Best Insurance for a Ford Fusion in San Diego

I can’t think of anyone who likes having to buy car insurance, especially when they are aware that they are paying too much.

Remarkably, a study showed that about 70% of customers renewed their policy with the same company for a minimum of four years, and 38% of customers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average car insurance premium being $1,387, California drivers could save themselves roughly 35% a year just by shopping around, but they think it’s difficult to find cheap insurance by shopping around. Multiple insurers compete for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the cheapest price on Ford Fusion insurance in San Diego.

If you are already insured or want to find a cheaper company, you can follow these tips to get lower rates without having to cut coverage. Locating the best rates in San Diego can initially seem challenging. Smart buyers just have to learn the most time-saving way to get comparison quotes online.

Finding more affordable Ford Fusion auto insurance rates is a fairly straight forward process. Just spend a few minutes on the computer to compare rate quotes online from several insurance companies.

Comparison shopping price quotes online is easy and it takes the place of having to actually drive to local San Diego insurance agencies. The fact that you can get quotes online makes this process obsolete unless your situation requires the advice and guidance of a local San Diego agent. Although you can find lower rates online but still have the advice of a local agent.

The following companies are our best choices to provide free quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, it’s a good idea that you get prices from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Table data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-policy. Premium costs do not factor in specific San Diego garaging location which can change prices greatly.

Policy deductibles

The information below illustrates how your choice of deductibles and can affect Ford Fusion insurance costs for each age group. The data is based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for auto insurance is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The rates below can help you understand the difference in cost between high and low comp and collision deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second price table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in specific location which can change rates substantially.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible costs an average of $52 more each month or $624 annually than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average more than 17 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.

Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only

The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Ford Fusion auto insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The rate quotes are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, single male driver, and no policy discounts are applied.

Deciding between full coverage and liability only

There is no definitive guideline to eliminate comp and collision coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Ford Fusion book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If premium cost is more than $600 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.

There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, 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 not buy liability only.

Buying the right vehicle insurance in California is an important decision

Despite the high cost, maintaining insurance may not be optional for several reasons.

• Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you have a loan on your Ford, it’s guaranteed your bank will require that you buy insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Ford at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them a much higher amount than you were paying before.
• Insurance protects both your Ford and your personal assets. Insurance will also pay for many types of medical costs that are the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of buying insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. The average driver in California overpays as much as $820 a year so it’s important to compare rates at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.

Informed Drivers Know How to Get Car Insurance Cheaper

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that aid in calculating your premiums. If you understand what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make educated decisions that may result in cheaper rates. Lots of factors are used when premium rates are determined. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, although others are more transparent like where you live or your commute time.

Vehicle theft costs us all – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.

Extra coverages that may not be needed – There are a ton of additional coverages you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and membership fees could be just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea when buying your policy, but if you don’t need them remove them from your policy.

Credit score impacts costs – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. So if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could save money insuring your Ford Fusion if you improve your credit rating. Insureds with high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.

Marriage equates to better premiums – Having a significant other can actually save you money when shopping for car insurance. Having a spouse demonstrates that you tend to be more financially stable it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married file infrequent claims.

Drive less and save – The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rate. Most companies calculate rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage correctly shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money. An improperly rated Fusion can cost quite a bit.

Ford Fusion claim data – Companies include the past claim trends for vehicles when setting premium prices. Models that have increased losses will have a higher premium rate. The table below illustrates the collected loss data for Ford Fusion vehicles.

For each coverage category, the claim amount for all vehicles as a whole is set at 100. Values that are under 100 indicate better than average losses, while values that are 100 or greater point to more claims or statistically larger claims.

Discounts for lower-cost auto insurance quotes

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you might already qualify for some discounts that you may not even know about. Many discounts should be triggered at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be manually applied before being credited.

• First Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some insurance companies may permit one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a specific time period.
• Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and that can save you a little bit as well.
• Auto/Life Discount – Larger auto insurance companies have a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy some life insurance too.
• Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government may reduce rates when you quote San Diego car insurance with a few auto insurance companies.
• Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle up could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• Own a Home and Save – Being a homeowner can earn you a little savings since home ownership requires personal responsibility.
• Cautious Drivers – Accident-free drivers can save as much as half off their rates than less cautious drivers.
• Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student may save as much as 25% on a San Diego car insurance quote. Most companies allow this discount up until you turn 25.

One thing to note about discounts is that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount should help reduce the premium cost.

Car insurance companies that may include most of these discounts possibly include:

• Progressive
• SAFECO
• American Family
• MetLife
• GEICO
• The Hartford

When comparing rates, check with every insurance company how you can save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not be available to policyholders in San Diego. To find insurers with significant discounts in San Diego, click here to view.

When should I discuss my situation with an agent?

When quoting and choosing coverage online or from an agent for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a “best” method to buy coverage. You are unique.

For example, these questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Am I covered if I hit someone who is not insured?
• Is my Ford Fusion covered if I use it for business?
• Who is covered when they drive my Ford Fusion?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• What is an adequate liability insurance limit?
• What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Can’t I compare prices from local San Diego car insurance agents?

Some consumers would prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can help you build your policy and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is you can get the best rates but also keep your business local. Buying insurance from local insurance agencies is important particularly in San Diego.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the quote information is submitted to local insurance agents in San Diego who can give free rate quotes to get your business. There is no reason to find an agent on your own since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. If you wish to get a price quote from a specific auto insurance provider, feel free to jump over to their website and fill out their quote form.

If you want to buy auto insurance from a local San Diego insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different types of agents and how they can quote your rates. San Diego agents are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents. Either one can insure your vehicles properly, but it’s worth mentioning the subtle differences since it can affect the selection process.

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Agents in the independent channel are not employed by one company and that gives them the ability to insure amongst many companies and get you the best rates possible. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage which makes it simple for you.

When comparing auto insurance rates, you will want to check rates from several independent agencies in order to compare the most rates.

Featured below is a short list of independent insurance agents in San Diego that can possibly get you rate quotes.

View more agents

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies

Agents in the exclusive channel can only write with one company such as AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They generally cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so always compare other rates. These agents are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell on service rather than price.

The following is a short list of exclusive agencies in San Diego that are able to give comparison quotes.

View more agents

Finding the right auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:

• Where would your vehicle be repaired?
• Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
• Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?

After you get acceptable answers to any questions you have as well as cheaper Fusion insurance quotes, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy. Just understand that consumers can cancel coverage any time you want so don’t feel that you are permanently stuck with a specific company with no way out.

Final considerations

You just read many ways to find cheaper Ford Fusion insurance in San Diego. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest Ford Fusion rate quotes. You may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Cheaper car insurance in San Diego is possible online in addition to many San Diego insurance agents, so you need to shop San Diego car insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not offer price quotes online and these smaller providers sell through independent insurance agents.

To read more, take a look at these articles:

• Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Handicapped Drivers in San Diego? (FAQ)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for a Jeep Grand Cherokee in San Diego? (FAQ)
• Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
• Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
• Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
• When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)