2003 Ford Expedition Car Insurance Rates

Finding the most affordable insurance coverage on the internet can be problematic for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. With dozens of insurers to choose from, how can you have a chance to compare them all to find the lowest rates?

Consumers should take time to compare rates yearly because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal on Expedition coverage a few years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. There is a lot of wrong information about insurance coverage on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some tested techniques to quit paying high insurance coverage rates.

How to Get Car Insurance Comparison Quotes

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes and find the best price. The simplest method to find the lowest 2003 Ford Expedition rates is to get quotes online. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The single most time-saving way to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating boring form submissions for every car insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets rate comparisons from car insurance companies with the best prices. It’s the fastest way to compare.
  2. A less efficient way to analyze rates consists of visiting each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we’ll pretend you want rates from Farmers, Progressive and American Family. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
  3. The least recommended way of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to different agent offices. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional guidance of a local agent. However, consumers can comparison shop your insurance online but still have the advice of a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using identical coverage information for each comparison quote. If each company quotes differing limits then you won’t be able to decipher which rate is best. Having just a slight variation in coverages can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Don’t pay full price with these discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before you will receive the discount.

  • Defensive Driver – Taking a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Ford could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Resident Student – Kids in college living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
  • Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies who offer insurance discounts, click here.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • Am I covered if I break a side mirror?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my 2003 Ford Expedition is totaled?
  • Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
  • How much can I save by bundling my policies?
  • Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
  • Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Lesser-known factors impacting Ford Expedition insurance rates

It’s important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into premiums.

  • How’s your driving record? – Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
  • More miles equals more premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. An improperly rated Expedition can result in significantly higher rates. Verify your car insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Males pay more for insurance – Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount – Many insurers will award you with lower prices to policyholders who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount you still need to compare rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Having an insurance coverage lapse is a fast way to pay more for car insurance. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.You may have to file a SR-22 with your state DMV.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind – Liability insurance provides coverage if ever you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Higher deductibles cost less – Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your Ford from damage. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more expense you have to pay, the lower your rates will be on Expedition coverage.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates – Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.

Insurance ads bend the truth

Insurance companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you move your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured could be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don’t meet the requirements must pay higher premiums and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest Ford Expedition insurance rates.

Specific coverages for a 2003 Ford Expedition

Learning about specific coverages of insurance can help you determine the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Liability coverages

Liability coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $25,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as pain and suffering, attorney fees and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for expenses like X-ray expenses, funeral costs, prosthetic devices, surgery and pain medications. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This provides protection from other drivers when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Ford Expedition.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like a broken windshield, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding, vandalism and hitting a bird. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Auto collision coverage

This coverage covers damage to your Expedition resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for things like driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

A little work can save a LOT of money

As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Cheap 2003 Ford Expedition insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like policy non-renewal, high prices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.

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