If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get discount auto insurance rates is to compare prices once a year from insurance carriers that sell auto insurance in Jersey City. This can be done by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Try to comprehend how auto insurance works and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many things that increase rates like your driving record and poor credit can be controlled by paying attention to minor details. Read the full article for tips to prevent high rates and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Step 2: Compare rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only give prices from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Step 4: Give notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your existing policy and submit the completed application along with a down payment to your new agent or company. Once the application is submitted, put the proof of insurance certificate along with your vehicle registration.
An important bit of advice to remember is to try to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to analyze every insurance company. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and the best price quote selection.
We don’t have to tell you that insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Consumers who compare rates annually are inclined to buy a different policy because of the high probability of finding a lower-priced company. A recent car insurance study discovered that consumers who shopped around annually saved over $72 a month compared to people who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding discount rates on auto insurance is the reason you’re reading this, learning how to quote and compare auto insurance can make it simple to find affordable coverage.
Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Jersey City is really quite simple as long as you have a good starting point. If you’re already insured, you should be able to save money using the techniques presented in this article. But New Jersey consumers can benefit from knowing the way companies sell online.
The most recommended method to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to know the trick all the major auto insurance companies provide online access to compare their rates. To get started, all you need to do is provide a small amount of information like types of safety features, how your vehicles are used, daily mileage, and whether you have decent credit. Your details gets transmitted to multiple insurance providers and they return quotes within a short period of time.
To compare rates for your car now, click here and complete the quick form.
The providers in the list below can provide free quotes in Jersey City, NJ. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can to find the lowest car insurance rates.
These discounts can lower your insurance rates
Companies that sell car insurance do not list all possible discounts very well, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you buy Jersey City car insurance online.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds that choose to allow driving data collection to spy on driving patterns by using a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise may get a rate reduction if their driving habits are good.
- Memberships – Joining qualifying clubs or civic groups is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for insurance.
- No Claim Discounts – Insureds with no claims or accidents pay less as compared to frequent claim filers.
- Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll and complete driver’s education in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront as opposed to paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Own a Home – Owning a house in Jersey City can save you money because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
- Senior Citizens – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
- Military Discounts – Being deployed in the military could mean lower prices.
As a footnote on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.
The diagram below compares Ford Escape insurance premiums with and without policy discounts. The costs are based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, New Jersey state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, and multi-car discounts applied.
For a list of providers who offer discounts in New Jersey, click here.
Insurance rate breakdown
The data table shown next highlights detailed analysis of rate quotes for Ford Escape models. Having insight into how insurance policy premiums are figured can assist in making decisions when shopping around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Escape XLS 2WD | $310 | $582 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,614 | $135 |
Escape XLS 4WD | $310 | $582 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,614 | $135 |
Escape XLT 2WD | $310 | $582 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,614 | $135 |
Escape Limited 2WD | $356 | $582 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,660 | $138 |
Escape XLT 4WD | $356 | $582 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,660 | $138 |
Escape Limited 4WD | $356 | $708 | $532 | $32 | $158 | $1,786 | $149 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and New Jersey minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can alter rates considerably.
Analysis of deductible levels
A question often asked by Jersey City drivers is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The figures shown below highlight how much more you’ll pay between low and high physical damage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Escape XLS 2WD | $324 | $514 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,417 | $118 |
Escape XLS 4WD | $324 | $514 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,417 | $118 |
Escape XLT 2WD | $324 | $514 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,417 | $118 |
Escape Limited 2WD | $372 | $514 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,465 | $122 |
Escape XLT 4WD | $372 | $514 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,465 | $122 |
Escape Limited 4WD | $372 | $626 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,577 | $131 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Escape XLS 2WD | $200 | $324 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,078 | $90 |
Escape XLS 4WD | $200 | $324 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,078 | $90 |
Escape XLT 2WD | $200 | $324 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,078 | $90 |
Escape Limited 2WD | $230 | $324 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,108 | $92 |
Escape XLT 4WD | $230 | $324 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,108 | $92 |
Escape Limited 4WD | $230 | $394 | $408 | $24 | $122 | $1,178 | $98 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New Jersey minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in your specific Jersey City location which can affect premiums significantly.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $30 more each month or $360 for a full year across all Ford Escape models than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to go at a minimum 25 months between claim filings, you would more than likely save some money if you opt for a higher deductible.
The information below demonstrates how deductibles and can affect Ford Escape insurance rates for different age categories. The rates are based on a single male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
The example below shows the comparison of Ford Escape annual premium costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The price estimates are based on no claims or violations, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Should you be buying full coverage?
There is no clear-cut rule that is best for determining when to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Ford Escape book value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $8,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 annually for physical damage coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where dropping physical damage coverage is not recommended. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
What if I want to buy from local Jersey City car insurance agents?
