When shopping for more affordable insurance, do you get overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance providers in Tucson? You’re not alone. There are such a vast assortment of providers available that it can easily become a real difficult job to find a cheaper company. Everyone knows Tucson is an excellent city in which to live, but expensive premiums for auto insurance makes it difficult to stay on budget.
How to buy cheaper Ford Focus insurance in Tucson
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to save money on Ford Focus insurance is to do a yearly price comparison from companies who sell insurance in Tucson.
Step 1: Read about how your policy works and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that cause high rates like careless driving and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making minor changes in your lifestyle. Continue reading for more information to help prevent high rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can quote rates for a wide range of insurance providers.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing coverage to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Step 4: Tell your current company of your decision to cancel the current policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to your new carrier. As soon as you have the new policy, store the certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle’s glove compartment or console.
The key aspect of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical deductibles and limits on each quote request and to quote with every company you can. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
A study showed that a large majority of consumers have stayed with the same insurance company for well over three years, and 38% of drivers have never compared rate quotes at all. Arizona drivers could save themselves as much as $730 a year just by getting comparison quotes, but they underestimate the amount of savings they would get if they switched to a cheaper policy.
Locating the most cost-effective insurance policy in Tucson is really quite easy. Virtually everyone who is required by state law to have insurance will probably find a lower price. Although Arizona car owners must know the way insurance companies market on the web because rates fluctuate considerably.
Choices You Make Can Impact Your Insurance Rates
Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Most are fairly basic such as your driving record, but some are less obvious like where you live or how financially stable you are. When buying insurance it’s important to understand some of the elements that aid in calculating insurance rates. If you understand what determines premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better insurance rates.
Shown below are some of the factors insurance companies consider when setting your prices.
Proper usage rating affects costs – The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher the price you pay to insure it. Many insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how much you drive. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Improper usage on your Focus is throwing money out the window. It’s a good idea to make sure your declarations sheet states the proper vehicle usage.
Use but don’t abuse your insurance – Companies in Arizona generally give cheaper rates to insureds who only file infrequent claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Your car insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
Coverage lapses lead to higher premiums – Driving any period of time without insurance is against the law and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. In addition to paying higher premiums, being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time. You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Arizona DMV.
Limits of liability – The liability coverage on your policy provides coverage when you are ruled to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. This coverage provides legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Loss probability for a Ford Focus – Insurers include the past claim history for a vehicle when they calculate premium prices for each model. Models that statistically have increased losses will have increased rates. The next table shows the compiled insurance loss statistics for Ford Focus vehicles.
For each coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, equals 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 suggest a positive loss record, while numbers above 100 point to more claims or an increased chance of larger losses than average.
| Specific Ford Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 106 | 98 | 90 | 103 | 109 | 111 |
| Ford Focus Electric | 87 | 85 | 66 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
The best way to compare insurance rates from multiple companies utilizes the fact most insurance companies participate in a system to provide you with a free rate quote. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is take a few minutes to give details including your general credit rating, how much you drive, driver ages, and the year, make and model of vehicles. Your details is instantly provided to many different companies and you will receive price estimates instantly.
To find the cheapest Ford Focus insurance rates, click here then complete the form.
The companies shown below provide free quotes in Arizona. To locate cheap car insurance in Tucson, it’s highly recommended you visit as many as you can to get the best price comparison.
Insurance analysis for a Ford Focus
The rate information displayed next highlights detailed analysis of insurance premium costs for Ford Focus models. Having knowledge of how auto insurance policy rates are formulated is important to be able to make smart choices when buying a car insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $362 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,014 | $85 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $362 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,014 | $85 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $426 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,078 | $90 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $160 | $426 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,078 | $90 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $184 | $426 | $410 | $24 | $122 | $1,166 | $97 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $184 | $426 | $410 | $24 | $122 | $1,166 | $97 |
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Table data represents single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can decrease or increase premiums significantly.
Insurance deductibles
When shopping for insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The tables below may help you to understand the cost difference when you buy lower versus higher comp and collision deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,123 | $94 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $466 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,123 | $94 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $548 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,205 | $100 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $548 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,205 | $100 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $258 | $548 | $338 | $20 | $102 | $1,291 | $108 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $258 | $548 | $338 | $20 | $102 | $1,291 | $108 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $886 | $74 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $314 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $886 | $74 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $370 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $942 | $79 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $370 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $942 | $79 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $188 | $370 | $338 | $20 | $102 | $1,018 | $85 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $188 | $370 | $338 | $20 | $102 | $1,018 | $85 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in specific location information which can change coverage prices greatly.
Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible costs about $22 more each month or $264 a year averaged for all Focus models than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 18 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose the higher deductible.
The chart below demonstrates how deductibles and can impact Ford Focus annual premium costs for each age group. The prices are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Does full coverage make sense?
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Ford Focus insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The price estimates are based on no violations or accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Should you pay for full coverage or liability only?
There is no clear-cut formula to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s say your Ford Focus replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company will settle for is $5,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying over $500 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are a few situations where buying only liability insurance is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Why do I need car insurance?
Despite the fact that insurance is not cheap in Tucson, maintaining insurance is required in Arizona but also provides important benefits.
First, just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to be legal. In Arizona these limits are 15/30/10 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you took out a loan on your car, it’s guaranteed your bank will make it mandatory that you have comprehensive coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank will be required to insure your Ford for a lot more money and force you to reimburse them the higher premium.
Third, insurance protects not only your Ford Focus but also your assets. It will also cover medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of insuring your car outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. As of last year, the average driver in Arizona is overpaying over $750 every year so shop around every year to make sure the price is not too high.
Lower rates by qualifying for discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts that may be available. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount available, you may be paying too high a price.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being on active deployment in the military could be rewarded with lower rates.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than their less cautious counterparts.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but a handful of insurance companies permit an accident before they charge you more for coverage so long as you are claim-free prior to the accident.
- Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as opposed to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Good Student Discount – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have factory anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of 20% or more.
- Paperwork-free – Some of the larger companies provide a small discount just for signing your application on the web.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Insuring all your vehicles with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you aren’t that lucky.
The illustration below compares Ford Focus car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the premium. Data assumes a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, Arizona state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, marriage, and multi-car discounts applied.
The best car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.
- GEICO may include discounts for federal employee, anti-theft, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and multi-vehicle.
- SAFECO includes discounts for bundle discounts, homeowner, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft, safe driver, and teen safe driver.
- State Farm has discounts for safe vehicle, driver’s education, student away at school, good student, and accident-free.
- MetLife may offer discounts for good student, good driver, accident-free, claim-free, and defensive driver.
- 21st Century has savings for defensive driver, air bags, theft prevention, driver training, homeowners, anti-lock brakes, and early bird.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including multi-policy, online signing, good student, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
When comparing rates, check with every company to apply every possible discount. Savings might not apply in your state. To choose providers with significant discounts in Arizona, click here to view.
When to contact an insurance agency
A lot of people would rather talk to an insurance agent and that is not a bad decision A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is you can get lower rates and still choose a local agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, the quote information is immediately sent to agents in your area that can provide free Tucson auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. Get lower rates AND an agent nearby. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a particular provider, feel free to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
Finding the right insurer requires you to look at more than just the bottom line cost. Any good agent in Tucson should know the answers to these questions.
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- What kind of financial rating does the company have?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Is there a local claims center in Tucson?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
Don’t give up on affordable coverage
Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, questionable increases in premium, policy non-renewal and denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to get a better price on Ford Focus insurance in Tucson. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the most savings is with a small mutual company.
Discount Ford Focus insurance in Tucson can be bought on the web and with local Tucson insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online rate quotes and usually these smaller companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
How to quote cheaper Ford Focus insurance in Tucson
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to find affordable quotes for Ford Focus insurance is to regularly compare quotes from different companies who can sell car insurance in Tucson.
Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about auto insurance and the changes you can make to prevent high rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates like your driving record and a lousy credit rating can be amended by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agencies can provide prices for a wide range of companies. Select a company
Step 3: Compare the quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if you can save money. If you can save some money and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your current company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit the required down payment along with the signed application for the new policy. As soon as you receive it, keep your new proof of insurance paperwork in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
An important note is to try to use similar limits and deductibles on every quote and and to compare as many car insurance companies as possible. This enables a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
Even more information can be found in the articles below:
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
- Who Has Affordable Tucson Auto Insurance for a Subaru Outback? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Tucson Auto Insurance Rates for Electric Cars? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Dodge Ram in Tucson? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Tucson Auto Insurance for Young Drivers? (FAQ)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)