Lower Your 1996 Mercury Cougar Insurance Cost
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Benji Carr
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Benjamin Carr was a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has two years’ experience in life, health, property and casualty coverage. He has worked with State Farm and other risk management firms. He is also a strategic writer and editor with a background in branding, marketing, and quality assurance. He has been in military newsrooms — literally on the frontline of journalism.
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 7, 2015
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 7, 2015
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Want cheaper insurance rates for your Mercury Cougar? Trying to find cheaper insurance for a Mercury Cougar can turn out to be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks to find lower rates. There are both good and bad ways to find insurance online and you need to know the best way to quote coverages for a new or used Mercury and obtain the cheapest rates either online or from local insurance agents.
It’s a good idea to shop coverage around once or twice a year because insurance prices go up and down regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates on Cougar insurance a year ago you will most likely find a better premium rate today. You can search a lot of insurance online, but in just a couple of minutes you can learn some good information on how to lower your insurance premiums.
If you have a current insurance coverage policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Finding the best insurance coverage coverage is quite easy. Drivers just need to know the most effective way to shop their coverage around over the internet.
Why you might pay lower rates
Lots of things are part of the equation when you get your auto insurance bill. Most are fairly basic like a motor vehicle report, but others are less obvious such as your marital status and annual miles driven.
Shown below are some of the items used by companies to determine premiums.
- Never have policy lapses – Driving any period of time without insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse. Not only will you pay higher rates, the inability to provide proof of insurance could earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department.
- Don’t get traffic citations – Whether or not you get tickets influences premium rates substantially. Even one driving citation can boost insurance rates by as much as twenty percent. Good drivers get better prices as compared to those with violations. Drivers who have license-revoking citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find that they have to to complete a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
- Lower comp and collision deductibles cost more – Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles state the amount of money you are required to spend if a covered claim is submitted. Physical damage protection, aka comp and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a stationary object, fire damage, or theft of your vehicle. The more damage repair cost you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive on Cougar insurance.
- Defend yourself with liability insurance – The liability section of your policy will protect you when a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Your liability coverage provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability is cheap compared to comp and collision, so do not skimp.
- Youthful vs. older drivers – Drivers with little experience are proven to be easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. More experienced drivers are shown to be more cautious, statistically cause fewer accidents .
- Deter car thieves – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all help stop your car from being stolen.
The method we recommend to get rate comparisons is to understand all the major auto insurance companies participate in a system to give free rates quotes. The only thing you need to do is give them rating details such as types of safety features, how old drivers are, deductibles desired, and if a SR-22 is needed. Those rating factors is instantly sent to many different companies and you get price estimates instantly.
To compare rates for your car now, click here and enter the information requested.
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Save a ton with these insurance coverage discounts
Some companies don’t list the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous discounts that may be available. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you could be getting lower rates.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking time to complete a driver safety course could earn you a small percentage discount depending on where you live.
- Low Miles Discount – Driving less can earn lower prices on the low mileage vehicles.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying a policy with all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can save 20 to 25%. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
- Claim Free – Drivers who stay claim-free can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
- Government Employee Discount – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could provide a small rate reduction on Cougar insurance with a few insurance coverage companies.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you combine your auto and home policies with the same insurance company you could earn a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Distant College Student Discount – Kids who attend college more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
As a sidenote, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.
For a list of insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts, click this link.
Insurance coverage can get complicated
When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
These are some specific questions may help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Who is covered when they drive my 1996 Mercury Cougar?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in my state?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
- When can I cancel my policy?
If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.
Insurance coverage basics
Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive can pay for things like damage from getting keyed, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance can cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as medical services, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, medical expenses, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage covers damage to your Cougar from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a parking meter, backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Mercury Cougar.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for things like prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Enter your zip code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Online plus local equals savings
We just covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on 1996 Mercury Cougar insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may discover the lowest car insurance rates are with an unexpected company.
Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, denial of a claim, high rates after DUI convictions and even poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
There are still a few companies who do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through independent agencies. Cost effective 1996 Mercury Cougar insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
Much more information about auto insurance is located below:
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Insitute)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Teen Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
- Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
- Car Insurance: When not to Skimp (BankRate.com)
- Auto Insurance Facts and Statistics (Insurance Information Insitute)
Enter your zip code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Benji Carr
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Benjamin Carr was a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has two years’ experience in life, health, property and casualty coverage. He has worked with State Farm and other risk management firms. He is also a strategic writer and editor with a background in branding, marketing, and quality assurance. He has been in military newsrooms — literally on the frontline of journalism.
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.