Buying cheap insurance for a Ford Explorer in California is fairly simple, but it hinges on a very complex rating algorithm that uses multiple factors such as how far you drive to work, your credit status, and any prior driving offenses you have. California drivers pay on average $1,034 per year to insure their Explorer, but that cost is an estimation using a 50-year-old married female driver with full coverage and $500 deductibles.
The issue that arises when projecting rates is that it’s very likely that you aren’t exactly 50 years old or even a female, possibly single instead of married, and maybe you want different deductibles. Even a slight change in the criteria used to calculate rates can result in a big discrepancy in the cost of a policy.
Having different needs demonstrates why the only real way to find cheap insurance rates for your Ford is to do a thorough rate comparison.
The trim level of your Explorer has an effect on the coverage cost, so the price you pay to insure a Explorer XLT 2WD trim level will cost $98 less than the price to insure the fancier Explorer Limited AWD trim level, as shown in the chart below.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer XLT 2WD | $214 | $316 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,094 | $91 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $214 | $316 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,094 | $91 |
| Explorer XLT 4WD | $214 | $316 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,094 | $91 |
| Explorer XLT AWD | $214 | $316 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,094 | $91 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $242 | $386 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
| Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $242 | $386 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
| Explorer Limited 2WD | $242 | $386 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
| Explorer Limited 4WD | $242 | $386 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
| Explorer Limited AWD | $242 | $386 | $416 | $24 | $124 | $1,192 | $99 |
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Table data represents married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can decrease or increase insurance rates noticeably.
Determining which companies offer the cheapest insurance rates for a Ford Explorer may require more time in order to find the lowest price. Every insurance provider uses their own method for filing rates in each state, so we’ll go over the lowest cost insurance companies in California.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Your Explorer
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wawanesa | $1,146 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,155 |
| 3 | Century National | $1,190 |
| 4 | CSAA | $1,222 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $1,250 |
| 6 | 21st Century | $1,379 |
| 7 | Grange | $1,433 |
| 8 | Mercury | $1,488 |
| 9 | GEICO | $1,513 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,541 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,542 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,543 |
| 13 | The Hartford | $1,575 |
| 14 | MetLife | $1,638 |
| 15 | State Farm | $1,682 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,733 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,756 |
| 18 | Bristol West | $1,831 |
| 19 | Travelers | $1,842 |
| 20 | Farmers | $1,966 |
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Wawanesa has some of the best car insurance rates in Sacramento at around $1,146 annually. This is $505 less than the average rate paid by California drivers of $1,651. USAA, Century National, CSAA, and Nationwide also make the cut as some of the more affordable Sacramento, CA insurance companies.
In this example, if you currently have a policy with CSAA and switched to USAA, you could see savings of roughly $67. California drivers with Nationwide may save as much as $95 a year, and 21st Century insureds might cut rates by $224 a year.
Remember that these premium estimates are averaged for all insureds and vehicles and and are not calculated with an exact location for a Ford Explorer. So the car insurance company that can offer you the best price may not even be in the top 24 companies in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get quotes using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
The example below highlights how deductible choice can change insurance premiums when trying to find cheap insurance for a Ford Explorer. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, a 50-year-old driver could lower their policy premium by $434 a year by switching the physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $656 by using a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the Age 20 category, can cut $1,098 each year just by choosing larger deductibles. If you do make the decision to raise your deductibles, it is important to have enough savings set aside to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense that is associated with using high deductibles.
Careless Sacramento drivers pay higher rates
The easiest way to obtain affordable insurance rates in California for an Explorer is to be a safe driver and have a clean driving record. The example below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can increase car insurance costs for each different age group. The data is based on a married female driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
The chart shows that the average cost of auto insurance in California per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,704. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $1,990, an increase of $285 each year. Now include two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of insurance for a Ford Explorer increases to an average of $4,651. That’s an increase of $2,947, or $246 per month, just for being a careless driver!
Why you should shop around for Explorer insurance
Sacramento, CA insurance rates are based on many factors that may substantially change the cost of your policy. Getting older, buying higher coverage limits, or having an at-fault accident may cause policy rate changes that can make some companies affordable when they were higher priced. Also, insurers change their prices as often as every quarter to ensure their profitability. Heavier than normal losses may cause a rate increase, while a lower level of claims can produce lower-priced Explorer insurance rates.
To help illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows the cheapest car insurance in Sacramento, CA for a 30-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and great credit. When quoting prices based on her personal risk profile, USAA has the lowest car insurance rates in Sacramento at $1,405 each year. This is $246 less than the average premium paid by California drivers of $1,651. Wawanesa, CSAA, Century National, and Nationwide are the rest of the most affordable Sacramento, CA auto insurance companies.
Now we will give the driver from the first set of rates a chargeable accident, slightly worse credit, and a speeding ticket. Due to the fact that every insurance company has their own guidelines to determining premium rates, analyzing rate quotes could result in a substantially altered list of companies as shown below.
Grange now has the best price on car insurance in Sacramento, CA with Mercury, GEICO, Allied, and Allstate now rounding out the top five. This example shows why drivers need to compare as many rates as possible when trying to get affordable car insurance quotes for a Ford Explorer. Car insurance prices are impacted by many different factors and change substantially, so the best option when you bought your policy may now be quite expensive.
How to find the cheapest car insurance for a Ford Explorer
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are many penny-pinching ideas that can help California drivers buy more affordable coverage.
- Do not get traffic violations
- Do not get into accidents that are your fault
- Drive vehicles with five-star safety ratings
- Raise your physical damage coverage deductibles
- Higher credit scores may earn you cheaper rates
- Compare rates regularly to ensure the best deal
The last suggestion is incredibly necessary, as was affirmed in the prior article. Insurance prices change constantly, so don’t be afraid to switch carriers if a lower price can be found. Having a favorite company is fine, but it’s not a good idea if it’s costing you thousands of dollars over several years. Spend a few minutes and compare prices to find cheaper auto insurance for a Ford Explorer in Sacramento.