Would you prefer to buy more affordable auto insurance rates in Buffalo, NY? Buffalo shoppers have options when shopping for affordable Mercury Mountaineer insurance. You can either spend your time contacting agents trying to get quotes or leverage the internet to compare rates. There are more efficient ways to shop for auto insurance and we’ll show you the quickest way to get price quotes on a Mercury and get the lowest possible price from both online companies and Buffalo agents.
It’s hard to believe, but the majority of drivers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for a minimum of four years, and nearly the majority have never compared rate quotes at all. With the average premium in America being $1,847, drivers could save up to 47% every year just by shopping around, but they just don’t understand how much savings they would realize if they bought a different policy.
Lower-cost Buffalo auto insurance quotes with discounts
Some providers do not list the complete list of policy discounts very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member could qualify you for better rates.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking time to complete a course teaching driver safety skills can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
- Multiple Vehicles – Insuring several vehicles on one policy can reduce the rates for all insured vehicles.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will qualify for a discount on a Buffalo car insurance quote.
- Buffalo Homeowners Discount – Owning a house in Buffalo may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it’s just not the way it works.
The chart below compares Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The data assumes a male driver, no claims or driving citations, New York state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.
To choose providers that offer multiple discounts in New York, click here.
Compare free Buffalo Mercury Mountaineer insurance quotes
Finding a lower price on insurance is actually easier than you may think. You just need to take the time comparing rate quotes to find the company with affordable Mercury Mountaineer insurance quotes.
The companies in the list below are ready to provide comparison quotes in New York. In order to find the best cheap auto insurance in Buffalo, it’s highly recommended you get rates from several of them to get the most competitive price.
Premium rates and analysis
The information shown below covers different insurance costs for Mercury Mountaineer models. Being aware of how insurance prices are determined can be useful when making smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $196 | $404 | $278 | $16 | $84 | $978 | $82 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $222 | $404 | $278 | $16 | $84 | $1,004 | $84 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $222 | $476 | $278 | $16 | $84 | $1,076 | $90 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $222 | $476 | $278 | $16 | $84 | $1,076 | $90 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Buffalo which can revise auto insurance rates significantly.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
One common question asked by Buffalo drivers is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The rates shown below lay out the rate difference between low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $204 | $344 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $933 | $78 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $230 | $344 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $959 | $80 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $230 | $406 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $1,021 | $85 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineer 2WD | $166 | $278 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $804 | $67 |
| Mountaineer AWD | $188 | $278 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $826 | $69 |
| Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
| Mountaineer Premier AWD | $188 | $328 | $264 | $16 | $80 | $876 | $73 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Price estimates do not factor in your specific Buffalo location which can influence rates significantly.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $11 more each month or $132 a year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would pay $250 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at a minimum 23 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead going with the higher deductible. Here is the way you can come to your own conclusion.
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $82 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $71 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $11 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $11 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 23 months |
One thing to note is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates results in having to pay to pay more out-of-pocket when you have a comprehensive or collision claim. You need some funds available in order to pay the higher deductible.
How much more does full coverage cost?
The information below illustrates the difference between Mercury Mountaineer auto insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the New York minimum liability coverage. The premiums assume a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no set guideline to stop buying full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than around 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Mercury Mountaineer replacement cost is $3,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $2,000 after paying your deductible. If you are currently paying more than $200 annually to have full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some cases where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not drop full coverage.
Components of Your Mercury Mountaineer Insurance Premiums
Lots of things are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are pretty understandable such as traffic violations, although some other factors are less obvious like your continuous coverage or your vehicle rating. Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that are used to determine your auto insurance rates. If you have some idea of what controls the rates you pay, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you cheaper rates.
The items below are some of the factors companies use to determine your rate level.
- Never have auto insurance lapses – Going without insurance is a sure-fire way to bump up your auto insurance costs. And not only will your rates increase, getting caught without coverage could earn you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
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Gender matters – Over time, data shows females are less aggressive when driving. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Females and males tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations like driving under the influence (DUI). Male teenagers generally have the highest accident percentage so they pay the highest premiums.
The example below shows the difference between Mercury Mountaineer insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
- Employer can influence rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as judges, police officers, and dentists generally pay the highest average rates due to intense work situations and incredibly demanding work hours. Other jobs like professors, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
- Premiums are affected by your credit history – Having a good credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay. So if your credit rating could use some work, you could save money insuring your Mercury Mountaineer by taking the time to improve your credit score. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower ratings.
