Really, the only way to get cheaper Lincoln MKS insurance in Baltimore is to compare quotes annually from companies who sell auto insurance in Maryland.
- First, take a little time to learn about auto insurance and the changes you can make to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as traffic citations and a substandard credit score can be remedied by paying attention to minor details. Later in this article we will cover more details to prevent expensive rate increases and get discounts that may be available to you.
- Second, compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from many different companies.
- Third, compare the new rates to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Fourth, give notification to your current company to cancel your current policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application for the new policy. Once received, put the new proof of insurance paperwork with your registration paperwork.
The key aspect of shopping around is to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote request and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this helps ensure an apples-to-apples comparison and a complete selection of prices.
It’s an obvious assumption that car insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. Consumers who shop rates annually will, in all likelihood, switch to a new company because there is a significant possibility of finding good coverage at a lower price. A recent survey found that consumers who made a habit of comparing rates saved $3,500 over four years compared to drivers who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding the best price on car insurance is why you’re reading this, understanding how to shop for coverages can help make the process easier and more efficient.
Locating the best rates in Baltimore is actually quite simple. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to get lower rates using the ideas presented in this article. Although Maryland vehicle owners must know how the larger insurance companies calculate your policy premium and use it to your advantage.
Educated Choices Result in Lower Insurance Rates
A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.
- Stay claim-free and save – Car insurance companies in Maryland generally give discounts to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file a lot of claims you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for claims that you cannot pay yourself.
- Defend yourself with liability – Your car insurance policy’s liability coverage kicks in in the event that you are determined to be liable for an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
- Save money with GPS tracking and theft deterrents – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your premiums. Theft deterrent systems such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can help prevent car theft and help bring rates down.
- No car insurance policy gaps is important – Having a gap between insurance policy dates can be a fast way to increase your car insurance rates. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
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Fast cars cost more to insure – The performance of the car you own makes a significant difference in your car insurance bill. Lower cost passenger models usually are quite affordable to insure, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
The following chart assumes a single female driver age 20, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The data compares Lincoln MKS car insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have different performance risks.
- Credit history impacts premiums – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay. Insureds with good credit tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with bad credit. If your credit rating can be improved, you may save money insuring your Lincoln MKS by improving your credit score.
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Loss probability for a Lincoln MKS – Insurance companies factor in historical loss data to help determine the price you pay. Models that the data shows to have high amounts or severity of claims will cost more for specific coverages. The table shown below demonstrates the insurance loss data for Lincoln MKS vehicles.
For each type of coverage, the claim probability for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is set at 100. Numbers shown that are under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while percentage values above 100 point to more losses or an increased likelihood of larger losses.
Car Insurance Loss Data for Lincoln MKS Models Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Lincoln MKS 4dr 2WD 121 90 140 78 103 Lincoln MKS 4dr 4WD 135 89 204 89 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost 4dr 4WD 139 93 153 87 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
When comparison shopping, there are several ways of comparing rate quotes from all the different companies. The best method to compare rates is to get quotes online.
When comparison shopping, comparing all the rates in your area increases the chance that you will find the best rates. Not every company does online price quotes, so you also need to get quotes from them, too.
The car insurance companies shown below can provide price quotes in Baltimore, MD. To get cheap auto insurance in MD, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the best price comparison.
Lincoln MKS insurance coverage information
The premium table shown next highlights different insurance coverage prices for Lincoln MKS models. Having knowledge of how auto insurance prices are figured can help you make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $278 | $452 | $452 | $26 | $136 | $1,344 | $112 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $278 | $452 | $452 | $26 | $136 | $1,344 | $112 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $306 | $510 | $452 | $26 | $136 | $1,430 | $119 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location which can increase or decrease coverage prices significantly.
Analysis of deductible levels
One of the more difficult decisions when buying auto insurance is how low should you set your deductibles. The comparison tables below lay out the differences in price of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage and the second rate table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $440 | $856 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,791 | $149 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $440 | $856 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,791 | $149 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $484 | $968 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,947 | $162 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $578 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,368 | $114 |
| MKS 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $578 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,368 | $114 |
| MKS Ecoboost AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $354 | $654 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,478 | $123 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and claim-free. Information does not factor in zip code location which can modify premium rates considerably.
Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible will cost you about $36 more each month or $432 each year averaged for all MKS models than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $400 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 11 months between claims, you would come out ahead if you decide on a higher deductible. The table below shows how this calculation is made.
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $153 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $117 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $36 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $36 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 11 months |
One big caveat is that a higher deductible means you will have to pay more when you do file a claim. That will require some extra savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice and can affect Lincoln MKS insurance costs for each different age category. The information is based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
Lincoln MKS insurance rates by gender
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Lincoln MKS car insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums assume no claims, a clean driving record, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you buy full coverage?
