It’s well known that insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Insureds who get comparison quotes at least once a year are highly likely to switch companies because there is a great chance of finding a lower-priced policy. A study discovered that consumers who regularly compared price quotes saved approximately $72 a month compared to other drivers who didn’t regularly shop around.
If finding low prices for car insurance is your ultimate target, understanding how to get price quotes and compare car insurance can make it simple to find affordable coverage.
The easiest way to get affordable auto insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from companies in Dallas. Rate comparisons can be done by completing these steps.
- First, take a little time to learn about individual coverages and the measures you can take to keep rates low. Many things that result in higher rates like accidents, traffic tickets, and a lousy credit rating can be eliminated by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility. Read the full article for instructions to prevent high prices and find overlooked discounts.
- Second, get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes for many different companies.
- Third, compare the price quotes to your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel the current policy and submit a signed application and payment to your new carrier. As soon as you can, store the certificate of insurance in an easily accessible location.
The key aspect of shopping around is that you’ll want to compare the same amount of coverage on each quote and and to get prices from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables a level playing field and plenty of rates choose from.
Smart Consumers Know How to Get Insurance Cheaper
Many factors are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving record, although others are more transparent such as whether you are married or your financial responsibility. A large part of saving on insurance is knowing the rating factors that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. If you know what determines premiums, this enables you to make decisions that could help you find big savings.
- Being married brings a discount – Having a spouse actually saves money compared to being single. Having a significant other generally demonstrates drivers are less irresponsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
- Lower stress equals lower prices – Do you work in a high-stress field? Occupations such as military generals, social workers, and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates in part from job stress and lengthy work days. Other professions such as professors, engineers and homemakers have the lowest average rates.
- How much liability insurance – The liability section of your policy kicks in if you are determined to be liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your liability coverage provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. It is affordable coverage as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
- Keep the miles off and save – Driving more miles in a year the higher your rate. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how much you drive. Vehicles that are left in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. An incorrectly rated MKZ may be wasting your money. Double check that your insurance declarations sheet shows how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- Cars with good safety ratings means better premiums – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to be cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and cheaper rates on your policy.
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Lincoln MKZ claim statistics – Auto insurance companies analyze the history of losses to calculate a rate that will offset losses. Vehicles that the data shows to have a trend towards higher claims will have increased rates. The next table illustrates the actual insurance loss data for Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
For each coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is a value of 100. Values that are below 100 represent a good loss history, while percentage numbers above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or a tendency for claims to be larger.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Vehicle Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Lincoln MKZ 4dr 2WD 137 85 107 95 89 75 Lincoln MKZ 4dr 4WD 140 82 126 99 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 4dr 148 84 100 74 82 76 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
The most recommended method to compare rates for Lincoln MKZ insurance in Dallas is to take advantage of the fact most insurance companies pay for the opportunity to give you rate quotes. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is give them rating details including if you have an active license, if a SR-22 is needed, your credit rating estimate, and driver ages. The data is instantly sent to many different companies and they return rate quotes very quickly.
To get price quotes for your Lincoln MKZ now, click here and complete the form.
The companies shown below can provide free quotes in Texas. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you visit as many as you can in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Lincoln MKZ insurance coverage information
The information shown next outlines a range of insurance costs for Lincoln MKZ models. Being able to understand how car insurance prices are calculated can assist in making decisions when shopping your coverage around.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $228 | $520 | $582 | $34 | $174 | $1,538 | $128 |
| MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $228 | $520 | $582 | $34 | $174 | $1,538 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in vehicle location which can alter prices greatly.
An analysis of deductible level
When comparing auto insurance rates, the most common question is the level to set your comp and collision deductibles. The comparisons below may help to conceptualize the cost difference of buying low and high insurance deductibles. The first rate table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $672 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,613 | $134 |
| MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $672 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,613 | $134 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $206 | $424 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,214 | $101 |
| MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $206 | $424 | $430 | $26 | $128 | $1,214 | $101 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in garaging location in Dallas which can revise auto insurance rates noticeably.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible could cost the average driver approximately $33 more each month or $396 annually averaged for all MKZ models than buying the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go more than 23 months between claims, you would save money if you choose a higher deductible.
Difference between full coverage and liability only rates
The chart below compares Lincoln MKZ car insurance costs with full coverage and liability only. The prices are based on no accidents, no driving violations, $500 deductibles, marital status is single, and no policy discounts are applied.
Guidelines for dropping full coverage
There isn’t a written rule of when to phase out physical damage coverage, but there is a guideline you can use. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Lincoln MKZ replacement cost is $6,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $5,000 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $500 annually for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Three good reasons to insure your vehicle
Despite the fact that auto insurance is not cheap in Dallas, buying auto insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific minimum amount of liability protection in order to drive the car. In Texas these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you bought your Lincoln with a loan, it’s most likely the lender will force you to carry insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you let the policy lapse, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Lincoln at a more expensive rate and force you to pay much more than you were paying before.
