Unimaginable but true, most car insurance buyers in Maryland kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and just under half have never compared quotes from other companies. With the average premium in the U.S. being $1,847, drivers could pocket $850 a year by just shopping around, but they feel it’s too difficult to shop their coverage around.
If you want to save the most money, the best way to get the cheapest car insurance rates in Baltimore is to compare prices annually from different companies that insure vehicles in Maryland. You can compare rates by following these steps.
Step 1: Gain an understanding of how your policy works and the things you can change to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases like getting speeding tickets and your credit history can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Keep reading for information to get better rates and get bigger discounts that may have been overlooked.
Step 2: Request price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes for a wide range of companies.
Step 3: Compare the price quotes to your existing rates to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find a better price and switch companies, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
An essential thing to point out is to try to compare the same amount of coverage on every quote request and and to compare as many different companies as possible. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and a better comparison of the market.
When quoting car insurance, remember that comparing more quotes helps locate the best rates.
The providers in the list below can provide quotes in Maryland. In order to find cheaper car insurance in Maryland, we recommend you compare several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Insurance rate breakdown
The data table displayed next highlights detailed analysis of rate quotes for Ford Focus models. Having a good grasp of how insurance prices are determined can help you make decisions on the best policy to buy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $618 | $426 | $26 | $128 | $1,460 | $122 |
| Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $618 | $426 | $26 | $128 | $1,460 | $122 |
| Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $728 | $426 | $26 | $128 | $1,570 | $131 |
| Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $262 | $728 | $426 | $26 | $128 | $1,570 | $131 |
| Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $300 | $728 | $482 | $28 | $144 | $1,682 | $140 |
| Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $300 | $728 | $482 | $28 | $144 | $1,682 | $140 |
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Data rating is based on married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in Baltimore location which can increase or decrease auto insurance rates substantially.
Male drivers compared to female drivers
The example below compares Ford Focus auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
Price comparison of only insuring for liability
The information below compares Ford Focus premium costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Maryland. The rates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no definitive rule of when to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Ford Focus replacement cost is $9,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $8,000 after the deductible is paid. If it’s costing in excess of $800 a year for your policy with full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
There are a few situations where dropping full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Why you need Focus insurance in Maryland
Despite the high insurance cost for a Ford Focus in Baltimore, insurance is required for several reasons.
First, almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability protection in order to drive the car. In Maryland these limits are 30/60/15 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, almost all lenders will require that you have full coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Ford for a lot more money and force you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.
Third, insurance safeguards your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay to defend you in the event you are sued. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, your insurance policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is wasting up to $820 a year so you should quote rates at every policy renewal to save money.
Reduce Insurance Rates with These Tips
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving record, although others are not as apparent such as your credit history and annual miles driven.
- Deter car thieves – Driving a car with advanced anti-theft systems can help lower your rates. Theft deterrent systems like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
- Adjust coverage deductibles and save – Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers your vehicle from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, hail damage, and burglary. Comp and collision deductibles are the amount of money you are required to pay if a covered claim is submitted. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
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Pay more for higher performance vehicles – The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in your rates. Smaller low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest premiums, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The next chart assumes a single female driver age 20, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Ford Focus car insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have a range of performance rating factors.
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Don’t get traffic citations – Just one chargeable violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. People who have multiple violations such as DUI or willful reckless driving might be required by their state to prove financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
The illustration below demonstrates how citations and at-fault collisions can affect Ford Focus insurance prices for different insured age categories. The premiums are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
- The more you drive the more you pay – Driving a lot of miles in a year the more you’ll pay to insure it. The majority of insurers charge rates partially by how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks that have low annual miles get more affordable rates than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Focus is throwing money out the window. It’s always a good idea to double check that your car insurance policy reflects annual mileage.
- Save money by staying claim free – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in Maryland give lower rates to people that do not abuse their auto insurance. Your car insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
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Ford Focus statistical loss data – Companies use data from past claims to calculate a rate that will offset losses. Models that statistically have higher losses will be charged more to insure. The table below outlines the actual insurance loss data for Ford Focus vehicles.
For each coverage category, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together is considered to be 100. Numbers under 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while values that are above 100 point to more losses or statistically larger losses.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Ford Focus Vehicles 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: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Lower-cost Baltimore insurance rates with discounts
Companies that sell car insurance do not list all discounts very well, so the following list contains both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to bring down your rates. If you are not receiving all the discounts possible, you could be paying more than you need to.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of nearly 15% which can help you find inexpensive Ford Focus insurance in Baltimore.
- Early Signing – Some insurance companies provide a discount for buying a new policy prior to your current Focus insurance policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- 55 and Retired – Mature drivers are able to get a discount up to 10%.
- Discounts for New Vehicles – Insuring a new Focus may earn a small discount because newer models keep occupants safer.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars and trucks that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can stop better under adverse conditions and will save you 10% or more on Focus insurance in Baltimore.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed in the military could qualify you for better insurance rates.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts as much as 30%.
A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, you aren’t that lucky.
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Ford Focus insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. The costs are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, Maryland state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, marriage, multi-car, safe-driver, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Some of the insurance companies who may offer these benefits include:
When comparing rates, check with every prospective company how many discounts you can get. All car insurance discounts might not apply in every state. To choose providers that offer the discounts shown above in Maryland, click here to view.
Exclusive or independent auto insurance agents
A lot of people still like to visit with an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about comparing auto insurance online is you may find cheap rate quotes and still buy from a local agent. And providing support for small agencies is especially important in Baltimore.
After filling out this quick form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to insurance agents in Baltimore that can give you free Baltimore car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to contact an agency due to the fact that quote results will go instantly to you. It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you need to compare prices from a specific insurance company, you can always go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Finding the right insurance company should depend on more than just the quoted price. Below are some questions you should ask.
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Maryland?
- Are all drivers listed on the coverage quote?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
Affordable car insurance premiums are out there
In this article, we presented many tips how you can find affordable Ford Focus insurance in Baltimore. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get prices for, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a small local company. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.
Lower-priced Ford Focus insurance in Baltimore is attainable both online in addition to many Baltimore insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not have the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.
Other information
- Speed and Speed Limit FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Low Mileage Drivers in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Equinox in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Ford Edge in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)