Cheapest 2004 Ford Explorer Insurance Rates in 2024

Looking for cheaper auto insurance rates for your Ford Explorer? I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, Progressive and GEICO all claim big savings with advertising and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction and find the best price available.

Quick Insurance Quotes

The are a couple different ways of comparing rates from different insurance companies. The easiest way to find the lowest 2004 Ford Explorer rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

• The easiest and least time consuming way consumers can analyze rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for a different quote to each individual insurance company. A single form gets you price quotes from multiple low-cost companies.
• A less efficient way to analyze rates consists of going to the website for every company you want to compare to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s say you want comparison quotes from USAA, Progressive and American Family. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

However you get your quotes, compare exactly the same coverage limits for every company. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to decipher which rate is best. Having just a slight variation in limits may result in a large different in cost. And when comparing insurance rates, know that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting a better price.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Insurance providers like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise of big savings after switching to their company. How can each company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. This is how companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings on Ford Explorer insurance.

Ford Explorer rates influenced by many factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” that factor into prices.

• Liability coverage is peace of mind – Liability insurance provides coverage when a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Pay less if you’re married – Being married helps lower the price on your policy. Having a significant other means you’re more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.
• Tickets mean higher rates – A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Even one moving violation may increase your cost by twenty percent. If you have dangerous violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Where do you drive? – The more you drive in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. Incorrect usage on your Explorer can result in significantly higher rates.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Companies don’t always publicize every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

• Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less on Explorer coverage than drivers with accidents.
• Safety Course Discount – Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of more than 20%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.

Insurance companies that possibly offer these discounts include:

• Travelers
• 21st Century
• State Farm
• GEICO
• SAFECO
• AAA

Before buying, ask every prospective company how you can save money. Some discounts might not apply in your state.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

• Do I have newly-acquired coverage?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Are my friends covered when driving my car?
• Should I rate my 2004 Ford Explorer as pleasure use or commute?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Should I have a commercial auto policy?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Insurance coverage options for a Ford Explorer

Having a good grasp of a insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are typical coverage types available from insurance companies.

UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your Ford Explorer.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Auto liability insurance

Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. It protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage protects against things such as medical expenses, emergency aid, loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as damage from flooding, vandalism, hitting a bird, fire damage and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Coverage for collisions

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Explorer from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against things such as crashing into a building, scraping a guard rail, damaging your car on a curb and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees, EMT expenses, dental work and X-ray expenses. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Be a smart shopper

While you’re price shopping online, it’s very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to get a better price on 2004 Ford Explorer insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from the smaller companies. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like Allstate and Progressive.

To read more, link through to the following helpful articles:

• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Distracted Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Electronic Stability Control FAQ (iihs.org)
• How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)

Use our FREE quote tool to compare rates now!