Astonishing but true according to a recent study, nearly 70% of consumers kept buying from the same company for four years or more, and practically 40% of car insurance customers have never compared rate quotes at all. Buffalo consumers could save about 45% a year by just comparing quotes, but they just don’t understand how easy it is to find affordable car insurance rates.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to get discount Mercury Mariner insurance is to annually compare prices from providers in Buffalo.
- First, spend some time learning about individual coverages and the modifications you can make to keep rates low. Many rating criteria that cause high rates such as your driving record and an unfavorable credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Second, obtain price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple sources. View prices
- Third, compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
The key thing to remember is to make sure you’re comparing similar deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to compare as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this guarantees an accurate price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
The quickest method we recommend to compare car insurance rates for Mercury Mariner insurance in Buffalo is to know all the major auto insurance companies have advanced systems to give rate comparisons. The only thing you need to do is provide information such as the year, make and model of vehicles, how much coverage you want, if you went to college, and if you have a valid license. The data gets transmitted to many highly-rated insurers and you receive quotes immediately.
If you would like to start a quote now, click here then complete the form.
The companies in the list below can provide free quotes in New York. If multiple companies are listed, we suggest you get rate quotes from several of them to get the most competitive price.
Lower rate quotes on Mercury Mariner insurance in Buffalo with these auto insurance discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t list every available discount very clearly, so below is a list both the well known and the more hidden credits available to bring down your rates.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better auto insurance rates.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down on your Mercury can earn lower auto insurance rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Responsible Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents could pay up to 40% less than drivers with accidents.
- Professional Memberships – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization in Buffalo is a good way to get lower rates on your next auto insurance statement.
- One Accident Forgiven – Not really a discount, but certain companies permit an accident before your rates go up with the catch being you have to be claim-free prior to the accident.
- Drivers Education – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers take driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- Online Discount – A few larger online companies will provide an incentive get Buffalo auto insurance digitally online.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% depending on your auto insurance provider.
- Driver Safety – Completing a course teaching safe driver skills could save 5% or more and also improve your driving technique.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can bundle your home and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company you could earn a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.
Don’t be surprised that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
The diagram below compares Mercury Mariner car insurance rates with and without discounts. The data assumes a female driver, no violations or accidents, New York 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 safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-car discounts applied.
If you would like to see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Buffalo, click here to view.
Mercury Mariner coverage statistics
The coverage information shown next outlines detailed analysis of rate quotes for Mercury Mariner models. Understanding more about how insurance policy rates are established can aid in making smart buying decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariner 2WD | $128 | $190 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $606 | $51 |
| Mariner Premier 2WD | $128 | $230 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $646 | $54 |
| Mariner AWD | $128 | $230 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $646 | $54 |
| Mariner Hybrid 2WD | $128 | $272 | $248 | $14 | $74 | $736 | $61 |
| Mariner Premier AWD | $144 | $230 | $212 | $12 | $64 | $662 | $55 |
| Mariner Hybrid AWD | $144 | $272 | $248 | $14 | $74 | $752 | $63 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in Buffalo location which can increase or decrease auto insurance rates noticeably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
A question often asked by Buffalo drivers is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The tables below lay out the differences in premium rates between low and high insurance deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $100 deductible for comp and collision and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariner 2WD | $228 | $338 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $899 | $75 |
| Mariner Premier 2WD | $228 | $412 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $973 | $81 |
| Mariner AWD | $228 | $412 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $973 | $81 |
| Mariner Hybrid 2WD | $228 | $484 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,097 | $91 |
| Mariner Premier AWD | $258 | $412 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $1,003 | $84 |
| Mariner Hybrid AWD | $258 | $484 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,127 | $94 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariner 2WD | $166 | $228 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $702 | $59 |
| Mariner Premier 2WD | $166 | $278 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $752 | $63 |
| Mariner AWD | $166 | $278 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $752 | $63 |
| Mariner Hybrid 2WD | $166 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $854 | $71 |
| Mariner Premier AWD | $188 | $278 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $774 | $65 |
| Mariner Hybrid AWD | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in Buffalo location which can raise or lower premium rates significantly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $18 more each month or $216 every year than buying the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average more than 22 months between claims, you would save money by going with a higher deductible.
Rate difference between full and liability-only coverage
The diagram below compares Mercury Mariner car insurance costs with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The premiums assume no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are factored in.
Are you wasting money on full coverage?
