Sad but true, the vast majority of drivers have remained with the same insurance company for a minimum of four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. Consumers in Louisiana could cut their rates by approximately 35% a year by just comparing quotes, but most undervalue the actual amount they would save if they swap their current policy for a cheaper one.
Really, the only way to get more affordable auto insurance rates in New Orleans is to do an annual price comparison from different companies who sell auto insurance in Louisiana.
- Step 1: Try to learn about how auto insurance works and the steps you can take to keep rates down. Many policy risk factors that are responsible for high rates like high-risk driving behaviors and a less-than-favorable credit history can be amended by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Step 2: Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
The most important part of shopping around is to use the same level of coverage on each price quote and and to analyze as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and a thorough price selection.
When quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing more quotes helps increase your odds of locating the best price.
The companies in the list below provide price quotes in Louisiana. If you wish to find cheap auto insurance in Louisiana, we recommend you compare several of them to find the most competitive car insurance rates.
Score discounts on New Orleans auto insurance
Car insurance is not cheap, but you might be missing out on some discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Some trigger automatically at the time of quoting, but some must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.
- Professional Memberships – Being in certain professional organizations could earn you a nice discount on your next auto insurance statement.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Mercury may allow you to get slightly better premium rates than normal.
- E-sign Discounts – Many larger companies will give you a small discount get New Orleans car insurance digitally online.
- Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles and place coverage with the same company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Taking a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Early Renewal Discounts – Some larger companies reward drivers for buying a new policy prior to your current Mountaineer insurance policy expiration. You could save around 10% when you buy New Orleans car insurance online.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a new Mountaineer is cheaper since new vehicles are generally safer.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
The chart below illustrates the difference between Mercury Mountaineer yearly insurance costs with and without discounts. The information is based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Louisiana state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, homeowner, multi-car, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Companies and the discounts they provide are detailed below.
- Esurance offers discounts for defensive driver, homeowner, DriveSense, online shopper, paid-in-full, good driver, and claim free.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for good student, driver training, defensive driver, vehicle fuel type, and air bag.
- AAA discounts include anti-theft, good student, pay-in-full, good driver, AAA membership discount, multi-car, and multi-policy.
- GEICO offers discounts including federal employee, five-year accident-free, membership and employees, anti-lock brakes, air bags, driver training, and anti-theft.
- State Farm may have discounts that include Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, safe vehicle, multiple autos, accident-free, and driver’s education.
If you need lower rates, check with every prospective company which discounts they offer. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply in New Orleans.
Insurance coverage details
The coverage information shown next highlights different coverage prices for Mercury Mountaineer models. Being aware of how car insurance prices are figured can help guide drivers when making smart policy decisions.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $190 | $372 | $488 | $28 | $146 | $1,224 | $102 |
Mountaineer AWD | $216 | $372 | $488 | $28 | $146 | $1,250 | $104 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $216 | $440 | $488 | $28 | $146 | $1,318 | $110 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $216 | $440 | $488 | $28 | $146 | $1,318 | $110 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Louisiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can modify rates noticeably.
Comparison of policy deductibles
When buying insurance, a common question is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The comparisons below determine the difference in cost between low and high insurance deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second set of prices uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $358 | $604 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,619 | $135 |
Mountaineer AWD | $406 | $604 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,667 | $139 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $406 | $712 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,775 | $148 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $406 | $712 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,775 | $148 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountaineer 2WD | $222 | $380 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,234 | $103 |
Mountaineer AWD | $250 | $380 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,262 | $105 |
Mountaineer Premier 2WD | $250 | $448 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,330 | $111 |
Mountaineer Premier AWD | $250 | $448 | $464 | $28 | $140 | $1,330 | $111 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Louisiana minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in specific zip code location which can revise insurance rates significantly.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you approximately $35 more each month or $420 for a full year across all Mercury Mountaineer models than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more if you file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go more than 21 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money if you choose a higher deductible.
Full coverage rates vs. liability-only
The chart below shows the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The costs are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to eliminate full coverage
There is no definitive formula of when to exclude physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let’s say your Mercury Mountaineer book value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company would pay you is $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If premium cost is more than $300 annually to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
There are a few situations where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.
Exclusive versus independent car insurance agents
Certain consumers still like to go talk to an agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from and supporting local insurance agents is especially important in New Orleans.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes to get your business. You don’t have to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. You can most likely find cheaper rates AND an agent nearby. If you need to quote rates from a specific company, you just need to go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.