Many people would rather buy from a local agent and that is just fine! One of the benefits of comparing car insurance online is the fact that you can find cheap car insurance rates but also keep your business local.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information is emailed to participating agents in Jersey City who will give you bids for your business. You won’t need to do any legwork because quoted prices will be sent to you. You’ll get the best rates and work with a local agent. If for some reason you want to quote rates from a specific car insurance provider, you would need to search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Selecting an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in Jersey City?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
If you want a reputable insurance agent or broker, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies and how they function. Car insurance agents in Jersey City may be either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type are contracted to one company and examples are State Farm or Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot provide prices from multiple companies so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive insurance agents are well trained on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to use the same agent primarily because of the brand instead of buying on price only.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Jersey City willing to provide price quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Emad Soliman
844 Bergen Ave – Jersey City, NJ 07306 – (201) 332-6999 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Mofalc Meinga
447 Central Ave – Jersey City, NJ 07307 – (201) 435-1616 – View Map - Tawanda Jackson – State Farm Insurance Agent
688 NJ-440 – Jersey City, NJ 07305 – (201) 209-0290 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents do not write with just one company and that gives them the ability to insure through many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If they quote lower rates, your policy is moved internally which requires no work on your part. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, it’s a good idea to include a few independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison. Most also write with small mutual carriers which can save you money.
Below are independent insurance agents in Jersey City willing to provide price quotes.
- Exodus Insurance Services
758 Ocean Ave – Jersey City, NJ 07304 – (201) 433-1015 – View Map - Arch Insurance
300 Exchange Pl – Jersey City, NJ 07311 – (201) 743-4000 – View Map - GG Insurance – Independent Insurance Agent
270 Marin Boulevard, Metropolis Towers Suite #14D – Jersey City, NJ 07302 – (800) 801-0394 – View Map
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When choosing insurance from an agent or online, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique and your auto insurance should unique, too.
These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
- When should I remove my kid from my policy?
- Do I pay less for low miles?
- Is extra glass coverage worth it?
- Can I get by with minimal medical coverage if I have good health insurance?
- If my Ford Escape is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Get Lower-cost Insurance Prices by Understanding These Factors
Many things are used in the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some factors are common sense like your driving record, but other criteria are more transparent such as your credit history and annual miles driven.
The following are a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate premiums.
- Save money with alarms and GPS tracking – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Advanced theft deterrents such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system help track and prevent auto theft and help lower rates.
- Cheaper rates with high comp and collision deductibles – Physical damage coverage, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, covers damage that occurs to your Ford. Some coverage claims could be colliding with a building, flood damage, and damage caused by flying debris. The deductibles define how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more of the claim you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
- Rates can be impacted by your employer – Jobs like judges, executives, and dentists have the highest average rates because of intense work-related stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, careers such as farmers, athletes and retirees pay the least.
- Rural vs Urban Areas – Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when trying to find low car insurance rates. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accident claims in addition to lower liability claims. Drivers who live in large New Jersey cities have to deal with more auto accidents and longer commute times. More time behind the wheel means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
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Gender as a rate factor – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. It does not mean women are better drivers. Both sexes cause at-fault accidents in similar numbers, but guys have costlier accidents. Not only are claims higher, but men receive more major tickets like driving under the influence (DUI). Males from age 16 to 21 are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Ford Escape premium costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Save money by eliminating add-on coverages – Policies have extra coverages that can waste your money if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for things like personal injury protection, towing coverage, and membership fees could be just wasting money. These coverages may sound good initially, but if they’re wasting money eliminate them to save money.
- Maintain auto insurance coverage – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a quick way to trigger a rate increase. In addition to paying higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time. You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the New Jersey DMV.
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Ford Escape insurance claim data – Insurance companies analyze the history of losses to help determine rates. Vehicles that tend to have increased losses will cost more for specific coverages. The table shown below demonstrates the collected loss data for Ford Escape vehicles.
For each coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is represented as 100. Values below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while numbers above 100 indicate a higher chance of having a claim or tendency to have higher losses.
Ford Escape Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Ford Escape 4dr 2WD 80 91 83 94 94 92 Ford Escape 4dr 4WD 81 84 94 85 90 77 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Three reasons to not skimp on auto insurance
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Ford in Jersey City, auto insurance may be required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car legally. In New Jersey 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 bought your Ford Escape with a loan, more than likely the lender will require that you have insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Ford for a much higher rate and require you to pay for it.
- Insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. Insurance will also pay for most medical and hospital costs for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your Escape more than offset the price you pay, especially if you ever need it. But the average driver in New Jersey is wasting up to $865 each year so it’s important to compare rates each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Best car insurance in New Jersey
Selecting the right auto insurance company can be challenging considering how many companies there are to choose from in Jersey City. The rank data displayed below could help you analyze which providers you want to consider when comparing rate quotes.
Top 10 Jersey City Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- The Hartford – 93%
- Progressive – 90%
- 21st Century – 89%
- USAA – 87%
- Mercury Insurance – 87%
- State Farm – 87%
- Travelers – 87%
- Safeco Insurance – 86%
- AAA Insurance – 86%
- American Family – 85%
Top 10 Jersey City Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- Mercury Insurance
- The Hartford
- American Family
- Progressive
- GEICO
- USAA
- State Farm
- Travelers
- Farmers Insurance
- Allstate
One last thing to lower rates
When you buy Jersey City car insurance online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can find lower-cost Ford Escape insurance in Jersey City. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest car insurance rates come from the smaller companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower premium rates than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Budget-friendly insurance in Jersey City is available both online and with local Jersey City insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not offer internet price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies only sell coverage through local independent agencies.
Even more information can be read at these sites:
- Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Under 21 in Jersey City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Honda CR-V in Jersey City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Jersey City Auto Insurance for Unemployed Drivers? (FAQ)
- How Much are Jersey City Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers Over Age 50? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Hyundai Sonata in Jersey City? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males in Jersey City? (FAQ)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)
- Five Mistakes to Avoid (Insurance Information Institute)