- Auto insurance protects not only your vehicle but also your financial assets. It also can pay for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability insurance also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of insuring your MKZ definitely exceed the cost, especially when you need to use it. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is wasting up to $869 every year so compare rates at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Discounts can help lower premiums on Lincoln MKZ insurance in Dallas
Some companies don’t always advertise every policy discount very well, so the list below contains both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits that may apply to you.
- Student in College – College-age children who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Dallas and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better prices.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company they may give you a discount of nearly 15% which can help you find inexpensive Lincoln MKZ insurance in Dallas.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill as opposed to paying monthly you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially in comparison with drivers who are more careless.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more as compared to drivers with claims.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off with a few insurance companies.
- Organization Discounts – Affiliation with certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
We need to note that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
The information below illustrates the difference between Lincoln MKZ yearly insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. The rates are based on a male driver, no claims or driving citations, Texas state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, multi-car, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.
A few of the larger companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.
- Progressive discounts include online signing, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and good student.
- Farmers Insurance may offer discounts for early shopping, pay in full, youthful driver, business and professional, distant student, and good student.
- Farm Bureau has discounts for renewal discount, good student, safe driver, youthful driver, and driver training.
- State Farm may have discounts that include good driver, passive restraint, multiple autos, driver’s education, and safe vehicle.
- GEICO includes discounts for driver training, five-year accident-free, multi-vehicle, air bags, and federal employee.
- SAFECO offers premium reductions for teen safety rewards, safe driver, drive less, anti-theft, multi-car, and homeowner.
- Liberty Mutual offers discounts for new vehicle discount, preferred payment discount, new move discount, newly married, and newly retired.
If you need lower rates, check with all the companies what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts may not be offered in your area. To see companies who offer free Lincoln MKZ insurance quotes in Texas, click here.
Buying insurance from Dallas insurance agencies
Some consumers just want to have an agent’s advice and that is recommended in a lot of cases Experienced insurance agents will help you protect your assets and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance online is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Putting coverage with small agencies is still important in Dallas.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance data is emailed to participating agents in Dallas that can give you free Dallas auto insurance quotes for your coverage. You never need to search for any insurance agencies due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to you. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific company, you can always jump over to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
If you want a local Dallas insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different agency structures and how they operate. Insurance agencies can either be independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either one can sell insurance policies, but it’s good to learn the differences because it may have an impact on which type of agent you select.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents in the independent channel are not limited to a single company and that allows them to write policies through many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If premiums increase, they simply move your policy to a different company which makes it simple for you. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you get quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. Most also write with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.
Featured below are Dallas independent agents that may be able to provide competitive price quotes.
- Sheaner Insurance, LLP
2501 Abrams Rd – Dallas, TX 75214 – (214) 823-3003 – View Map - Rodriguez Insurance Agency LLC
13111 N Central Expy Suite 8001 – Dallas, TX 75243 – (888) 797-1924 – View Map - E F Insurance Agency
9304 Forest Ln #217 – Dallas, TX 75243 – (972) 931-9285 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Exclusive agents normally can only provide a single company’s rates like State Farm, Allstate, and Farm Bureau. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which aids in selling service over price. Some people will only buy from exclusive agents partially due to the brand legacy and strong financial ratings.
The following is a short list of exclusive agencies in Dallas willing to provide rate quotes.
- Danny Venz – State Farm Insurance Agent
3218 Oak Lawn Ave – Dallas, TX 75219 – (214) 521-1400 – View Map - Richard Ramirez – State Farm Insurance Agent
9400 N Central Expy #120 – Dallas, TX 75231 – (214) 320-3000 – View Map - Dan Stanton – State Farm Insurance Agent
3767 Forest Ln #107 – Dallas, TX 75244 – (972) 243-8894 – View Map
Finding a good insurance agent should include more criteria than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in Dallas?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
Car insurance can get complicated
When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different.
These are some specific questions might help in determining if your situation may require specific advice.
- Is extra glass coverage worth it?
- Should I rate my Lincoln MKZ as pleasure use or commute?
- Do I need more liability coverage?
- Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
- When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
- Who is covered when they drive my Lincoln MKZ?
- Is my ex-spouse still covered by my policy?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Cheap car insurance is out there
As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Discount Lincoln MKZ insurance in Dallas is definitely available online as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional carriers sell through local independent agents.
Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim and unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new car insurance company can be easy and end up saving you some money.
More tips and info about car insurance is available in these articles:
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Handicapped Drivers in Dallas? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford F-150 in Dallas? (FAQ)
- How Much is Dallas Auto Insurance for State Employees? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Dallas? (FAQ)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
- When is the Right Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies? (Allstate)
- Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)