When finding an insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agencies to choose from. Auto insurance agents in New Orleans can be described as either independent agents or exclusive agents.
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not restricted to one company so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If prices rise, an independent agent can move your coverage which makes it simple for you. When comparing rates, we highly recommend that you get quotes from several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
Below is a partial list of independent insurance agents in New Orleans who can help you get free rate quotes.
Above and Beyond Insurance Agency LLC
10001 Lake Forest Blvd #315 – New Orleans, LA 70127 – (504) 383-7432 – View Map
Pappalardo Agency, Inc.
145 Robert E Lee Blvd #202 – New Orleans, LA 70124 – (504) 486-7441 – View Map
ABC Insurance
4101 S Carrollton Ave c – New Orleans, LA 70119 – (504) 486-0123 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that elect to be exclusive can only place business with one company such as American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. These agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agencies are highly trained on their products and sales techniques which aids in selling service over price.
Listed below are exclusive agents in New Orleans that are able to give rate quotes.
Allstate Insurance: Rene Manfre
13040 I- 10 Service Rd – New Orleans, LA 70128 – (504) 218-1586 – View Map
Randy Bordlee – State Farm Insurance Agent
4650 General De Gaulle Dr #102 – New Orleans, LA 70131 – (504) 392-9300 – View Map
Alan Jackson – State Farm Insurance Agent
7045 Read Blvd Ste 108 – New Orleans, LA 70127 – (504) 241-6799 – View Map
Finding a good insurance agent should depend on more than just a low price. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- When do they do policy reviews?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Louisiana?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- Is the agent CPCU or CIC certified?
- If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?
- What companies can they write with?
How Insurers Calculate Mercury Mountaineer Insurance Prices
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. If you have some idea of what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that could result in better auto insurance rates. Many different elements are part of the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, but other criteria are more obscure like your continuous coverage or how financially stable you are.
Save money by having multiple policies – Many insurers apply discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount applied, drivers will still want to get quotes from other companies to help guarantee you have the best rates.
Does your job cost you more? – Careers such as lawyers, architects, and miners are shown to have the highest rates due to job stress and lengthy work days. On the other hand, jobs like farmers, athletes and performers pay lower than average rates.
How your age affects rates – Drivers with little experience tend to be inattentive and easily distracted behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. More mature drivers have been proven to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and receive fewer citations.
The chart below is based on a single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Insurance premiums and vehicle performance – The performance level of the car or truck you need insurance for makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. The cheapest rates are usually found on smaller low performance passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
The data below uses these variables: married female driver age 50, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It shows Mercury Mountaineer car insurance rates compared to other models that have different performance rating factors.
Male premiums may be higher – Statistics have proven that females take fewer risks when driving. This data doesn’t prove that females are better at driving than males. Women and men cause fender benders in similar percentages, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. Not only that, but men also get ticketed for serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
The information below visualizes the comparison of Mercury Mountaineer insurance costs for male and female drivers. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
Always keep your auto insurance policy in place – Having a lapse in insurance coverage will be a guaranteed way to drive up your policy premiums. Not only will you pay higher rates, getting caught without coverage may earn you fines or a revoked license.
Where you live can modify costs – Having an address in less populated areas of the country is a positive aspect when shopping for auto insurance. Fewer drivers on the road means less chance of accidents. People in densely populated areas have to deal with congested traffic and higher rates of accident claims. Higher commute times means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
Protect your vehicle and other assets
Even though it can be expensive, insuring your vehicle is required by state law in Louisiana and it also provides benefits you may not be aware of.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In Louisiana these limits are 15/30/25 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a lien on your Mountaineer, more than likely the lender will require you to have insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Mercury at an extremely high rate and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance protects both your Mercury and your personal assets. Insurance will pay for medical transport and hospital expenses incurred in an accident. Liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses in the event you are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of buying enough insurance outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. As of last year, the average driver in Louisiana is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so we recommend shopping around each time the policy renews to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Final considerations
Lower-priced Mercury Mountaineer insurance in New Orleans is available both online and also from your neighborhood New Orleans agents, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies may not have rates over the internet and these regional insurance providers sell through local independent agents.
We just covered a lot of ways to shop for Mercury Mountaineer insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote New Orleans car insurance, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
Additional auto insurance information can be found on the following sites:
- Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for Teenage Males in New Orleans? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Nissan Sentra in New Orleans? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable New Orleans Auto Insurance for Teachers? (FAQ)
- Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
- Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)