Anyone knows that insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Insureds who shop for lower prices will most likely switch car insurance companies because there is a significant possibility of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A recent survey discovered that drivers who shopped around annually saved an average of $865 a year compared to people who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding the lowest price for auto insurance is your target objective, then understanding how to find and compare insurance can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to get budget Ford Five Hundred insurance in Kansas City is to compare quotes annually from different companies that insure vehicles in Missouri.
- Take a few minutes and learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates like traffic violations and a lousy credit rating can be rectified by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Keep reading for the details to find cheap prices and find more discounts that you may not know about.
- Compare rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can quote prices from multiple companies. Compare rates now
- Compare the new rate quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
A good piece of advice is to try to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to get rates from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
The following companies can provide free rate quotes in Missouri. In order to find the cheapest auto insurance in MO, we recommend you get rate quotes from several of them to get the best price comparison.
Three reasons to insure your Ford Five Hundred
Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle is required for several reasons.
- Most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability insurance in order to drive the car legally. In Missouri these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Five Hundred, almost every bank will force you to carry insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If you default on your policy, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Ford at a much higher premium rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards your Ford Five Hundred and your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical bills that are the result of an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying car insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially for larger claims. As of last year, the average driver in Missouri is overpaying over $830 a year so you should quote your policy with other companies at least once a year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Insurance policy discounts for Ford Five Hundred insurance in Kansas City
Insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but there’s a good chance there are discounts that many people don’t even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be requested specifically before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.
- Driver Training Discounts – Completing a class that teaches defensive driving techniques can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Save over 55 – Drivers over the age of 55 can possibly qualify for better insurance rates.
- Theft Prevention System – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Ford can qualify you for cheaper rates.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy with one insurance company they may give you a discount of up to 20% off your total Five Hundred insurance premium.
- Telematics Devices – Insureds who allow driving data submission to analyze where and when they drive by installing a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise might get better premium rates if their driving habits are good.
- E-sign – A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on the internet.
- Distant Student – College-age children who live away from home at college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Kansas City can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories get the best insurance rates when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Remember that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.
A few companies that may have most of these discounts possibly include:
If you are trying to find inexpensive Kansas City car insurance quotes, ask every insurance company to apply every possible discount. Savings may not be available in Kansas City. For a list of insurance companies with discount insurance rates in Kansas City, follow this link.
Shop online but buy locally
Many people still like to get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! Most agents can answer important questions and help you file claims. A good thing about comparing rates online is that you can find lower prices but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from neighborhood insurance agencies is definitely important in Kansas City.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance data is immediately sent to agents in your area who will give you bids for your coverage. There is no reason to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific insurance company, you would need to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
The type of car insurance agent you choose is important
If you want to use an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Kansas City may be either exclusive or independent. Both types of agents can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth learning the subtle differences because it can influence which agent you choose.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be independent can sell policies from many different companies and that allows them to write policies through many companies and find you the best rates. If they find a cheaper price, they simply switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part. If you need lower rates, you absolutely need to get quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection. Most have the option of insuring with companies that do not advertise much which could offer lower prices.
Featured below is a list of independent agencies in Kansas City that can give you free rate quotes.
- Francisco Banuelos Insurance
536 Benton Blvd – Kansas City, MO 64124 – (816) 920-5400 – View Map - Nestel Insurance Agency
9233 Ward Pkwy #124 – Kansas City, MO 64114 – (816) 361-6442 – View Map - Abbott Insurance Inc.
8117 N Oak Trafficway – Kansas City, MO 64118 – (816) 452-8810 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agents generally can only insure with one company like American Family, State Farm, and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are trained well on what they offer which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Consumers often buy from exclusive agents partially due to the brand rather than low rates.
Listed below is a list of exclusive insurance agents in Kansas City that can give you rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Kelly Benbow
221 E Gregory Blvd b – Kansas City, MO 64114 – (816) 333-3611 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Alisha Elliott
851 NW 45th St #301 – Kansas City, MO 64116 – (816) 841-9494 – View Map - Shelter Insurance – John Goodwin
11125 Locust St – Kansas City, MO 64131 – (816) 363-5848 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:
- If they are an independent agency in Kansas City, which companies do they recommend?
- Is every driver in your family covered?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Is the agent properly licensed in Missouri?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
Car insurance coverages for a Ford Five Hundred
Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Ford Five Hundred.
Due to the fact that many Missouri drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, rock chips in glass, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Five Hundred resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car and scraping a guard rail. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Five Hundred to get cheaper collision coverage.
Coverage for liability
This protects you from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have policy limits of 25/50/10 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability insurance covers things like medical services, loss of income and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Missouri requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but you should consider buying more coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not be enough coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses for prosthetic devices, doctor visits, ambulance fees, rehabilitation expenses and surgery. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
In Summary
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of tips how to lower your Ford Five Hundred insurance rates in Kansas City. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the most savings is with the least-expected company.
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, poor customer service, policy non-renewal and even policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right insurance provider is actually quite simple.
Lower-priced Ford Five Hundred insurance in Kansas City is possible from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide rates over the internet and usually these regional insurance providers only sell through local independent agents.
More learning opportunities
- What is Covered by an Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for 18 Year Olds in Kansas City? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Low Mileage Drivers in Kansas City? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Rogue in Kansas City? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in Kansas City? (FAQ)
- Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft (Insurance Information Institute)
- Five Mistakes to Avoid (Insurance Information Institute)
- Determining Auto Insurance Rates (GEICO)
- Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)