How to Compare Baltimore Ford Edge Insurance

Ford Edge insurance image courtesy of QuoteInspector.com

If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to find low-cost prices for car insurance rates is to begin comparing prices regularly from providers in Baltimore. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.

First, take a few minutes and learn about how your policy works and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many rating factors that result in higher rates like accidents, traffic tickets, and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Later in this article we will cover additional ideas to get cheaper coverage and get discounts that may be available to you.

Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.

Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and switch companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is to try to compare identical deductibles and limits on every price quote and and to get prices from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and the best price selection.

A study showed that most car insurance buyers kept buying from the same company for over three years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never even compared quotes to find cheap rates. With the average premium in Maryland being $1,490, drivers could save themselves 55% a year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don't grasp the benefits if they switched to a cheaper policy.

Comparison shopping for the most affordable coverage in Baltimore is not as difficult as people think. Just about everyone who carries auto insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. But Maryland car owners do need to understand the methods companies use to determine how much to charge.

Just remember that comparing all the rates in your area helps improve the odds of finding more affordable rates.

The companies in the list below are ready to provide quotes in Baltimore, MD. If you want the best car insurance in Baltimore, MD, it's a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.

Car insurance analysis for a Ford Edge

The information displayed below covers estimates of rate quotes for Ford Edge models. Learning as much as possible about how car insurance premiums are established is important for you to make smart choices when choosing a car insurance company.

Price data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can change price quotes substantially.

Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?

One frequently asked question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The following insurance rates may help to illustrate the rate fluctuation of buying low and high deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can modify auto insurance rates noticeably.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $40 more each month or $480 annually than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you have at least 23 months between claims, you would probably save some money by going with a higher deductible.

The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels and can increase or decrease Ford Edge insurance costs for each age group. The costs are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Should you buy full coverage?

The information below illustrates the difference between Ford Edge premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Maryland. The costs are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Should you be buying full coverage?

There isn't a steadfast formula to stop buying full coverage, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle's replacement cost less your deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

For example, let's assume your Ford Edge replacement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company would pay you is $4,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premiums are more than $400 annually for full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

There are some cases where only buying liability is not recommended. If you haven't satisfied your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not drop full coverage.

Insuring your Ford vehicle just makes sense

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Ford Edge in Baltimore, auto insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.

First, most states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability in order to license the vehicle. In Maryland these limits are 30/60/15 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you have a lien on your Edge, almost every bank will make it a condition of the loan that you have insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank will be required to insure your Ford for a lot more money and require you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.

Third, insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your assets. Insurance will pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you have damage to your Ford as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of buying auto insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, particularly for liability claims. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is overpaying more than $855 a year so we recommend shopping around every year to make sure the price is not too high.

Car insurance policy discounts you can't miss

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may be missing some discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but occasionally some discounts must be inquired about before you get the savings.

• Air Bag Discount - Options like air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
• Sign Early and Save - Some insurance companies provide a discount for signing up prior to your current Edge insurance policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
• Seat Belts Save - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save a little on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Good Driver Discount - Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
• Anti-theft Discount - Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems are stolen with less frequency and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Telematics Devices - Policyholders that allow their company to spy on driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle like Allstate's Drivewise might get better premium rates if their driving habits are good.

You can save money using discounts, but some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free car insurance policy, insurance companies wouldn't stay in business.

The example below shows the difference between Ford Edge auto insurance rates with and without policy discounts. Data assumes a male driver, no claims or driving violations, Maryland state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and marriage discounts applied.

A list of car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.

• Farm Bureau may have discounts that include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe driver, driver training, 55 and retired, and good student.
• MetLife offers discounts for good student, multi-policy, accident-free, defensive driver, good driver, claim-free
• Progressive offers discounts including multi-policy, continuous coverage, online quote discount, good student, and online signing.
• AAA discounts include multi-car, anti-theft, multi-policy, AAA membership discount, good driver, and education and occupation.
• American Family policyholders can earn discounts including multi-vehicle, bundled insurance, defensive driver, early bird, and Steer into Savings.
• GEICO offers premium reductions for military active duty, multi-policy, anti-lock brakes, multi-vehicle, and good student.
• State Farm has savings for passive restraint, good driver, multiple autos, good student, and Drive Safe & Save.

Before buying, ask all companies you are considering to apply every possible discount. Discounts may not apply to policies in Baltimore. To find car insurance companies with the best discounts in Baltimore, follow this link.

Get rate quotes but still have a local Baltimore insurance agency

A small number of people would prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that can be a great decision A nice benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the best rates and also buy local. And buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Baltimore.

After filling out this short form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Baltimore who will gladly provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You don't have to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent immediately to you. It's the lowest rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from a specific car insurance provider, you can always find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.

Different types of Baltimore auto insurance agents

When narrowing the list to find a reliable insurance agency, there are two different types of agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Baltimore are classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.

Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers

Agents that elect to be independent are appointed with more than one company so they can insure your vehicles with an assortment of companies and find you the best rates. If prices rise, your policy is moved internally which makes it simple for you. If you are comparing rate quotes, you will want to check rates from several independent agencies to get the most accurate price comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Baltimore who may provide free car insurance rate quotes.

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Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies

Exclusive insurance agents can usually just insure with one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company's prices so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agents are well trained in insurance sales which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Baltimore who can help you get comparison quotes.

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Deciding on an auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the quoted price. You should also get answers to these questions.

• How experienced are they in personal risk management?
• How will an accident affect your rates?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
• What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?

Once you have received good responses for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that is reputable and can service your policy. But keep in mind you are able to cancel your policy at any time so don't think that you are obligated to any specific agency for a certain time period.

Learn about auto insurance coverages for a Ford Edge

Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. These are typical coverages offered by auto insurance companies.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants from other drivers when they are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle's damage.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (Maryland limits are 30/60/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are set the same as your liability limits.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as theft, hail damage and hitting a deer. The maximum payout a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as doctor visits, dental work, rehabilitation expenses, surgery and nursing services. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Auto liability

Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 30/60/15 which means a limit of $30,000 per injured person, a total of $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $15,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things like attorney fees, loss of income, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Maryland state law requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/15 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.

The next chart demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be adequate.

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage covers damage to your Edge caused by collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims like scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your Edge to get cheaper collision coverage.

Shop smart and save

When shopping online for car insurance, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost, but don't skip important coverages to save money.

We've covered some good ideas how to shop for Ford Edge insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest Ford Edge rate quotes. Consumers may even find the lowest prices come from an unexpected company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

Additional resources

• Information for Teen Drivers (GEICO)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for First-time Drivers in Baltimore? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Uber Drivers in Baltimore? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a School Permit in Baltimore? (FAQ)
• Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
• New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Credit Impacts Car Insurance Rates (State Farm)
• Neck Injury FAQ (iihs.org)