Save Money on Ford Flex Insurance in Tampa

Sadly, most auto insurance customers have remained with the same auto insurance company for more than four years, and 38% of drivers have never shopped around. The average driver in Florida could cut their rates by as much as $1,130 a year by just shopping around, but they don’t believe how much savings they would realize if they switched to a more affordable policy.

To save the most money, the best way to get cheaper auto insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers who provide auto insurance in Tampa. This can be done by following these guidelines.

• Step 1: Try to learn a little about how companies set rates and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many risk factors that increase rates such as speeding and poor credit can be amended by being financially responsible and driving safely.
• Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices for many different companies. Compare rates now
• Step 3: Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy and determine if cheaper Flex coverage is available. If you find a better price and buy the policy, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.

A crucial key to this process is to try to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and to quote with all possible companies. This enables a level playing field and a complete price analysis.

The purpose of this post is to let you in on the most effective ways to compare rates and some money-saving tips. If you’re already insured, you stand a good chance to be able to find the best rates using the following tips. Nevertheless, Florida vehicle owners do need to learn how companies price insurance differently and apply this information to your search.

Tampa auto insurance discounts

Some insurance providers don’t always publicize all possible discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the list below contains some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Tampa car insurance online.

• Safety Restraint Discount – Forcing all vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts can save 10% or more off the medical payments premium.
• Active Service Discounts – Being on active deployment in the military could be rewarded with lower rates.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Maintaining low annual mileage can qualify you for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
• Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
• Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a home in Tampa can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home is proof of financial responsibility.
• Cautious Driver Discount – Insureds who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
• Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may have a lower total premium amount.
• E-sign – Some insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.

Discounts save money, but please remember that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. But all discounts will definitely reduce your overall premium however.

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Ford Flex insurance costs with and without discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, no claims, a clean driving record, Florida state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.

To see a list of providers that offer some of these discounts in Tampa, follow this link.

To find the best insurance quotes, there are several ways to compare rate quotes from all the different companies. The fastest way to compare Ford Flex insurance prices consists of shopping online.

Just keep in mind that comparing more rates from different companies provides better odds of finding the best price. Some smaller insurers do not give Tampa Flex insurance quotes over the internet, so you should also compare rates from them as well.

The companies in the list below are our best choices to provide price quotes in Florida. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.

Rates and other information

The data table below outlines estimates of insurance coverage prices for Ford Flex models. Having insight into how policy rates are figured can assist in making informed decisions.

Cost estimates assume married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in garaging location in Tampa which can impact rates greatly.

Analysis of deductible levels

When buying insurance, a common question is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The premium rates below show the differences in price when you select higher and lower physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 deductible and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in your specific Tampa location which can influence price quotes substantially.

Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $33 more each month or $396 a year across all Ford Flex models than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at least 23 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money by going with a higher deductible.

An important sidenote is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you pay more out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. You need to make sure you have some savings in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.

Comparison of insurance rates by gender and age in Tampa

The chart below compares Ford Flex insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no violations or accidents, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Situations that may require an agent’s advice

When it comes to the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed.
For instance, these questions can aid in determining if your situation may require specific advice.

• What does medical payments cover?
• Does insurance cover tools stolen from my truck?
• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
• Is my camper covered for physical damage?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Insurance agent or online?

Many drivers just prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a smart decision The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent. And providing support for local agencies is definitely important in Tampa.

After filling out this quick form, the quote information is submitted to agents in your area who will give competitive quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to contact any agents since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates without a big time investment. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific auto insurance provider, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

Choosing the best provider shouldn’t rely on just the quoted price. Here are some questions you might want to ask.

• How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
• Does their agency support local causes in Tampa?
• What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
• If you have an accident, will your rates go up?

Florida auto insurance companies

Ending up with the top insurance provider can be challenging considering how many choices there are in Tampa. The ranking data listed below can help you select which companies you want to consider comparing rate quotes with.

Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service

1. Travelers
2. Nationwide
3. Allstate
4. State Farm
5. Liberty Mutual
6. GEICO
7. American Family
8. Esurance
9. Titan Insurance
10. AAA Insurance

Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value

1. Mercury Insurance
2. Travelers
3. American Family
4. AAA Insurance
5. Safeco Insurance
6. Progressive
7. The Hartford
8. The General
9. 21st Century
10. Esurance

Auto insurance coverage specifics

Learning about specific coverages of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (10/20/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liability limits.

Liability insurance – This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 10/20/10 which means $10,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see a combined limit which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage protects against claims like pain and suffering, repair costs for stationary objects, structural damage and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Florida state minimum liability requirements are 10/20/10 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

The next chart shows why minimum state limits may not be enough.

Collision – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers things like scraping a guard rail, hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree, hitting a parking meter and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible on your Flex to save money on collision insurance.

Medical expense insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for immediate expenses such as EMT expenses, chiropractic care and ambulance fees. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things like vandalism, fire damage, hitting a bird and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

More effort can pay off

When you buy Tampa car insurance online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to find cheaper Ford Flex insurance in Tampa. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest priced insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like State Farm, GEICO and Nationwide.

Additional resources

• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Young Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Company Car in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Tampa Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Bad Credit in Tampa? (FAQ)
• How Much is Car Insurance for Felons in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Tampa Car Insurance for Welfare Recipients? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Uninsured Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
• What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Fusion in Tampa? (FAQ)
• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)