A recent study showed that most car insurance customers have stayed with the same insurance company for over three years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never compared rates with other companies. Tennessee consumers could save 35% each year by just comparing quotes, but most undervalue the amount of savings they would get if they replace their high priced policy.
The best way to save on Ford Focus insurance is to start doing an annual price comparison from providers in Nashville.
- Spend a few minutes and learn about how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to keep rates down. Many rating criteria that cause high rates such as accidents, careless driving, and an unfavorable credit rating can be controlled by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple sources. Select a company
- Compare the price quotes to your current policy and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you can save some money, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
- Provide written notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your existing policy. Submit payment and a completed application to the newly selected company. Be sure to place your new certificate verifying coverage above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
An important part of this process is to try to use the same level of coverage on every quote and and to get prices from as many companies as feasibly possible. This helps ensure an accurate price comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
Finding the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Nashville is much easier if you have a good place to start. If you have a policy now, you should be able to get lower rates using the concepts you’re about to learn. Although Tennessee vehicle owners do need to understand how the larger insurance companies determine what you pay.
When quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing all the rates in your area provides better odds of finding lower pricing.
The companies in the list below are ready to provide free rate quotes in Tennessee. If you wish to find cheap auto insurance in Nashville, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Statistics and details
The information displayed next showcases a range of coverage prices for Ford Focus models. Being able to understand how rate quotes are calculated can help drivers make smart choices when selecting a coverage provider.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $92 | $196 | $272 | $16 | $82 | $658 | $55 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $92 | $196 | $272 | $16 | $82 | $658 | $55 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $92 | $232 | $272 | $16 | $82 | $694 | $58 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $92 | $232 | $272 | $16 | $82 | $694 | $58 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $106 | $232 | $306 | $18 | $92 | $754 | $63 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $106 | $232 | $306 | $18 | $92 | $754 | $63 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Tennessee minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase price quotes substantially.
The information below shows how different deductible levels and can impact Ford Focus insurance rates for each age group. The data is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied.
Does it make sense to buy full coverage?
The example below shows the difference between Ford Focus premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The premiums assume no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There is no set guideline to eliminate full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your Ford Focus claim settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $2,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $200 a year for full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to maintain full coverage to satisfy the loan requirements. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
It may be expensive, but it’s not optional
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Ford Focus in Nashville, auto insurance is a good idea for several reasons.
- Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy specific limits of liability protection in order to get the vehicle licensed. In Tennessee these limits are 25/50/15 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your vehicle has a lienholder, more than likely the lender will force you to have full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender will be forced to insure your Ford for a lot more money and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards both your Ford Focus and your personal assets. It will also pay for medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers legal expenses if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying enough insurance definitely exceed the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. But the average driver in Tennessee is wasting up to $865 each year so you should quote rates once a year at a minimum to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Eight factors that affect insurance premiums
Many different elements are part of the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving record, but other criteria are less obvious like your vehicle usage or your commute time. Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating your insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that could help you find lower rates.
The following are some of the major factors insurance companies consider when setting premiums.
- Single drivers take more risk – Walking down the aisle actually saves money on your insurance bill. Marriage may mean you are more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Use one insurance company and save – Most major insurance companies allow discounts to insureds that purchase more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, consumers should still compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
- Job reflects on rates – Did you know your career choice can influence rates? Jobs like lawyers, architects, and accountants generally pay the highest rates in part from job stress and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as actors, engineers and retirees pay the least.
- Policy add-ons could be costing you – Policies have extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying but may not be useful. Coverage for things like replacement cost coverage, accidental death, and Farm Bureau memberships could be just wasting money. They may sound like good ideas at first, but if you have no use for them think about removing them and cutting costs.
- Lower physical damage deductibles cost more – The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage protection, also called comprehensive and collision insurance, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of some claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and damage from wind. The more you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
- Coverage lapses raise premiums – Going without insurance is a guaranteed way to bump up your insurance costs. In addition to paying higher rates, getting caught without coverage may result in fines and jail time.
- Too many insurance claims will drive insurance rates up – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance companies in Tennessee generally give the lowest premiums to people who only file infrequent claims. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Infrequent drivers can save – Driving more miles each year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that do not get driven very much can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating is showing the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money. An improperly rated Focus is throwing money out the window.
-
Insurance loss data for a Ford Focus – Insurance companies include the past claim history for a vehicle to help set a rate to offset losses. Models that have increased claim numbers or amounts will have increased rates.
The data below shows the collected loss data for Ford Focus vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim amount for all vehicles compiled together is equal to 100. Values that are 100 or less represent a good loss history, while numbers above 100 point to more claims or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
Car Insurance Loss Data for Ford Focus Models Specific Ford Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Ford Focus 106 98 90 103 109 111 Ford Focus Electric 87 85 66 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Auto insurance rates and discounts
Some insurance providers do not advertise the entire discount list in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and also the more inconspicuous credits available to you.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Ford could earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member could mean lower prices.
- Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% but check with your company.
- Professional Organizations – Participating in qualifying employment or professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your bill.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you can combine your auto and home policy with the same insurance company you will save as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Discount for Good Grades – Being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. Many companies even apply the discount to college students up to age 25.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings of 20% or more.
- Student in College – Any of your kids who are enrolled in higher education away from home without a vehicle on campus could qualify for this discount.
Don’t be surprised that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business. But any discount will help reduce the amount you pay for coverage.
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Ford Focus car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no violations or accidents, Tennessee 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, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
Larger auto insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are:
- State Farm has discounts for Drive Safe & Save, multiple autos, safe vehicle, multiple policy, anti-theft, and student away at school.
- Liberty Mutual offers discounts including newly retired, new move discount, multi-policy, newly married, and hybrid vehicle.
- American Family may include discounts for early bird, accident-free, TimeAway discount, defensive driver, bundled insurance, good driver, and Steer into Savings.
- Progressive offers discounts for continuous coverage, homeowner, online signing, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
- Farmers Insurance may offer discounts for bundle discounts, business and professional, homeowner, alternative fuel, youthful driver, teen driver, and electronic funds transfer.
- Auto-Owners Insurance discounts include multiple vehicles, safe driver, anti-theft, company car, mature driver, and group or association.
- SAFECO may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, teen safe driver, safe driver, bundle discounts, and accident prevention training.
Check with each company or agent which discounts you qualify for. Savings might not apply in Nashville. To choose insurance companies with discount rates in Tennessee, click here to view.
Do I need special coverages?
When it comes to buying coverage online or from an agent, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that
For example, these questions might help in determining whether or not you will benefit from professional help.
- How can I get my company to pay me more for my totaled car?
- Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
- When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
- What discounts do I qualify for?
- Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
- What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Neighborhood agents and car insurance
Some people would rather sit down with an agent and that is a smart decision A good thing about getting online price quotes is that you can find lower premium rates but also keep your business local.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your car insurance coverage. You won’t need to find an agent on your own since price quotes are sent to your email. It’s the lowest rates AND a local agent. In the event you want to quote rates from a specific car insurance provider, you would need to navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Choosing the best insurance company is decision based upon more than just a cheap quote. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
- Is the agent properly licensed in Tennessee?
Types of car insurance agents
If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents from which to choose. Car insurance agents are either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These agents can usually just insure with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agents are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. A lot of people use the same exclusive agent mainly due to the brand legacy rather than low price.
Below is a list of exclusive agents in Nashville who may provide you with rate quotes.
- Holly Williams – State Farm Insurance Agent
8010 TN-100 – Nashville, TN 37221 – (615) 662-1551 – View Map - Jerry Matthews – State Farm Insurance Agent
2010 Old Murfreesboro Rd – Nashville, TN 37217 – (615) 361-1516 – View Map - Valinda Burks – State Farm Insurance Agent
2012 8th Ave S – Nashville, TN 37204 – (615) 292-8050 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents that elect to be independent are not employed by one company so they can write business with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If they find a cheaper price, they simply switch companies in-house and the insured can keep the same agent. When comparison shopping, we recommend you get some free quotes from a few independent agents in order to have the best price comparison. Many independent agencies also insure through additional companies that you may not be familiar with who may have lower rates.
Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Nashville who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Eric Jans Insurance Agency
1805 Ordway Pl – Nashville, TN 37206 – (615) 478-7146 – View Map - Greater Nashville Insurance
208 McGavock Pike A – Nashville, TN 37214 – (615) 885-5882 – View Map - Eby Insurance
65 Parris Ave – Nashville, TN 37210 – (615) 254-8343 – View Map
Once you have satisfactory answers to your questions as well as a price you’re happy with, you may have just found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Compare but don’t skimp
In this article, we covered many ideas to lower your Ford Focus insurance premium rates in Nashville. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding inexpensive Nashville auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the best premium rates are with the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Progressive or GEICO.
Lower-priced auto insurance in Nashville can be bought from both online companies and with local Nashville insurance agents, so you need to quote Nashville auto insurance with both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not have the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through local independent agents.
More articles
- Rollover Crash FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance for Hybrid Vehicles in Nashville? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for a Toyota Highlander in Nashville? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for 17 Year Olds in Nashville? (FAQ)
- How Much are Nashville Car Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Nashville Auto Insurance Rates for Felons? (FAQ)
- Front crash protection reduces rear-end crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)
- Safety Features for Your New Car (State Farm)