Shockingly, most California insurance customers renewed their policy with the same company for at least the last four years, and just under half have never taken the time to shop around. Many drivers in the U.S. could save themselves $850 a year by just shopping around, but they don’t want to take the time to do a rate comparison.
To save the most money, the best way to get discount Lincoln MKZ insurance in Riverside is to compare prices annually from companies in California. Drivers can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Step 1: Gain an understanding of policy coverages and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that drive up the price such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and a bad credit score can be controlled by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing rates to determine if you can save on MKZ insurance in Riverside. If you find a lower rate, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Step 4: Provide notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current policy and submit a down payment along with a signed application to your new company or agent. Don’t forget to place your new proof of insurance paperwork along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
One thing to point out is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get price estimates from every insurance company. This provides a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.
If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Locating the best rates in Riverside is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. Smart shoppers just have to understand the fastest way to buy insurance from many different companies.
Rates and other information
The price information displayed next outlines estimates of insurance rates for Lincoln MKZ models. Having a better understanding of how auto insurance policy rates are determined can aid in making smart choices when comparing insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKZ 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $764 | $524 | $32 | $156 | $1,808 | $151 |
| MKZ AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $332 | $764 | $524 | $32 | $156 | $1,808 | $151 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can influence prices greatly.
The illustration below shows how different deductible levels and can change Lincoln MKZ insurance costs for different age groups. The premium estimates are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Liability only or full coverage
The information below compares Lincoln MKZ auto insurance costs with and without full coverage. The rate quotes are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Deciding between full coverage and liability only
There isn’t a steadfast formula of when to drop physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Lincoln MKZ settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $6,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $600 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are some situations where buying only liability insurance is not recommended. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Determine discounts on Riverside car insurance
Auto insurance companies do not list all possible discounts in an easy-to-find place, so below is a list both well-publicized and also the more inconspicuous car insurance savings.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your entire bill at once rather than paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a defensive driver class could earn you a small percentage discount and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Theft Deterrent System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your Riverside auto insurance quote.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Drivers that enable driving data collection to spy on driving habits by using a telematics device in their vehicle such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system may see discounts if their driving habits are good.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save 10% or more on medical payment and PIP coverage.
Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
The example below shows the comparison of Lincoln MKZ car insurance rates with and without some available policy discounts. The rates are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-policy, marriage, safe-driver, multi-car, and claim-free discounts applied.
A partial list of companies that may include some of the above discounts include:
Before buying, ask each insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policies in Riverside.
Insurance coverage considerations
Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the normal coverages found on most insurance policies.
Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your MKZ resulting from a collision with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims like crashing into a building, hitting a parking meter, damaging your car on a curb and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your MKZ to bring the cost down.
Coverage for medical payments – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses such as dental work, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation expenses, surgery and nursing services. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage gives you protection when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many California drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as vandalism, damage from flooding, a broken windshield, damage from a tornado or hurricane and rock chips in glass. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability insurance – This will cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see values of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 bodily injury coverage, $30,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Some companies may use one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as legal defense fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and court costs. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but drivers should carry higher limits.
The illustration below shows why buying minimum limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Persistent drivers can save
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. In too many instances, an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
We just presented many ideas to lower your Lincoln MKZ insurance prices in Riverside. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting low cost Riverside auto insurance quotes. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Additional detailed information is located in these articles:
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Learners Permit in Riverside? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)