Really, the only way to get budget auto insurance rates is to compare prices once a year from insurers who can sell car insurance in Tucson.
- First, spend a few minutes and learn about policy coverages and the modifications you can make to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases such as speeding tickets, accidents and a substandard credit score can be improved by paying attention to minor details. Later in this article we will cover more information to get better rates and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
- Second, compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
- Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy to determine if you can save on Mountaineer insurance in Tucson. If you find better rates, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Fourth, notify your agent or company of your intent to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a signed application and payment for the new coverage. Immediately upon receiving it, keep the new certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle’s registration.
One bit of advice is to use identical coverage information on every quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this provides a fair rate comparison and a complete rate analysis.
A recent NerdWallet.com study revealed that the vast majority of consumers kept their policy with the same company for at least four years, and practically 40% of car insurance customers have never compared quotes from other companies. With the average car insurance premium being $1,578, Tucson drivers can save up to $730 each year by just shopping around, but they just don’t want to go online and compare rates.
When shopping for cheaper Tucson car insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways to get quotes from different companies. By far the easiest way to comparison shop is simply to get online rate quotes. It’s important to know that comparing a wide range of rates will improve the odds of getting the best rates. Some companies don’t provide online rate quotes, so it’s recommended that you also compare rates on coverage from those companies, too.
The following companies have been selected to offer free rate quotes in Arizona. If your goal is to find cheap car insurance in Tucson, AZ, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.
Auto insurance is not optional in Arizona
Despite the high cost, auto insurance is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to drive the car legally. 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.
- If your Mercury Mountaineer has a loan, almost all lenders will require that you have full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Mercury for a lot more money and require you to pay the higher premium.
- Auto insurance preserves both your assets and your vehicle. Insurance will also pay for all forms of medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance will also pay to defend you if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, your policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly for liability claims. Today the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $820 a year so you should quote your policy with other companies each time the policy renews to ensure rates are competitive.
Facts and figures for Mercury Mountaineer insurance
The price information displayed below showcases estimates of insurance premium costs for Mercury Mountaineer models. Learning as much as possible about how insurance prices are established can assist in making smart choices when choosing a car insurance company.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $214 | $314 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,062 | $89 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $242 | $314 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,090 | $91 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $242 | $370 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,146 | $96 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $242 | $370 | $392 | $24 | $118 | $1,146 | $96 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in specific location which can alter price quotes significantly.
Analysis of deductible levels
One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is at what level do you set your deductibles. The comparisons below may help you to understand the premium difference when you select higher and lower policy deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $232 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,055 | $88 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $262 | $390 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,085 | $90 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $262 | $460 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,155 | $96 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $262 | $460 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $1,155 | $96 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $144 | $246 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $798 | $67 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $162 | $246 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $816 | $68 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $162 | $290 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $860 | $72 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $162 | $290 | $300 | $18 | $90 | $860 | $72 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in Tucson location which can lower or raise prices substantially.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $23 more each month or $276 a year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 33 months between claim filings, you would save more money by selecting a higher deductible.
Do you need full coverage?
The chart below shows the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer auto insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Arizona. Data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to switch to liability coverage only
There isn’t a steadfast formula for eliminating physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s assume your Mercury Mountaineer claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after paying your deductible. If premium cost is more than $800 a year for physical damage coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where removing full coverage is not recommended. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Get cheaper rates by applying discounts
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you may find discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but occasionally some discounts must be manually applied before they will apply. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you could be getting lower rates.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them complete a driver education course in high school.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft so companies will give you a small discount.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can save as much as half off their rates than their less cautious counterparts.
- Early Signing – A few auto insurance companies offer discounts for buying a policy before your current Mountaineer insurance policy expires. It could save around 10% when you buy Tucson car insurance online.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you can avoid the installment charge.
- Distant Student – Children who attend college more than 100 miles from Tucson and do not take a car to college may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 25 to 30%.
- Low Miles Discount – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better prices on cars that stay parked.
- Mature Driver Discount – Older drivers can get a small decrease in premiums.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars with ABS and/or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions and will save you 10% or more on Mountaineer insurance in Tucson.
One last thing about discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
The example below illustrates the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The data is based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Arizona state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.
Auto insurance companies that may offer policyholders these discounts possibly include:
If you are trying to find affordable Tucson car insurance quotes, ask all the companies how many discounts you can get. Discounts may not be available in Tucson. To see a list of companies that offer discounts in Arizona, follow this link.
Car insurance quotes from local neighborhood Tucson car insurance agents
A lot of people still prefer to talk to a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases An additional benefit of getting free rate quotes online is that you can find the lowest rates and also buy local. And buying from neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in Tucson.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the coverage information gets sent to agents in your area that provide free Tucson car insurance quotes to get your business. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact any insurance agencies because prices are sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates and a licensed agent to talk to. In the event you want to compare prices from one company in particular, don’t hesitate to search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
How to choose the best auto insurance agent in Tucson
If you are wanting to purchase car insurance from an insurance agent, it’s important to understand the different agency structures and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Car insurance agencies can be described as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.
Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents that choose to be independent do not write with just one company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you want to switch companies, the business is moved internally which requires no work on your part.
If you are comparing car insurance prices, you should always get insurance quotes from several independent agencies in order to have the best price comparison. Most can insure with small mutual carriers that may provide cheaper car insurance rates.
Shown below is a partial list of independent agents in Tucson that may be able to give you free car insurance rate quotes.
- Mike Pierce Insurance
1809 S 6th Ave – Tucson, AZ 85713 – (520) 884-8488 – View Map - John J Jewell Insurance Agency Inc
5442 E 5th St – Tucson, AZ 85711 – (520) 747-3737 – View Map - RightSure Insurance Group
5151 E Broadway Blvd #120 – Tucson, AZ 85711 – (520) 901-7010 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents of this type can only provide one company’s prices and examples are Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so you need to shop around if the rates are high. Exclusive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on sales techniques and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Some consumers prefer to purchase coverage from exclusives primarily because of the brand and strong financial ratings.
The following is a list of exclusive agencies in Tucson that can give you rate quotes.
- Annie Frits – State Farm Insurance Agent
3320 N Country Club Rd #210 – Tucson, AZ 85716 – (520) 777-7499 – View Map - Mike Severson – State Farm Insurance Agent
5475 S Calle Santa Cruz Ste 161 – Tucson, AZ 85706 – (520) 746-1079 – View Map - Allstate Insurance: David Mahony
5831 E Speedway Blvd – Tucson, AZ 85712 – (520) 721-9355 – View Map
Selecting an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just the price. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
After getting acceptable answers and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is reliable enough to properly service your car insurance policy. Just be aware that it’s your coverage and you can cancel your coverage whenever you want so don’t feel that you are obligated to any specific agency for any length of time.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same insurance coverage
When it comes to choosing coverage online or from an agent for your vehicles, there really is not a one-size-fits-all type of policy. You are unique.
These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation will benefit from professional help.
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Arizona?
- Are combined or split liability limits better?
- What does medical payments coverage do?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.
Persistent drivers can save
When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, switching companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
You just read many ways to shop for Mercury Mountaineer insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get prices for, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Additional information
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Tucson Auto Insurance for Drivers with Good Credit? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21 in Tucson? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for High Risk Drivers in Tucson? (FAQ)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
- What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Prom Night Tips for Teen Drivers (State Farm)