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Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – Even one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Attentive drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have gotten severe violations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may need to prove financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
The diagram below illustrates how traffic citations and at-fault fender-benders can affect Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs for different age categories. The information is based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
- Lower rates by increasing physical damage deductibles – Comp and collision deductibles tell how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are collision with another vehicle, collision with a deer, and damage from wind. The more of the claim the insured is willing to pay, the better rate you will receive.
- Single drivers may pay more – Being married can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. Having a spouse is viewed as being less irresponsible and statistics prove married couples file fewer claims.
Special considerations
Always keep in mind that when comparing insurance from an agent or online, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Is coverage enough to protect my assets?
- Do I need special coverage while pulling a rented trailer?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
- Is water damage covered by my policy?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- What are the best liability limits?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Mercury Mountaineer is totaled?
- Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
- Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.
When should I have guidance from a local insurance agent?
Many drivers prefer to sit down with an agent and often times that is recommended Good agents can make sure you are properly covered and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you can get cheap auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, the quote information is transmitted to local insurance agents that provide free Buffalo car insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You never need to even leave your home because prices are sent instantly to you. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, feel free to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
Finding a good provider requires more thought than just a cheap price quote. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- What company do they have the most business with?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Buffalo?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Which family members are covered?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
If you want to use a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the types of insurance agents and how they can quote your rates. Insurance agencies in Buffalo are classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either one can write policy coverage, but it is a good idea to know why they differ since it could factor into which agent you choose.
Exclusive Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive work for only one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents are well schooled on their company’s products and that enables them to sell even at higher rates. Many people choose to use a exclusive agent primarily because of the brand legacy and solid financial strength.
Listed below is a list of exclusive agents in Buffalo willing to provide price quotes.
- Marc Scherrer – State Farm Insurance Agent
2165 Sheridan Dr – Buffalo, NY 14223 – (716) 875-0524 – View Map - Joe Czaja – State Farm Insurance Agent
1021 Union Rd – Buffalo, NY 14224 – (716) 674-3654 – View Map - Farmers Insurance – Toni Du Bois
2460 Main St – Buffalo, NY 14214 – (716) 931-5200 – View Map
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Agents in the independent channel often have affiliation with several companies so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. If your agent finds better pricing, your policy is moved internally and you stay with the same agent. If you need lower rates, we recommend you get several quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the best price comparison. Many write coverage with mutual insurance companies which can save you money.
Below is a list of independent insurance agencies in Buffalo that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Buffalo Queen City Insurance Agency
26 French Lea Rd – Buffalo, NY 14224 – (716) 608-6047 – View Map - MandT Insurance Agency Inc.
285 Delaware Ave – Buffalo, NY 14202 – (716) 853-7960 – View Map - United Insurance Agency, Inc.
90 Bryant Woods S – Buffalo, NY 14228 – (716) 632-6118 – View Map
Choosing the best Mercury vehicle insurance in New York is an important decision
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Mercury Mountaineer in Buffalo, buying insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability insurance in order to get the vehicle licensed. 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.
- If you took out a loan on your Mercury, almost all lenders will stipulate that you have physical damage coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may insure your Mercury at a much higher rate and force you to pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance protects both your assets and your vehicle. Insurance will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so we recommend shopping around at least once a year to ensure rates are inline.
Lower rates by being persistent
When searching for low cost Buffalo car insurance quotes, don’t be tempted to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
We just presented a lot of ways to get a better price on Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Buffalo. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding the cheapest Mercury Mountaineer rate quotes. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may have significantly lower car insurance rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.
Steps to buying low-cost Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Buffalo
It takes a little time, but the best way to find low-cost prices for Mercury Mountaineer insurance in Buffalo is to compare prices regularly from providers in New York. You can compare rates by completing these steps.
- Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about individual coverages and the things you can control to lower rates. Many things that cause high rates such as your driving record and poor credit history can be eliminated by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Step 2: Obtain price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple sources.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate quote and make a switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A crucial key to this process is to make sure you’re comparing identical coverages on every quote and and to get price estimates from as many carriers as you can. This enables an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete selection of prices.
More detailed auto insurance information is available by following these links:
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Buffalo Car Insurance for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Buffalo Car Insurance for a Honda Civic? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for a Dodge Ram in Buffalo? (FAQ)
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
- Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)