There is no definitive formula of when to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your Mercury Mariner replacement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $4,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying over $400 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some cases where eliminating full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Can’t I compare rates from local Buffalo car insurance agents?
Some people still prefer to go talk to an agent. Good agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. An additional benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheap auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting neighborhood agents is definitely important in Buffalo.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to companies in Buffalo who will gladly provide quotes for your business. You won’t need to contact any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered immediately to you. If you wish to quote rates from a specific auto insurance provider, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.
If you are wanting to find a reliable insurance agency, there are a couple of different agency structures and how they work. Agencies in Buffalo may be either independent agents or exclusive agents. Either can provide auto insurance policies, but it’s important to point out the difference between them since it can affect your selection of an agent.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type are not limited to a single company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with an assortment of companies and find you the best rates. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to switch agencies.
When comparison shopping, we highly recommend that you get several quotes from at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. They also have the ability to place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with which may have better rates.
Listed below is a partial list of independent agencies in Buffalo that may be able to give you free price quotes.
- TLC Brokerage
1660 Kensington Ave # 2 – Buffalo, NY 14215 – (716) 427-6922 – View Map - Linda’s Able Agency
2564 Bailey Ave – Buffalo, NY 14215 – (716) 896-3366 – View Map - La Penna Insur Agency Inc
3835 Harlem Rd – Buffalo, NY 14215 – (716) 838-1880 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can only place business with one company and examples are State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive insurance agents receive extensive training in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Drivers often buy from the same agent for years primarily because of the brand legacy rather than low rates.
Listed below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Buffalo willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Farmers Insurance – Toni Du Bois
2460 Main St – Buffalo, NY 14214 – (716) 931-5200 – View Map - GEICO Insurance Agent
3835 McKinley Pkwy #2 – Buffalo, NY 14219 – (716) 604-0345 – View Map - Progressive Insurance – Buffalo Service Center
6699 Transit Road – Buffalo, NY 14221 – (716) 810-1500 – View Map
Finding the right car insurance agent requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- How long has the business existed?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
When should I discuss my situation with an agent?
When buying the best insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- When should I have rental car coverage?
- Do I need replacement cost coverage?
- What is an SR-22 filing?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- Should I rate my Mercury Mariner as pleasure use or commute?
- Are combined or split liability limits better?
- Do I need an umbrella policy?
- Is my camper covered for physical damage?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
What Determines Mercury Mariner Insurance Prices?
Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Some factors are common sense like an MVR report, but other criteria are more obscure such as whether you are married or how safe your car is.
The following are some of the most rate-impacting factors companies use to determine rates.
Gaps in coverage mean higher rates – Having a lapse in insurance coverage can be a quick way to increase your renewal premiums. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance could earn you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You could then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the New York DMV.
Expect high rates for teens – Older, more experienced drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents, and get fewer tickets. Teen drivers are known to be inattentive and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates.
The chart below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Additional coverages that may be costing you – Insurance companies have many add-on coverages that can waste your money but may not be useful. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness, and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. You may think they are a good idea when deciding what coverages you need, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
Avoid traffic tickets – A bad driving record impacts premiums far more than you think. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to bad drivers. Getting just one citation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have received multiple tickets like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find that they have to to complete a SR-22 with their state’s licensing department in order to legally drive a vehicle.
The information below illustrates how speeding tickets and accidents can impact Mercury Mariner insurance prices for each different age group. The prices are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
Insurance is an important decision
Even though it can be expensive, insurance is required by state law in New York and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
First, just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a specific level of liability coverage in order to be legal. In New York 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.
Second, if you bought your Mercury Mariner with a loan, almost every bank will make it mandatory that you have full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank may insure your Mercury at a more expensive rate and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects both your car and your personal assets. It will also cover hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing 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 all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of buying insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially for larger claims. An average driver in America overpays more than $850 per year so compare quotes from several companies at every renewal to save money.
Persistent drivers can save
When getting Buffalo auto insurance quotes online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Cheaper car insurance in Buffalo is attainable online and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and many times these regional carriers prefer to sell through local independent agents.
People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver, delays in responding to claim requests and even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, switching companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
More tips and info about car insurance can be found in these articles:
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
- How Much are Buffalo Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 60? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance Rates for a Subaru Outback? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Buffalo Auto Insurance for a 20 Year Old Female? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Retired Military in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Buffalo Car Insurance Rates for Low Income Drivers? (FAQ)
- Pickups fall short in headlight tests (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)
- What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)