Think you have an expensive insurance policy? It’s quite common and there are a lot of people in Portland just like you who feel imprisoned by their insurance policy.
We don’t have to point out that fact that insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. People who shop around for better prices are inclined to move their business because the odds are good of finding better rates. A recent study showed that people who regularly compared rates saved over $70 a month compared to policyholders who never shopped for cheaper rates.
If finding the lowest price for auto insurance in Portland is the reason you’re here, then having some insight into how to get rate quotes and compare coverage rates can save time and money.
How to save money on Ford Flex insurance in Portland
The most effective way to get budget Ford Flex insurance in Portland is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurers in Oregon. You can compare prices by following these steps.
- Get a basic knowledge of auto insurance and the things you can change to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that are responsible for high rates like multiple speeding tickets and an unacceptable credit history can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Get rate quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies. Begin your rate comparison
- Compare the new quotes to your existing coverage and see if you can save money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Provide notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel the current policy. Submit payment and a signed application for your new coverage. As soon as you can, put the new certificate verifying coverage in an accessible location in your vehicle.
A valuable tip to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same liability limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to compare all possible companies. This enables an accurate price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
Insurance companies such as Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm continually bombard you with catchy ads and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and find the best price available.
You should take the time to check insurance prices before your next renewal because insurance prices are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the lowest price on Ford Flex insurance in Portland on your last policy you can probably find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding Flex insurance out there, but in a few minutes you can learn a lot of great tips on how to quit paying high insurance rates in Portland.
Smart Buyers Can Save Money
When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand the different types of things that are used to determine auto insurance rates. If you have a feel for what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find big savings.
The type of car you drive affects your costs – The performance level of the car you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a significant difference in your auto insurance rates. Economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
The data below assumes a married female driver age 50, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Ford Flex car insurance rates compared to other vehicles that have different performance rating factors.
Big cities have higher rates – Being located in smaller towns and rural areas of the country is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with more aggressive driving styles and more time behind the wheel. Less people living in that area means less chance of accidents in addition to lower liability claims.
Reduce auto insurance rates by staying claim free – Auto insurance companies in Oregon give most affordable rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Driving citations increase prices – Good drivers have lower premiums as compared to careless drivers. Having just one speeding ticket or other violation may increase your cost by as much as twenty percent. Drivers who have careless citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may face state-mandated requirements to complete a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
The information below shows how violations and at-fault collisions can affect Ford Flex insurance costs for different age groups. The data is based on a single male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
High credit score translates to low premiums – Your credit history can be an important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Insureds with excellent credit scores tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower ratings. If your credit rating is low, you may save money insuring your Ford Flex by taking the time to improve your credit score.
Policy add-ons can waste money – Insurance companies have many additional coverages that sound like a good idea at the time if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness, and membership fees may not be needed and are just wasting money. These may sound like a good investment when deciding what coverages you need, but if you have no use for them eliminate them to save money.
Pay less with a high crash test rating – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims which can result in lower premiums. If the Ford Flex earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it is probably cheaper to insure.
Lower premiums with continuous auto insurance coverage – Driving without insurance coverage in place is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. In addition to paying higher premiums, failure to provide proof of insurance may result in fines and jail time. You may have to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Oregon department of motor vehicles.
Insurance losses for a Ford Flex – Companies study historical loss data when they calculate premium rates for each model. Vehicles that statistically have higher claim frequency or loss amount will have a higher premium rate. The table below outlines the collected loss data for Ford Flex vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles as a whole is equal to 100. Percentage values below 100 suggest a positive loss record, while values that are above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or an increased chance of larger losses than average.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Flex 4dr 2WD | 89 | 84 | 107 | 91 | 100 | 87 |
| Ford Flex 4dr 4WD | 105 | 84 | 119 | 77 | 79 | 75 |
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Analysis of coverages
The information displayed next covers estimates of coverage costs for Ford Flex models. Learning more about how auto insurance prices are formulated is important to be able to make decisions on which insurance to purchase.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex SE 2WD | $156 | $240 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $844 | $70 |
| Flex SEL 2WD | $156 | $284 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $888 | $74 |
| Flex SEL AWD | $174 | $284 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $906 | $76 |
| Flex Limited 2WD | $174 | $284 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $906 | $76 |
| Flex Limited AWD | $174 | $284 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $906 | $76 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data represents married male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in Portland location which can increase or decrease premiums considerably.
Comparison of policy deductibles
A question often asked by Portland drivers is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The comparisons below outline the price difference when you buy lower versus higher deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 physical damage coverage deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex SE 2WD | $310 | $496 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,265 | $105 |
| Flex SEL 2WD | $310 | $586 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,355 | $113 |
| Flex SEL AWD | $346 | $586 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,391 | $116 |
| Flex Limited 2WD | $346 | $586 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,391 | $116 |
| Flex Limited AWD | $346 | $586 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,391 | $116 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex SE 2WD | $226 | $336 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $996 | $83 |
| Flex SEL 2WD | $226 | $396 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,056 | $88 |
| Flex SEL AWD | $252 | $396 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Flex Limited 2WD | $252 | $396 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Flex Limited AWD | $252 | $396 | $320 | $18 | $96 | $1,082 | $90 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Portland which can impact insurance rates noticeably.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $100 deductible will cost you about $25 more each month or $300 annually than choosing the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at a minimum 16 months between claims, you would probably save some money by selecting a higher deductible.
The information below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can raise or lower Ford Flex insurance prices for different age categories. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
How much more does full coverage cost in Portland?
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Ford Flex car insurance costs with and without full coverage. The costs are based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no written rule to stop paying for comp and collision coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Ford Flex claim settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company will settle for is $4,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing you more than $400 annually to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not buy liability only.
Insurance rates and discounts
Insurance is easily one of your largest bills, but there may be some discounts that you may not even know about. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but some must be manually applied before they will apply. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you could be paying more than you need to.
- Military Rewards – Having an actively deployed family member could qualify you for better rates.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you could earn a discount of up to 20% and get you the cheapest Ford Flex insurance in Portland.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Teen drivers should enroll and complete driver’s education in school.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles may enable drivers to earn lower insurance rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on the same insurance policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Student Discounts – Excelling in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up to age 25.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Ford Flex yearly insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The price estimates are based on a male driver, no claims or driving violations, Oregon 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, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of insurance companies who offer free Ford Flex insurance quotes in Oregon, click here to view.
Compare but don’t skimp
You just read many ideas to shop for Ford Flex insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding low cost Portland auto insurance quotes. You may even find the lowest prices are with the smaller companies. These companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like Allstate and Progressive.
Budget-conscious Ford Flex insurance can be found both online in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not offer rates over the internet and these smaller companies prefer to sell through local independent agents.
Steps to buying cheaper Ford Flex insurance in Portland
The most effective way to find more affordable auto insurance rates in Portland is to compare prices at least once a year from companies who sell auto insurance in Oregon. Rates can be compared by following these steps.
- It will benefit you to learn about how insurance works and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that result in higher rates such as at-fault accidents and bad credit can be improved by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple sources. View rates
- Compare the price quotes to your current policy to determine if you can save on Flex insurance in Portland. If you can save money, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel your current coverage. Submit payment along with a signed and completed policy application to your new insurance company. As soon as you can, place the new proof of insurance certificate in an accessible location in your vehicle.
One bit of advice is that you use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and to quote with as many different insurance providers as possible. This ensures a fair price comparison and a complete selection of prices.
More articles
- Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for State Employees in Portland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Nurses in Portland? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Retired Military in Portland? (FAQ)
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Safe Vehicles for Teens (iihs.org)
- Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)