, buying car insurance may be required for several reasons.
First, the majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific limits of liability protection in order to drive the car legally. In Indiana these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if your vehicle has a loan, most lenders will require you to have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank will be required to insure your Ford for a lot more money and require you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
Third, car insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your assets. It will also reimburse you for hospital and medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your Explorer greatly outweigh the cost, especially with large liability claims. But the average driver in Indiana is wasting up to $810 a year so compare quotes from several companies each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Information about specific coverages
Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average insurance policy.
Collision coverage – This coverage pays for damage to your Explorer resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers things such as damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible on your Explorer to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things like a broken windshield, hitting a bird, rock chips in glass, damage from a tornado or hurricane and falling objects. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for funeral costs, dental work and X-ray expenses. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Liability insurance – This can cover damage that occurs to people or other property by causing an accident. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/10 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against things such as structural damage, loss of income, pain and suffering and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford. Indiana state minimum liability requirements are 25/50/10 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The illustration below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Insurance savings summarized
When shopping online for insurance, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. Too many times, someone dropped physical damage coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Cheaper Ford Explorer insurance in Fort Wayne is attainable on the web and from local agencies, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not provide rates over the internet and most of the time these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through independent agencies.
Steps to finding lower priced Ford Explorer insurance in Fort Wayne
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to get more affordable auto insurance rates in Fort Wayne is to compare quotes annually from providers who provide auto insurance in Indiana. You can compare rates by completing these steps.
First, try to learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the measures you can take to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as at-fault accidents and an unacceptable credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Second, obtain price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give prices from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes for many different companies.
Third, compare the price quotes to your existing rates and determine if cheaper Explorer coverage is available. If you find a lower rate quote, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
One tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare similar deductibles and liability limits on every price quote and to quote with every company you can. This helps ensure the most accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Additional information
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in Fort Wayne? (FAQ)
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)