Finding cheaper coverage rates for Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte can seem to be difficult for drivers new to quoting coverage prices online. You have so many choices that it can be a real hassle to find the best coverage rates.
Steps to finding better rates for Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte
The recommended way to get cheaper Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte is to start comparing prices regularly from companies in North Carolina. Price quotes can be compared by following these steps.
First, get a basic knowledge of the coverage provided by your policy and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many factors that cause rate increases like high-risk driving behaviors and an unacceptable credit rating can be improved by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Second, compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
Third, compare the new quotes to your existing coverage to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
Fourth, provide written notification to your current company to cancel the current policy. Submit a down payment along with a signed application for the new coverage. Once received, keep the new certificate verifying proof of insurance somewhere easily accessible.
One important bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing similar limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as possible. Doing this ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
It’s a known fact that car insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. Consumers who shop around at least once a year will most likely buy a new policy because they have good chances of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A study discovered that drivers who regularly compared rates saved on average $70 a month compared to those who never compared other company’s rates.
If finding discount rates on Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte is your intention, then having some insight into how to get rate quotes and compare coverages can make the process more efficient.
Pricing affordable auto insurance policy in Charlotte is not as hard as you may think. Just about every driver who buys auto insurance will most likely be able to lower their premiums. Although North Carolina drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies determine what you pay and use it to find better rates.
Keep in mind that more quotes will enable you to find the best offered rates. Not every company allows you to get online Charlotte Focus insurance quotes, so it’s recommended that you also compare quotes from the smaller companies as well.
The companies in the list below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Charlotte, NC. In order to find cheap auto insurance in Charlotte, it’s a good idea that you visit as many as you can to find the lowest car insurance rates.
Car insurance data for a Ford Focus
The data table shown below outlines estimates of coverage prices for Ford Focus models. Learning how prices are determined can help drivers make informed decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $398 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $940 | $78 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $398 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $940 | $78 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $470 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $1,012 | $84 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $470 | $282 | $16 | $84 | $1,012 | $84 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $184 | $470 | $318 | $18 | $96 | $1,086 | $91 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $184 | $470 | $318 | $18 | $96 | $1,086 | $91 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect coverage rates greatly.
Careless driving habits raise car insurance rates
The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents increase Ford Focus auto insurance costs for different insured age categories. Data assumes a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Ford Focus full coverage rates compared to liability only
The chart below compares Ford Focus yearly insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the North Carolina minimum liability coverage. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There isn’t a written rule to eliminate full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your Ford Focus replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $5,000 after you pay the deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $500 a year for physical damage coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some conditions where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Best reasons to buy auto insurance in North Carolina
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Ford Focus in Charlotte, paying for auto insurance may be required for several reasons.
- The majority of states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you took out a loan on your vehicle, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it mandatory that you buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you let the policy lapse, the bank may insure your Ford at a significantly higher premium and make you pay for it.
- Insurance safeguards both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay to defend you if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, your auto insurance policy will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance outweigh the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. As of last year, the average driver in North Carolina is currently overpaying as much as $830 a year so compare rates at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.
Get Ford Focus Insurance for Less
Many things are taken into consideration when you get a price on insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, but some are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or how financially stable you are. Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.
Shown below are most of the major factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
Extra coverages push up prices – There are a ton of extra coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Add-on coverages like coverage for rental cars, towing, and motor club memberships could be just wasting money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
Lower rates by increasing physical damage deductibles – Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers your vehicle from damage. Some examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, flood damage, and having your car stolen. Comp and collision deductibles are the amount of money you are required to pay in the event of a claim. The larger the amount you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Liability protection claims can be big – Liability coverage will protect you when you are determined to be liable for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. It is affordable coverage compared to other policy coverages, so do not skimp.
More traffic means higher claims – Living in smaller towns and rural areas of the country is a positive aspect when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers on the road corresponds to lower accident rates and a lower car theft rate. People in densely populated areas have to deal with more road rage incidents and longer commute times. More time on the road statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
Ford Focus insurance claim data – Insurers take into consideration historical loss data for every vehicle to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Models that the data determines to have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will have increased rates. The next table illustrates the compiled insurance loss statistics for Ford Focus vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the loss probability for all vehicles combined as an average is represented as 100. Percentage numbers below 100 represent a good loss history, while numbers that are greater than 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or statistically larger losses.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 106 | 98 | 90 | 103 | 109 | 111 |
| Ford Focus Electric | 87 | 85 | 66 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Insurance agents can help
When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are unique to you.
For example, these questions may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.
- Should I buy only the required North Carolina minimum liability coverage?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
- Does car insurance cover theft of personal property?
- Can I get by with minimal medical coverage if I have good health insurance?
- Do I have ACV or replacement cost coverage?
- What policy terms are available?
- What does UM/UIM cover?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
In this article, we covered quite a bit of information on how to reduce Ford Focus insurance prices online in Charlotte. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.
Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver, delays in paying claims and policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a great new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
Lower-priced insurance in Charlotte is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Charlotte agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. A few companies do not provide the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers sell through independent insurance agencies.
How to find the cheapest rates for Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to get affordable Ford Focus insurance in Charlotte is to do a yearly price comparison from insurers who sell auto insurance in North Carolina.
- Get a basic knowledge of individual coverages and the factors you can control to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that drive up the price such as accidents, traffic violations, and an unacceptable credit rating can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Compare rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote rates for a wide range of companies.
- Compare the quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Charlotte. If you can save money and switch companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment for the new coverage. Once the application is submitted, store the proof of insurance certificate in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
An essential thing to point out is to make sure you enter the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible. This helps ensure a level playing field and the best price selection.
More information
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Charlotte Auto Insurance Quotes for a Chevrolet Equinox? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 70 in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Charlotte Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 25? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Fusion in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Kia Optima in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Real Estate Agents in Charlotte? (FAQ)
- Preventing Carjacking and Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)