It’s safe to conclude that car insurance companies want to keep you from comparing rates. Consumers who perform rate comparisons are likely to move their business because they have good chances of finding a cheaper policy. A recent auto insurance study revealed that people who made a habit of comparing rates saved $865 annually compared to drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding the cheapest rates on auto insurance in Buffalo is your objective, knowing how to find and compare coverages can save money and time.
The most effective way to find affordable quotes for Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance in Buffalo is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers that sell auto insurance in New York.
First, get a basic knowledge of individual coverages and the factors you can control to keep rates in check. Many things that cause high rates like at-fault accidents, careless driving, and an imperfect credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
Second, request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can provide prices for a wide range of insurance providers. Find a Buffalo insurance agent
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate quote, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Fourth, notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel the current policy and submit a completed application and payment for your new coverage. As soon as coverage is bound, place your new proof of insurance paperwork in your glove compartment.
An essential thing to point out is to try to compare similar coverage information on each quote request and and to analyze as many carriers as you can. This ensures a level playing field and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Companies offering Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance in New York
The companies shown below offer comparison quotes in New York. To get the best cheap auto insurance in Buffalo, NY, we recommend you visit several of them to get the cheapest price.
Rates and statistics
The premium information shown below outlines estimates of prices for Ford Fusion Hybrid models. Learning a little about how premiums are figured can help you make informed decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $230 | $468 | $330 | $20 | $100 | $1,148 | $96 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in specific zip code location which can raise or lower rates considerably.
Physical damage deductibles
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The data tables below determine the cost difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $230 | $468 | $330 | $20 | $100 | $1,173 | $98 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $142 | $294 | $330 | $20 | $100 | $886 | $74 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can revise coverage prices significantly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $24 more each month or $288 a year averaged for all Fusion Hybrid models than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more if you turn in a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average at a minimum 31 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money by going with a higher deductible. The table below shows how this decision is made.
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $98 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $74 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $24 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $24 |
Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 31 months |
The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels and can affect Ford Fusion Hybrid annual premium costs for each age group. The costs are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage versus liability only rates
The chart below compares Ford Fusion Hybrid car insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The prices are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
When to drop comprehensive and collision
There isn’t a steadfast formula to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than around 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Ford Fusion Hybrid book 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 paying your deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $200 annually to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to keep full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
What Impacts Ford Fusion Hybrid Insurance Costs?
Lots of factors are considered when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like an MVR report, although some other factors are not quite as obvious such as whether you are married or your commute time.
-
Teenage drivers cost more – Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims, and receive fewer citations. Drivers with little experience are statistically proven to be more careless behind the wheel and because of this, their insurance rates are much higher.
The following chart uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
-
Gender and auto insurance costs – Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. They both cause accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. Not only are claims higher, but men have more aggressive citations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving. Young males generally have the highest accident percentage and are penalized with high insurance rates.
The information below shows the comparison of Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no claims or violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
- Extra coverages are wasting money – There are a ton of additional coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Add-on coverages like vanishing deductibles, accidental death, and term life insurance are probably not needed. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you have no use for them remove them and pocket the money.
-
Impacts performance impacts auto insurance rates – The make and model of the car you are trying to find cheaper insurance for makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Lower cost passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The following data is based on a married male driver age 30, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Ford Fusion Hybrid rates compared to other vehicles that have different performance risks.
- Insurance rates for married couples – Getting married can actually save you money compared to being single. It translates into being more financially stable and statistics prove drivers who are married are more cautious.
- Don’t cut corners with liability – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection when you are ruled to be at fault for physical damage or personal injury to other. It provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is relatively inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
-
Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance loss statistics – Insurers take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle when they calculate premium costs for each model. Models that the data determines to have a trend towards higher claim severity or frequency will cost more for coverage.
The table shown below demonstrates the insurance loss data for Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles, as an average, is equal to 100. Numbers that are below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate more frequent losses or tendency to have higher losses.
