Auto Insurance Quotes for a Mercury Mountaineer in Houston

Are you regretting buying an expensive auto insurance policy? Believe me, there are many Houston drivers thinking the same thing.

Shocking but true, most auto insurance customers have been with the same company for at least four years, and 38% of drivers have never taken the time to shop around. Texas consumers could pocket as much as $1,766 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they just don’t understand how much savings they would realize if they changed companies. Having so many companies to choose from that have cheaper insurance for a Mercury Mountaineer in Houston, it can be hard to choose the most cost effective auto insurance company.

You should take the time to get comparison quotes before your next renewal because prices tend to go up over time. Just because you found the lowest rate on Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Houston on your last policy you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Lowering your Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates is not a difficult process. The only requirement is to take a couple of minutes comparing free Houston car insurance quotes online with multiple companies.

It’s so easy to compare price quotes online that it takes the place of having to waste gas driving to insurance agencies in your area. Comparing Mercury Mountaineer insurance rate quotes online eliminates the middleman unless you’re the type of person who wants the guidance of a licensed agent. Although, it is possible comparison shop online but still have the advice of a local agent.

The providers in the list below offer comparison quotes in Texas. If the list has multiple companies, it’s highly recommended you visit several of them to get a more complete price comparison.

Price data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Rates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise coverage rates considerably.

Comparison of policy deductibles

The example below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect Mercury Mountaineer insurance premiums for different categories of driver ages. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents

The diagram below demonstrates how speeding tickets and accident claims impact Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The data assumes a single female driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Should you raise deductibles?

One of the most common auto insurance questions is how high should your deductibles be. The figures shown below approximate how much more rates are when you buy lower versus higher physical damage deductibles. The first data table uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in garaging location in Houston which can affect prices greatly.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible would cost the average driver about $41 more each month or $492 for a full year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $900 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go more than 22 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you opt for a higher deductible.

Mercury Mountaineer insurance discounts in Houston

Not too many consumers would say car insurance is affordable, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain credits will be shown at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about in order for you to get them.

• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Discount for Multiple Policies – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
• College Student Discount – Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Telematics Devices – Policyholders that allow driving data submission to monitor their driving habits remotely such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• Own a Home – Being a homeowner can get you a discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Remember that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the appearance that all the discounts add up to a free policy, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

A few of the larger companies and their offered discounts are:

• State Farm discounts include student away at school, defensive driving training, good driver, multiple autos, and good student.
• GEICO offers discounts for military active duty, federal employee, daytime running lights, five-year accident-free, multi-vehicle, seat belt use, and good student.
• SAFECO has savings for drive less, anti-theft, teen safe driver, bundle discounts, homeowner, and safe driver.
• Farmers Insurance offers discounts including teen driver, bundle discounts, youthful driver, mature driver, switch companies, and good student.
• AAA policyholders can earn discounts including pay-in-full, multi-car, education and occupation, good driver, and anti-theft.
• USAA has discounts for multi-vehicle, annual mileage, vehicle storage, driver training, and safe driver.

If you are trying to find affordable Houston car insurance quotes, ask every company how you can save money. Savings might not be offered on policies in Houston. If you would like to see a list of companies who offer free Mercury Mountaineer insurance quotes in Texas, click here.

Local agents and car insurance

Some consumers prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision Agents are trained risk managers and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is that drivers can save money and get cheap car insurance rates and also buy local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, the coverage information is sent to agents in your area that can provide free Houston car insurance quotes to get your business. You never need to search for an agent since rate quotes are delivered to you instantly. If you need to compare rates for a specific company, you can always find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Finding a good company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Are they actively involved in the community?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• When do they do policy reviews?
• Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• What is the financial rating for the quoted company?

Once you have received answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask as well as an affordable premium quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurer that is reliable enough to provide car insurance coverage. It’s important to know that you can cancel coverage at any time so don’t think that you’re stuck with a policy for the full term.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Texas drivers can’t get away from all the ads for auto insurance savings by Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to advertise claims that you’ll save big just by moving your policy.

How does each company give you a better price on Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Houston? You have to listen carefully.

Companies quote their best rates for the type of insured that will be a good risk. One example of this type of risk profile may need to be married and over the age of 30, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates as well as save a lot of money.

Potential customers who fall short of the ideal profile will be quoted more expensive rates which results in the customer not purchasing. The trick is to say “drivers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much when switching. That’s why companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. Because every company is different, it’s extremely important to do a quote comparison often. It is impossible to predict with any certainty which company will have the lowest prices for your situation.

Auto insurance coverage basics

Understanding the coverages of your policy helps when choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Mercury Mountaineer.

Due to the fact that many Texas drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (Texas limits are 30/60/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Collision coverage – This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Mountaineer resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision insurance covers claims such as hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Mountaineer in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Liability insurance – This coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits 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 can pay for things such as medical services, funeral expenses and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like dental work, funeral costs, pain medications, prosthetic devices and hospital visits. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive auto coverage – This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as hail damage, damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed, theft and hitting a bird. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

A conclusion for your auto insurance search

We just covered a lot of information how to lower your Mercury Mountaineer insurance prices in Houston. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest prices come from the least-expected company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like State Farm and Allstate.

When trying to cut insurance costs, don’t be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Additional detailed information is available in the articles below:

• State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
• How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Inexperienced Drivers in Houston? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for 19 Year Olds in Houston? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Houston Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Electric Cars in Houston? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for a School Permit in Houston? (FAQ)
• Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)