Auto Insurance Rates for a Mercury Mountaineer in Santa Ana

It's an obvious assumption that insurance companies want to keep your business as long as possible. Insureds who shop around once a year will probably switch to a new company because there is a high probability of finding coverage at a more affordable price. A recent survey found that drivers who did price comparisons regularly saved over $72 a month as compared to drivers who didn't regularly shop around.

If saving the most money on insurance in Santa Ana is your objective, then having some knowledge of how to find companies and compare cheaper coverage can help simplify the task of finding more affordable coverage.

If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find discount auto insurance rates in Santa Ana is to start comparing prices yearly from different companies who sell insurance in California. You can compare rates by completing these steps.

1. Get an understanding of policy coverages and the factors you can control to lower rates. Many rating factors that drive up the price such as accidents, careless driving, and a negative credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle. This article gives tips to prevent high rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
2. Compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
3. Compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
4. Notify your agent or company of your decision to cancel your current coverage. Submit a completed policy application and payment to the newly selected company. Make sure you safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance along with the vehicle's registration papers.

One bit of advice is to make sure you're comparing the same level of coverage on each quote request and and to get price quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this ensures an accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.

Finding more affordable Mercury Mountaineer auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. All that's required is to spend a little time to get quotes from some recommended companies.

It's so fast and easy to compare rates online that it makes it a waste of time to call or drive to insurance agencies in your area. Quoting and buying Mercury Mountaineer insurance online makes this unnecessary unless you have a need for the advice and guidance that only a licensed agent can provide. It is possible with some companies get prices online and still use a local agent.

The companies shown below have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Santa Ana, CA. If more than one company is shown, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.

Rates and statistics

The table shown below covers different rate quotes for Mercury Mountaineer models. Learning how premiums are figured can help you make decisions on which coverage to buy.

Data based on married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Premium amounts do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can influence premium rates greatly.

Choosing deductibles

One frequently asked question is how low should you set your deductibles. The tables below illustrate the rate difference when you choose different physical damage coverage deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 deductible and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.

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

Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible costs about $31 more each month or $372 annually than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $400 more out of your own pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 13 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible. Here is an example of how you can come to your own conclusion.

One thing to be aware of is that higher deductibles means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you do file a claim. That will require some extra savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.

The illustration below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect Mercury Mountaineer annual premium costs for each different age category. Data assumes a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates

The illustration below demonstrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can impact Mercury Mountaineer insurance prices for each age group. The rates are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.

Mercury Mountaineer liability rates compared to full coverage

The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer car insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage

There is no definitive guideline that is best for determining when to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of coverage is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it's probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let's assume your Mercury Mountaineer replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are paying over $700 annually to have full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

There are a few cases where buying only liability insurance is not recommended. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not buy liability only.

Auto insurance does more than just protect your car

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Mercury Mountaineer in Santa Ana, insuring your vehicle is required in California but also provides important benefits.

• Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability protection if you don't want to risk a ticket. 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 Mercury, most banks will have a requirement that you carry insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Mercury for a lot more money and force you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
• Insurance safeguards not only your Mercury Mountaineer but also your financial assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses that are the result of an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees in the event you are sued. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.

The benefits of buying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly for liability claims. Unknowingly, the average driver is overpaying over $850 per year so shop around at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.

Smart Consumers Know How to Quote Auto Insurance More Affordably

The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find lower rates. Many things are used in the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving record, but other criteria are less apparent like your vehicle usage or your commute time.

The items below are some of the things used by insurance companies to determine your premiums.

• How your age affects prices - Older insureds are more responsible, cost insurance companies less in claims, and receive fewer citations. Young drivers are statistically shown to be careless and easily distracted with other occupants in the car therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.

  The data below assumes a single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
• Vehicles with better crash test results cost less to insure - Safe vehicles tend to have lower insurance rates. Vehicles built for safety reduce occupant injuries and any reduction in injury severity means lower claim amounts and cheaper rates on your policy.
• Cheaper rates with high comp and collision deductibles - The deductibles you choose define the amount you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are rear-ending another vehicle, hail damage, and damage from wind. The larger the amount you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the lower your rates will be.
• More people means more accidents - Having an address in smaller towns and rural areas of the country is a positive aspect when trying to find low car insurance rates. Drivers in populated areas regularly have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Lower population means less chance of accidents and a lower car theft rate.
• A good credit score can save money - Having a bad credit score can be a huge factor in determining what you pay. People with good credit tend to file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores. If your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your Mercury Mountaineer if you clean up your credit.

What is the best auto insurance company in Santa Ana?

Selecting a highly-rated insurance provider is difficult considering how many different companies there are to choose from in Santa Ana. The ranking information in the next section may help you choose which companies to look at when shopping around.

Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank

1. USAA - A++
2. Travelers - A++
3. State Farm - A++
4. GEICO - A++
5. Esurance - A+
6. Nationwide - A+
7. Allstate - A+
8. Mercury Insurance - A+
9. Progressive - A+
10. Titan Insurance - A+

Top 10 Santa Ana Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

1. AAA of Southern California
2. GEICO
3. State Farm
4. The Hartford
5. Mercury Insurance
6. The General
7. Progressive
8. Allstate
9. AAA Insurance
10. American Family

Be persistent and save

When getting Santa Ana car insurance quotes online, don't be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Santa Ana is attainable both online and from local insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer rate quotes online and most of the time these smaller providers only sell coverage through independent agencies.

More detailed car insurance information can be found at these sites:

• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Car Insurance Rates for Postal Workers? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Camry? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Versa? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Santa Ana Car Insurance for Uber Drivers? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Santa Ana Auto Insurance for Business Use? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 60 in Santa Ana? (FAQ)
• Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Institute)
• Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
• Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)