The Ford Fiesta is a popular subcompact car that offers good fuel economy, agile handling, and a spacious interior. However, owning a Ford Fiesta also means paying for car insurance, which can vary depending on many factors.
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about car insurance for the Ford Fiesta, including the types of coverage, the average cost, the factors that influence the cost, the safety ratings, and tips for saving money.
Understanding Car Insurance Coverage for the Ford Fiesta
Car insurance is a legal requirement in most states, and it protects you from financial losses in case of an accident or theft involving your vehicle. There are different types of car insurance coverage that you can choose from, depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some of the most common ones:
Comprehensive Coverage
This covers the damage to your vehicle caused by events other than collision, such as fire, vandalism, hail, flood, animal impact, or theft. This is optional coverage, but it may be required by your lender if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle.
Glass Breakage Coverage
This covers the repair or replacement of your vehicle’s glass windows and windshield in case of breakage due to any cause. This is also optional coverage, but it may be included in your comprehensive coverage or offered as a separate endorsement.
Collision Coverage
This covers the damage to your vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault. This is also optional coverage, but it may be required by your lender if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
This covers the medical expenses and lost wages of the other party if you are at fault in an accident that injures someone else. This is mandatory coverage in most states, and it has minimum limits that vary by state.
Factors that Influence Insurance Cost
The cost of car insurance for the Ford Fiesta depends on many factors, such as the model year, the trim level, the engine size, the safety features, the driving record, the credit score, the annual mileage, the location, and the insurance company. Generally speaking, newer models tend to be more expensive to insure than older ones, higher trim levels tend to be more expensive to insure than lower ones, larger engines tend to be more expensive to insure than smaller ones, more safety features tend to lower the insurance cost, a clean driving record tends to lower the insurance cost, a good credit score tends to lower the insurance cost, lower annual mileage tends to lower the insurance cost, urban areas tend to have higher insurance rates than rural areas, and different insurance companies have different rates and discounts.
Finding Affordable Insurance for the Ford Fiesta
The average cost of car insurance for the Ford Fiesta in 2019 was $1,477 per year, which is lower than the national average of $1,674 per year.
However, you may be able to find cheaper rates if you shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurance companies. Here are some tips for finding affordable insurance for the Ford Fiesta:
Comparison shopping for the best rates
The easiest way to find the best rates for car insurance is to use online tools that allow you to compare quotes from different insurers in minutes. You can also contact local agents or brokers who can help you find the best deals in your area.
Taking advantage of discounts
Most insurance companies offer discounts for various reasons, such as being a good driver, having a good student, having multiple policies with them, having anti-theft devices on your vehicle, having low mileage, having a defensive driving course certificate, having a membership in certain organizations or groups, etc. Make sure to ask about all the discounts that you may qualify for and apply them to your policy.
Considering different deductibles
A deductible is the amount of money that you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in when you make a claim. The higher your deductible is, the lower your premium will be. However, you should also consider how much you can afford to pay in case of an accident. If you choose a high deductible that you cannot afford to pay, you may end up in financial trouble.
Understanding the impact of age and location on insurance cost
Your age and location are two factors that affect your insurance cost significantly. Younger drivers tend to pay more for car insurance than older drivers because they are considered more risky and inexperienced. Older drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than younger drivers because they are considered more mature and cautious. However, this may change as you reach a certain age, such as 65 or 70, when your insurance rates may increase again due to the higher risk of accidents or health issues. Your location also affects your insurance cost because different states have different laws and regulations regarding car insurance, and different areas have different levels of traffic, crime, weather, and natural disasters. Generally speaking, urban areas tend to have higher insurance rates than rural areas because they have more congestion, accidents, thefts, and vandalism. Rural areas tend to have lower insurance rates than urban areas because they have less traffic, accidents, thefts, and vandalism.
Safety Ratings and Their Impact on Insurance Rates for the Ford Fiesta
Safety ratings are another factor that affects your insurance cost for the Ford Fiesta. Safety ratings are based on the results of crash tests conducted by independent organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
These tests measure how well a vehicle protects its occupants in various types of collisions. The higher the safety rating is, the lower the insurance cost will be. Here are some of the safety ratings for the Ford Fiesta:
Crash Test Ratings
The IIHS rates vehicles on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor based on their performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, side, and roof strength. The NHTSA rates vehicles on a scale of one to five stars based on their performance in three tests: frontal, side, and rollover. The 2019 Ford Fiesta received a Good rating in four out of five IIHS tests and a Poor rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. It also received four out of five stars in the NHTSA tests.
Safety features that can lower insurance rates
The Ford Fiesta comes with standard safety features such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitoring system, rearview camera, and belt reminder. It also offers optional safety features such as a blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert system, lane-keeping assist system, etc. These safety features can help prevent or reduce the severity of accidents and lower your insurance rates.
Tips for Saving Money on Ford Fiesta Insurance
Besides finding affordable insurance for the Ford Fiesta, you can also save money on your car insurance by following some simple tips:
- Maintaining a clean driving record: One of the most important factors that affect your insurance cost is your driving record. If you have a history of accidents, tickets, violations, or claims, you will pay more for car insurance than someone who has a clean driving record. Therefore, you should drive safely and responsibly, follow the traffic rules, avoid distractions, and obey the speed limits.
- Bundling policies: Another way to save money on car insurance is to bundle your policies with the same insurer. For example, if you have a home insurance policy with an insurer, you can also get your car insurance policy with them and get a discount for having multiple policies. This way, you can save money and simplify your payments.
- Paying in full or setting up automatic payments: Some insurers offer discounts for paying your premium in full or setting up automatic payments from your bank account or credit card. This way, you can avoid late fees and interest charges and save money on your car insurance.
- Considering usage-based insurance programs: Some insurers offer usage-based insurance programs that track your driving habits and adjust your premium accordingly. For example, if you drive less, drive at safer times, or drive more smoothly, you can get lower rates than someone who drives more, drives at riskier times, or drives more aggressively. These programs usually require you to install a device in your vehicle or use an app on your phone that monitors your driving behavior.
