Having to pay for expensive insurance in Lubbock can dry up your budget and make it hard to pay other bills.
Unthinkable but true, over 70% of drivers have been with the same company for four years or more, and nearly half have never shopped around. The average driver in Texas could save about 70% each year just by shopping around, but they feel it’s too difficult to shop their coverage around. Companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive persitently shower you with ads and it is difficult to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and take the time to shop coverage around.
If you have coverage now or just want to save money, you can use this information to reduce premiums and possibly find even better coverage. Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Lubbock is much easier if you have a good place to start. Shoppers only need an understanding of the quickest method to quote multiple rates online.
Take advantage of these eight discounts
Buying insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts that many consumers don’t even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you get the savings.
- Employee of Federal Government – Federal government employees could cut as much as 10% off but check with your company.
- College Student Discount – Older children who live away from home at college and leave their car at home can receive lower rates.
- E-sign Discounts – Certain insurance companies provide a small discount for buying your policy on the web.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Senior Citizen Rates – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better insurance rates.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Teen drivers should take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a course teaching safe driver skills could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
As a footnote on discounts, most credits do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it’s just not the way it works. Any amount of discount will definitely lower the cost of coverage.
The illustration below shows the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The rates are based on a female driver, no violations or claims, Texas state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, marriage, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.
Auto insurance companies that may offer policyholders these money-saving discounts include:
If you need inexpensive Lubbock auto insurance quotes, ask every prospective company which discounts you qualify for. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be available in Lubbock. If you would like to see a list of insurers that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Texas, click here.
Compare Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates
The companies in the list below can provide price comparisons in Lubbock, TX. In order to find cheap car insurance in Texas, we recommend you visit several of them to get the cheapest price.
Rates and detailed analysis
The rate table displayed next outlines detailed analysis of insurance costs for Ford Explorer Sport Trac models. Learning how insurance rates are determined can be useful when making decisions on which coverage to buy.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explorer Sport Trac XLT 2WD | $274 | $550 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,498 | $125 |
Explorer Sport Trac Limited 2WD | $314 | $550 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,538 | $128 |
Explorer Sport Trac XLT 4WD | $314 | $550 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,538 | $128 |
Explorer Sport Trac Limited 4WD | $356 | $670 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,700 | $142 |
Explorer Sport Trac Limited AWD | $356 | $670 | $496 | $30 | $148 | $1,700 | $142 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data rating is based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can raise or lower auto insurance rates considerably.
The information below highlights how deductible choice and can raise or lower Ford Explorer Sport Trac annual premium costs for different insured age categories. The rate quotes are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Accidents and violations increase rates
The information below illustrates how speeding tickets and accidents impact Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance premiums for different age groups of insureds. The premiums assume a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance rates: Men versus women
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data assumes no claims or driving citations, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
Does it make sense to buy full coverage?
The example below illustrates the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac auto insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The price estimates are based on no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to eliminate full coverage
There isn’t a steadfast formula for dropping physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Ford Explorer Sport Trac book value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $2,000 after paying your deductible. If premium cost is more than $200 a year to have full coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some scenarios where only buying liability is not advised. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage.
When do I need an agent’s advice?
When it comes to choosing your policy, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured’s situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
- Who is covered when they drive my Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
- What does medical payments coverage do?
- Can good grades get a discount?
- Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
- Are my friends covered when driving my car?
- If my Ford Explorer Sport Trac is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Local insurance agents
A lot of people still like to talk to a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing rates online is that you can obtain lower rates and still buy from a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your information is transmitted to companies in Lubbock who want to provide quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to find an agent on your own as quotes are delivered immediately to you. If you have a need to compare prices for a specific company, just search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
Picking the best company is decision based upon more than just a cheap price quote. Get answers to these questions too.
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
When researching a local agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Lubbock can be described as either exclusive agents or independent agents. Either type can sell and service insurance coverage, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ because it can impact the type of agent you choose.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can usually just insure with one company like State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so they really need to provide good service. These agents are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price.
Below are Lubbock exclusive agencies willing to provide rate quotes.
Ana Borrego – State Farm Insurance Agent
8001 Quaker Ave STE G – Lubbock, TX 79424 – (806) 745-2555 – View Map
Farmers Insurance – Jim White
4518 50th St – Lubbock, TX 79414 – (806) 792-4416 – View Map
Farmers Insurance
3206 34th St – Lubbock, TX 79410 – (806) 791-2892 – View Map
Independent Agents
Agents of this type are normally appointed by many insurers and that gives them the ability to insure with any number of different companies and find you the best rates. If they find a lower price, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to do anything. When comparing insurance rates, you will definitely want to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison.
The following are independent agencies in Lubbock who can help you get price quotes.
Advanced Insurance
3225 50th St – Lubbock, TX 79413 – (806) 799-0052 – View Map
Ashmore and Associates Insurance Agency, LLC
6102 82nd St #6 – Lubbock, TX 79424 – (806) 745-8358 – View Map
Grimes Insurance Agency Inc
1651 Broadway St – Lubbock, TX 79401 – (806) 762-0544 – View Map
Three reasons to not skimp on car insurance
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Ford in Lubbock, buying car insurance is required in Texas but it also protects you in many ways.
- Most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific level of liability coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Texas 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 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, most banks will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Ford at a more expensive rate and require you to pay the higher price.
- Insurance protects your vehicle and your assets. It will also provide coverage for most medical and hospital costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you have damage to your Ford as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance outweigh the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $825 a year so compare rate quotes at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.
Car insurance coverages 101
Knowing the specifics of a car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the usual coverages available from car insurance companies.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 30/60/25), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, a broken windshield and hail damage. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.
Liability
Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to people or other property that is your fault. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 30/60/25 that translate to $30,000 bodily injury coverage, $60,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims such as funeral expenses, legal defense fees, emergency aid, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The next chart shows why buying low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills like chiropractic care, pain medications and funeral costs. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Coverage for collisions
This coverage covers damage to your Explorer Sport Trac resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims like crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible on your Explorer Sport Trac in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Lower rates by being persistent
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best possible price, not the least amount of coverage.
You just learned many tips how you can save on Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Lubbock. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
How to find low-cost Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Lubbock
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find low-cost prices for auto insurance rates is to compare prices once a year from companies who provide auto insurance in Lubbock.
Step 1: Try to comprehend how your policy works and the modifications you can make to prevent rate increases. Many risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic citations, accidents, and a not-so-good credit score can be eliminated by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can provide prices from multiple insurance companies. Select a company
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and see if you can save money. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
A valuable tip to remember is to use the same deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get price quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this helps ensure a fair price comparison and the best rate selection.
Additional auto insurance information is available at these links:
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Lubbock Auto Insurance Rates for Homeowners? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for 17 Year Olds in Lubbock? (FAQ)
- Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)
- Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Hybrid vehicles cost insurers more (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)