Who Has Cheap Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Alabama?

Who Has Cheap Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Alabama?

When we talk about auto insurance, the word affordable should never be used as a descriptor for auto insurance rates. Forgive the oxymoron, but cheap auto insurance for a Ford Explorer just does not exist. Don’t let that get you down, though, because we will tell you how you can still get car insurance that may not be cheap, but it is affordable.

The chances of finding the best cheap insurance for a Ford Explorer in Alabama hinges on a pretty complex algorithm that uses a lot of factors like the number of years you have been licensed, your credit status, and driving citations. Drivers in Alabama on average pay approximately $1,160 annually for Explorer insurance, but that price is a projection based on a 40-year-old single male that wants full coverage and $250 deductibles.

The issue that arises when projecting rates is that it’s very likely that you’re not a 40-year-old male, you might be married instead of single, or maybe your Explorer is an older model. Even a slight change in policy rating factors can generate big changes in the cost of a policy.

Not everyone needs the same coverages, so the best way to find affordable rates for your Ford is to just compare rates yourself.

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The specific model of Explorer has an effect on the cost of coverage, so the rate you pay to insure a Explorer XLT 2WD model will be $122 cheaper than the price to insure the higher-priced Explorer Limited AWD trim level, as shown in the table below.

Ford Explorer Insurance Rates in Alabama
Model Comp Collision Liability Medical UM/UIM Annual Premium Monthly Premium
Explorer XLT 2WD $256 $416 $408 $24 $122 $1,226 $102
Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD $256 $416 $408 $24 $122 $1,226 $102
Explorer XLT 4WD $256 $416 $408 $24 $122 $1,226 $102
Explorer XLT AWD $256 $416 $408 $24 $122 $1,226 $102
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD $288 $506 $408 $24 $122 $1,348 $112
Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD $288 $506 $408 $24 $122 $1,348 $112
Explorer Limited 2WD $288 $506 $408 $24 $122 $1,348 $112
Explorer Limited 4WD $288 $506 $408 $24 $122 $1,348 $112
Explorer Limited AWD $288 $506 $408 $24 $122 $1,348 $112
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Prices above based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Alabama minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in garaging location in Alabama which can increase or decrease price quotes greatly.

Finding a high-quality insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Alabama. The company rank data in the lists below can help you analyze which auto insurance companies to look at when comparing rate quotes. These rankings only include companies with a national presence, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Alabama are not taken into consideration for this list.

Top Ten Insurance Companies in Alabama
Company Value Customer Service Claims Customer Satisfaction A.M Best Rating Overall Score
Travelers 93 98 99 88% A++ 95.1
USAA 83 99 100 91% A++ 94.1
AAA Insurance 91 95 92 90% A 93.3
Nationwide 85 95 97 89% A+ 92.4
Allstate 77 100 97 88% A+ 90.7
State Farm 80 94 96 88% A++ 90.6
The Hartford 88 93 91 87% A+ 90.4
Safeco Insurance 91 95 85 88% A 90.2
Progressive 88 94 83 88% A+ 90.1
American Family 91 86 95 83% A 89.7
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies

How violations and accidents impact rates

A great way to enjoy cheap insurance for a Ford Explorer in Alabama is to be a careful driver and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The chart below illustrates how speeding tickets and accidents raise insurance premiums for different ages of insureds. The costs are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

The data charted above shows the average cost of a car insurance policy in Alabama per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $2,218. Factor in two speeding tickets and the average cost rises to $2,987, an increase of $769 each year. Next add one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of insurance for a Ford Explorer increases to an average of $3,748. That’s an increase of $1,530, or $128 per month, just for not driving attentively!

Full coverage versus liability-only

Finding cheap insurance for a Ford Explorer in Alabama is the goal of most drivers, and an effective way to find cheaper insurance is to only pay for liability coverage. The example below compares yearly insurance costs when comparing full coverage to liability only. The rates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

On average, comp and collision coverage costs an additional $2,340 per year more than buying just liability insurance. That is a significant amount which raises the question if paying for full coverage is worth it. There is no definitive guideline of when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.

How to find the cheapest auto insurance for a Ford Explorer

It is possible to find better rates, and here are a few penny-pinching solutions that can help Alabama drivers quote lower-cost car insurance.

  • Raise comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles
  • Get cheaper liability coverage by choosing a safer vehicle
  • Save money by obeying traffic laws and keeping a clean driving record
  • Do not pay for comprehensive and collision coverage on older vehicles
  • Good credit can mean cheaper rates
  • Drive attentively and avoid accidents
  • Compare rate quotes frequently

That final tip is remarkably important, as was noted in this write-up. Car insurance rates in Alabama go up and down frequently, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy from a new company if you find a better deal. Having brand loyalty is commendable, but we do not recommend it if that inflexibility results in costing you hundreds of dollars a year. If you have a few minutes, shop around and find cheaper insurance for a Ford Explorer.