2008 Ford Expedition Insurance Rates – 5 Tricks for Best Quotes

Feeling guilty for buying high-priced car insurance? Don’t feel bad because you’re not alone. Vehicle owners have so many insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to locate the cheapest rates.

The purpose of this post is to introduce you to how car insurance quotes work. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. Drivers just need to learn the best way to compare prices online.

Car insurance discounts help slash rates

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the next list breaks down both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits that you can use to lower your rates. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are not getting the best rate possible.

• Accident Free – Claim-free drivers have much lower rates when compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Active or retired federal employment could provide a small rate reduction for Expedition insurance with a few car insurance companies.
• Discounts for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new can cost up to 25% less since newer vehicles are generally safer.
• Senior Citizen Discount – Older drivers can get a discount up to 10% for Expedition insurance.
• Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Options like air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.

Don’t be shocked that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.

Popular car insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.

• Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including pay in full, business and professional, electronic funds transfer, mature driver, and homeowner.
• Esurance offers premium reductions for anti-theft, good driver, DriveSense, renters, online quote, and defensive driver.
• State Farm includes discounts for good driver, good student, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, and safe vehicle.
• Geico may include discounts for multi-vehicle, multi-policy, seat belt use, membership and employees, emergency military deployment, anti-lock brakes, and military active duty.
• Allstate has savings for good student, early signing, teenSMART discount, economy car, EZ pay plan discount, and eSmart discount.

When getting a coverage quote, ask each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits may not be available in your state. To view insurers with significant discounts, click this link.

Which is the best auto insurance?

When it comes to choosing coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you may require specific advice.

• Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
• Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
• When should I remove comp and collision on my 2008 Ford Expedition?
• Do I need higher collision deductibles?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
• Is my Ford Expedition covered if I use it for business?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Big brands don’t always mean big savings

Consumers can’t get away from ads that claim the cheapest car insurance rates by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the ads have a common claim that drivers will save a bundle just by moving your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? Here is how they do it.

All companies have specific characteristics for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable risk profile may be a mature driver, has other policies, and chooses high deductibles. Anyone who matches that profile will probably get cheap premium rates and will also cut their rates if they switch.

Potential customers who do not meet these criteria may be forced to pay higher premiums which translates to the customer buying from a different company. The ads state “people who switch” not “everyone who quotes” can save as much as they claim. That is how insurance companies can confidently make claims that they all have the best premium rates.

Because of these techniques, you absolutely need to do a quote comparison often. It’s impossible to know which insurance company will be your best fit.

Auto insurance coverage information

Learning about specific coverages of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the normal coverages offered by insurance companies.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from a tornado or hurricane and fire damage. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Auto collision coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your Expedition caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for things like EMT expenses, pain medications, dental work, X-ray expenses and funeral costs. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Ford Expedition.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Liability car insurance

This can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against claims like bail bonds, emergency aid and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

The bottom line

As you quote insurance coverage, make sure you don’t reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that they should have had better coverage. Your objective should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.

Lower-priced insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent insurance agents.

Other learning opportunities

• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)
• Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
• Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)