Do you want an efficient way to compare lower-priced Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Seattle? Finding cheap Seattle Mercury Mountaineer insurance quotes on the internet may seem to be rather difficult for beginners to online price comparisons. Since there are so many companies, how can you have time to compare every company in order to find the lowest rates?
Statistics show that about 70% of customers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for over three years, and just short of a majority have never even shopped around for cheap coverage. Washington consumers could save an average of nearly $400 each year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don’t grasp how much savings they would realize if they replace their high priced policy.
Smart consumers take time to compare rates quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the best premium rates on Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Seattle six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the easiest way to buy cheaper Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Seattle.
When price shopping your coverage, comparing more quotes increases the chance that you will find a lower rate.
The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Seattle, WA. If the list has multiple companies, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to find the most competitive car insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $160 | $304 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $918 | $77 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $180 | $304 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $938 | $78 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $180 | $358 | $334 | $20 | $100 | $992 | $83 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $326 | $540 | $386 | $22 | $116 | $1,390 | $116 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price information does not factor in zip code location which can modify auto insurance rates greatly.
Where to set your deductibles
The example below highlights how deductible choice and can influence Mercury Mountaineer annual premium costs for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Drive safe and save
The example below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can impact Mercury Mountaineer insurance premiums for different age groups. The premiums are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Price comparison of only insuring for liability
The example below shows the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates when comparing full coverage to liability only. The premium estimates are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, married female driver, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Are you wasting money paying for full coverage?
There is no definitive formula to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Mercury Mountaineer book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $5,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $500 a year for full coverage, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
There are some cases where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
Insuring your Mercury vehicle just makes sense
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Mercury in Seattle, insuring your vehicle is mandatory in Washington but it also protects more than you think.
- Almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability coverage in order to drive the car legally. In Washington these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you bought your vehicle with a loan, it’s most likely the lender will stipulate that you have full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totalled. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Mercury at a significantly higher premium and require you to fork over for it.
- Insurance safeguards both your Mercury Mountaineer and your personal assets. It also can pay for all forms of medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your Mercury as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly for liability claims. But the average driver in Washington overpays more than $810 a year so compare rate quotes at every renewal to save money.
Affordable Seattle car insurance rates with discounts
Some insurers don’t always advertise the complete list of policy discounts very well, so the next list breaks down some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving when you buy Seattle car insurance online.
- Discount for New Cars – Buying a new car instead of a used Mountaineer can save you some money because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you combine your auto and homeowners policies and place coverage with the same company they may give you a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.
- Claim-Free Discount – Drivers with accident-free driving histories are rewarded with significantly better rates on Seattle car insurance quote compared to drivers with a long claim history.
- Homeowners Savings – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings because it means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Switch and Save Discount – Select companies give a discount for switching companies prior to your current Mountaineer insurance policy expiration. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles may allow you to get lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Theft Deterrent – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems have a lower chance of being stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Data Collection Discounts – Drivers that enable driving data collection to study vehicle usage by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates if their driving habits are good.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
To find providers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Washington, follow this link.
Local Seattle insurance agents
Some people would rather get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of comparing rate quotes online is that you can find cheap rate quotes and also buy local. Buying from and supporting neighborhood agents is still important in Seattle.
After completing this short form, your coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in Seattle that provide free Seattle car insurance quotes for your car insurance coverage. You don’t have to leave your house because prices are sent to your email. You can find the lowest rates and work with a local agent. If you need to compare rates for a specific company, don’t hesitate to search and find their rate quote page and fill out their quote form.
If you are wanting to find a local Seattle insurance agent, it’s helpful to know the types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Car insurance agencies can be classified as either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are not restricted to one company and that gives them the ability to insure through lots of different companies and find you the best rates. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move your policy to a different company which is easy for the insured. If you need lower rates, you absolutely need to check rates from a couple of independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison. A lot of them also have access to small regional insurance companies that many times have cheaper rates.
The following is a short list of independent agencies in Seattle who may be able to give you competitive price quotes.
- Northwest Insurance Group
6055 California Ave SW – Seattle, WA 98136 – (206) 932-2500 – View Map - Roy Potter Insurance
412 Queen Anne Ave N – Seattle, WA 98109 – (206) 284-0470 – View Map - C. Don Filer Agency
4201 Roosevelt Way NE #200 – Seattle, WA 98105 – (800) 701-5909 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agencies have only one company to place business with and examples are Farmers Insurance, State Farm, or Allstate. They generally cannot place coverage with different providers so you might not find the best rates. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on sales techniques which can be an advantage. Some people will only buy from exclusive agents mainly due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.
Listed below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Seattle willing to provide rate quotes.
- Terry Gangon – State Farm Insurance Agent
4727 44th Ave SW Ste 100 – Seattle, WA 98116 – (206) 935-9955 – View Map - Kent Christianson – State Farm Insurance Agent
1705 N 45th, Ste A – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 632-8000 – View Map - AAA Washington Insurance Agency – Seattle
320 NE 97th St c – Seattle, WA 98115 – (206) 529-2700 – View Map
Finding the right car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the quoted price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- How are claims handled?
- Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
- How would your car be valued if totalled?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
- What insurance companies do they work with in Seattle?
- How much experience to they have in personal lines coverages?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
When in doubt talk to an agent
When quoting and choosing adequate coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are unique to you so this has to be addressed.
For instance, these questions might point out if you may require specific advice.
- Am I covered if I back into my garage door?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
- Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
- What is an umbrella policy?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Car insurance 101
Having a good grasp of auto insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Listed below are typical coverages available from auto insurance companies.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Mercury Mountaineer.
Due to the fact that many Washington drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Collision protection
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Mountaineer resulting from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things like damaging your car on a curb, backing into a parked car, crashing into a building, crashing into a ditch and driving through your garage door. 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 choose a higher deductible on your Mountaineer to bring the cost down.
Auto liability
This provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/10 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $10,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for claims like loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects and structural damage. How much coverage you buy is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible. Washington state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like prosthetic devices, chiropractic care, nursing services, ambulance fees and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Quote. Compare. Save.
When you buy Seattle car insurance online, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at the lowest possible cost and still be able to protect your assets.
In this article, we covered many ideas to shop for Mercury Mountaineer insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest prices come from some of the smallest insurance companies. They often have lower rates on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
Additional resources
- Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Low Mileage Drivers in Seattle? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes with Multiple Speeding Tickets in Seattle? (FAQ)
- How Much are Seattle Car Insurance Rates for 19 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Business Use in Seattle? (FAQ)
- Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)