Ford Fusion Hybrid Insurance Claim Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Ford Fusion Hybrid 125 97 98 92 93 95 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
Discount Buffalo auto insurance rates
Car insurance companies do not list all available discounts very well, so here is a list some of the more common and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your entire bill at once rather than spreading payments over time you can avoid monthly service charges.
- No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less in comparison with accident-prone drivers.
- 55 and Retired – Mature drivers are able to get reduced rates.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Options like air bags or motorized seat belts could see savings up to 30%.
- Employee of Federal Government – Federal government employees may reduce rates when you quote Buffalo car insurance with some auto insurance companies.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices can help prevent theft and that can save you a little bit as well.
- Distant College Student Discount – Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
- Buffalo Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can get you a discount since home ownership requires personal responsibility.
- Online Discount – Certain insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
- Telematics Discount – Insureds who allow data collection to spy on where and when they drive by using a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise could see a rate decrease as long as the data is positive.
Just know that most discount credits are not given to the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
The chart below illustrates the difference between Ford Fusion Hybrid auto insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, no claims or driving citations, New York state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.
To see a list of auto insurance companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in New York, click here to view.
Get rate quotes but buy from a local Buffalo insurance agent
Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. An additional benefit of comparing rate quotes online is that you can find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After filling out this simple form, the quote information is immediately sent to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your car insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any agents because quoted prices will be sent immediately to you. You can get cheaper car insurance rates AND an agent nearby. If you need to quote rates from a specific insurance company, you just need to jump over to their website to submit a rate quote request.
Picking the best provider is decision based upon more than just a cheap price quote. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Will one accident increase rates?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- What companies can they write with?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Are they in the agency full-time?
If you want a reputable agency, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents that you can choose from. Car insurance agencies can be categorized as either independent or exclusive.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only write with one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are well trained on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agents in Buffalo who can help you get price quote information.
Marc Scherrer – State Farm Insurance Agent
2165 Sheridan Dr – Buffalo, NY 14223 – (716) 875-0524 – View Map
Lou Santiago – State Farm Insurance Agent
557 Niagara St – Buffalo, NY 14201 – (716) 883-5500 – View Map
Dan Schmidt – State Farm Insurance Agent
615 Elmwood Ave – Buffalo, NY 14222 – (716) 783-9460 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agencies do not work for one specific company and that allows them to write policies through lots of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and that require little work on your part. If you need lower rates, you should always get several quotes from multiple independent agents in order to have the best price comparison.
Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Buffalo that can give you comparison quotes.
Encompass Agency, Inc.
142 Niagara Falls Blvd – Buffalo, NY 14214 – (716) 835-6790 – View Map
GPA Insurance Inc
520 Lee Entrance # 120 – Buffalo, NY 14228 – (716) 681-1556 – View Map
Niagara National Insurance
5001 Genesee St – Buffalo, NY 14225 – (716) 684-6000 – View Map
Once you have received positive feedback to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that is professional and can provide car insurance coverage.
Which auto insurance company is best in Buffalo?
Choosing a highly-rated insurance provider is hard considering how many companies sell insurance in Buffalo. The rank data in the next section could help you select which auto insurers to look at shopping prices with.
Top 10 Buffalo Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- Mercury Insurance
- The Hartford
- American Family
- Progressive
- USAA
- Travelers
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Allstate
- Farmers Insurance
Top 10 Buffalo Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Progressive
- USAA
- Liberty Mutual
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- The General
- The Hartford
- 21st Century
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When selecting insurance from an agent or online, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique.
For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- What if a claim settlement is too low?
- Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
- Is water damage covered by my policy?
- Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
- How long can I keep a teen driver on my policy?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in New York?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Don’t give up on cheap rates
Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, extreme rates for teen drivers, being labeled a high risk driver or denial of a claim. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company can be easier than you think.
Discount Ford Fusion Hybrid insurance in Buffalo is definitely available on the web as well as from insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not provide internet price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agents.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Additional detailed information can be found by following these links:
- What are my Rights when Filing a Claim? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Felons in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for High School Students in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for 4×4 Vehicles in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for 17 Year Olds in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Buffalo Car Insurance for High Risk Drivers? (FAQ)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)