Mercury Mountaineer Insurance Rates in San Jose

The best way we recommend to get affordable Mercury Mountaineer insurance in San Jose is to compare prices annually from insurers that sell auto insurance in California. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.

• First, read about how car insurance works and the things you can control to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price like speeding tickets, accidents and your credit history can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover the details to get better rates and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
• Second, request rate estimates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. Select a company
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to the premium of your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate quote and buy the policy, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
• Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company to cancel your current policy and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application to the new company. As soon as you have the new policy, place the new certificate verifying coverage with the vehicle registration.

One key aspect of rate comparisons is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical deductibles and limits on every quote and and to compare as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a good representation of prices.

A recent survey discovered that most car insurance policyholders kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and just short of a majority have never compared rate quotes at all. The average driver in California could save almost $469 every year by just shopping around, but most just don’t grasp the amount of money they would save if they just switched companies.

When comparison shopping, there are several ways of comparing rate quotes from many different California insurance companies. One of the best ways to do a complete rate comparison is to use the internet to compare rates.

When quoting insurance, remember that comparing more prices helps locate a lower rate than you’re paying now.

The providers in the list below have been selected to offer comparison quotes in California. If more than one company is shown, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the cheapest price.

Take these ten policy discounts and save on Mercury Mountaineer insurance in San Jose

Some insurers don’t necessarily list every discount they offer in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits available to you.

• Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies give discounts for signing up early. You can save around 10% with this discount.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Options like air bags may qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
• Low Mileage – Driving less could qualify for substantially lower auto insurance rates.
• Accident Forgiveness Coverage – This one is not really a discount per se, but a handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up so long as you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
• Life Insurance – If the company offers life insurance, you could get a discount if you purchase some life insurance too.
• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to qualifying clubs or civic groups could qualify you for a break when getting a San Jose auto insurance quote.
• Government Employee Discount – Simply working for the federal government may qualify for a discount when you quote San Jose auto insurance with some auto insurance companies.
• Distant Student – Kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
• Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds who allow companies to track driving habits by using a telematics device such as Progressive’s Snapshot could see a rate decrease as long as they are good drivers.
• Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to buckle up before driving could save 15% on medical payment and PIP coverage.

Just know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

The chart below shows the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The rates are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver discounts applied.

If you would like to choose from a list of companies that offer multiple discounts in California, click this link.

Mercury Mountaineer insurance analysis

The coverage table displayed below showcases a range of policy rates for Mercury Mountaineer models. Having a good understanding how auto insurance prices are determined can assist in making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.

Premium data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Table data does not factor in garaging location in San Jose which can raise or lower insurance rates substantially.

An analysis of deductible level

When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is where to set your physical damage deductibles. The tables below can help you understand how much more rates are between low and high deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in vehicle location which can affect rates noticeably.

We can derive from the above data that using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $47 more each month or $564 for a full year averaged for all Mountaineer models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $900 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 19 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off going with the higher deductible.

The chart below shows how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease Mercury Mountaineer insurance prices for each different age category. The data assumes a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Irresponsible driving raises your rates

The diagram below demonstrates how traffic citations and at-fault collisions can increase Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates for different age categories. Data assumes a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

Does it make sense to buy full coverage?

The information below shows the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer insurance premiums when comparing full coverage to liability only. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no other discounts are factored in.

When to drop comp and collision

There is no specific rule of when to exclude full coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Mercury Mountaineer claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premiums are more than $600 a year for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.

There are some cases where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.

Are insurance agents used anymore?

Some consumers just want to sit down and talk to an agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is that you can find cheaper rates and still have an agent to talk to. And buying from small agencies is important especially in San Jose.

After completing this quick form, the coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in San Jose who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to leave your house because prices are sent straight to your inbox. You can most likely find cheaper rates and work with a local agent. If you want to compare prices from a specific insurance company, just search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.

If you are wanting to purchase insurance from a local San Jose insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies that you can select. Agents in San Jose are considered either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents often have affiliation with several companies so they can insure your vehicles through many different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If prices rise, your agent can just switch to a different company and you can keep the same agent.

If you are comparing rate quotes, you need to get several quotes from several independent insurance agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison. Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.

Featured below is a list of independent insurance agencies in San Jose who can help you get price quote information.

• Casey Nguyen Insurance Agency, Inc.
  1639 Meridian Ave a – San Jose, CA 95125 – (408) 286-4467 – View Map
• Care Insurance Agency Inc
  900 N 1st St E – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 292-2925 – View Map
• Khalsa Insurance Agency
  3750 McKee Rd A – San Jose, CA 95127 – (408) 272-2500 – View Map

View more agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents of this type can usually just insure with one company like Allstate and State Farm. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the brand instead of buying on price only.

Shown below are San Jose exclusive insurance agents who can help you get price quotes.

• Art Holland – State Farm Insurance Agent
  5520 Almaden Expy – San Jose, CA 95118 – (408) 229-7870 – View Map
• Farmers Insurance – Roger Nguyen
  478 E Santa Clara St #216 – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 293-7250 – View Map
• John Hong – State Farm Insurance Agent
  1777 Saratoga Ave #100 – San Jose, CA 95129 – (408) 777-8700 – View Map

View more agents

Choosing the best auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. Here are some questions you might want to ask.

• Is every driver in your family covered?
• Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
• Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
• Can glass claims be handled at your home?
• Will a damage claim use OEM or aftermarket replacement parts?
• Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
• How many companies do they write for?
• Does the company have a local claim office in San Jose?

After talking to the agent and getting positive responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that can be relied on to properly service your insurance policy. But keep in mind it’s your coverage and you can terminate coverage for any reason so never feel that you are obligated to the insurance policy for the full term.

Insuring your vehicle just makes sense

Even though San Jose Mountaineer insurance rates can get expensive, paying for insurance is a good idea for several reasons.

• Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability in order to drive the car. 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 Mountaineer, it’s guaranteed your bank will have a requirement that you carry insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Mercury for a much higher rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
• Insurance protects your Mercury and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your policy will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of insuring your Mountaineer greatly outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying more than $869 every year so shop around at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.

Insurance coverages 101

Learning about specific coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Coverage for medical expenses

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for things like chiropractic care, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Coverage for liability

Liability coverage will cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 15/30/5 that means you have a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.

The illustration below shows why buying minimum limits may not be adequate coverage.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

This gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Mercury Mountaineer.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (California limits are 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, falling objects, damage from flooding and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Auto collision coverage

This covers damage to your Mountaineer resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter, sideswiping another vehicle and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your Mountaineer in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Quote. Compare. Save.

Cheap Mercury Mountaineer insurance in San Jose is available online as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not offer rates over the internet and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, not issuing a premium refund or delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching insurance companies is easier than you think.

When you buy San Jose auto insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while not skimping on critical coverages.

Additional insurance information can be found on the following sites:

• State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)
• Who Has Affordable San Jose Auto Insurance for a Dodge Ram? (FAQ)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for a Company Car in San Jose? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for 17 Year Olds in San Jose? (FAQ)
• Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)
• How do I File a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Auto Theft Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)