The chart below shows the comparison of Lincoln MKS yearly insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The premium estimates are based on no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying full coverage
There is no set guideline that is best for determining when to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s pretend your Lincoln MKS claim settlement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $4,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $400 a year for your policy with full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some conditions where eliminating full coverage is not recommended. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.
Three good reasons to insure your Lincoln MKS
Despite the high cost, paying for insurance is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability protection in order to license the vehicle. In Maryland these limits are 30/60/15 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you took out a loan on your MKS, it’s guaranteed your bank will stipulate that you buy full coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you let the policy lapse, the lender will be forced to insure your Lincoln at a more expensive rate and require you to fork over a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance protects both your car and your assets. It will also pay for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your policy will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of having insurance are without a doubt worth the cost, especially with large liability claims. The average driver in America is wasting up to $830 a year so compare rate quotes every year to make sure the price is not too high.
Car insurance discounts help lower rates for Lincoln MKS insurance in Baltimore
Companies don’t always list every policy discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous ways to save on car insurance.
- Policy Bundle Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
- Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
- Government Employee Discount – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction depending on your company.
- Multi-line Discount – Not all insurance companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- Military Discounts – Being on active duty in the military may lower your premium rates slightly.
- New Car Discount – Buying a new car instead of a used MKS is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your premiums.
The illustration below shows the difference between Lincoln MKS yearly insurance costs with and without some available policy discounts. The premiums are based on a female driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Maryland state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of their more popular discounts are detailed below.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts for safe driver, driver training, youthful driver, good student, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and 55 and retired.
- Liberty Mutual policyholders can earn discounts including new move discount, newly married, newly retired, hybrid vehicle, safety features, exclusive group savings, and teen driver discount.
- State Farm may have discounts that include defensive driving training, good student, multiple autos, driver’s education, good driver, and accident-free.
- Auto-Owners Insurance includes discounts for anti-lock brakes, paperless, air bags, paid in full, and anti-theft.
- GEICO offers premium reductions for air bags, defensive driver, membership and employees, anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, and emergency military deployment.
- SAFECO may offer discounts for homeowner, teen safe driver, safe driver, teen safety rewards, and multi-car.
Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company how many discounts you can get. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered in your state. To find car insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Maryland, click here.
Local Baltimore insurance agents and car insurance
Many people just want to talk to a local agent and often times that is recommended One of the best bonuses of comparing car insurance online is the fact that you can find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents that can provide free Baltimore car insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t even need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. You can get cheaper car insurance rates AND an agent nearby. If you have a need to quote rates from a particular provider, you can always go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Choosing the best insurer should depend on more than just a cheap price quote. The following questions are important to ask.
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
Choose an insurance agent wisely
If you are searching for an insurance agent, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures that you can choose from. Car insurance agents may be either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents can only place business with one company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot provide other company’s prices so always compare other rates. They are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Some people will only use the same exclusive agent mostly because of the prominence of the brand rather than having the cheapest rates.
Below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Baltimore willing to provide price quote information.
- John C Bugg III – State Farm Insurance Agent
6711 Belair Rd – Baltimore, MD 21206 – (410) 661-4949 – View Map - Charmaine Barnes – State Farm Insurance Agent
900 S Ellwood Ave – Baltimore, MD 21224 – (410) 675-1900 – View Map - Tom Nash – State Farm Insurance Agent
454 E Fort Ave – Baltimore, MD 21230 – (410) 727-4545 – View Map
Independent Car Insurance Agencies
Agents in the independent channel do not write with just one company so they have the ability to put coverage with many different companies and potentially find a lower price. If prices rise, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you compare quotes from several independent agencies to have the best price comparison. Most also have access to additional companies that you may not be familiar with that many times have cheaper rates.
The following are independent insurance agents in Baltimore that are able to give price quotes.
- Maryland Auto Insurance (the new MAIF)
1215 E Fort Ave #300 – Baltimore, MD 21230 – (800) 492-7120 – View Map - Mason and Carter Inc
23 South St – Baltimore, MD 21202 – (410) 539-6767 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Luray and Associates Inc
1726 Reisterstown Rd #220 – Baltimore, MD 21208 – (410) 602-2636 – View Map
How to find a good Baltimore auto insurance company
Choosing the highest-rated company is difficult considering how many companies are available to choose from in Baltimore. The company information below could help you choose which insurers you want to consider putting your business with.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| Mercury Insurance | 97 | 96 | 88 | 89% | A+ | 93.4 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
| The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
| GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
| Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
| 21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
| Liberty Mutual | 79 | 87 | 95 | 78% | A | 85.3 |
| Farmers Insurance | 77 | 80 | 80 | 84% | A | 80.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Quote more and you will save more
We covered quite a bit of information on how to reduce Lincoln MKS insurance premium rates online in Baltimore. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Drivers may even discover the best premium rates are with a lesser-known regional company.
Some insurance providers may not offer online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents. Lower-priced insurance in Baltimore is attainable on the web in addition to many Baltimore insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including poor customer service, denial of a claim, policy cancellation and unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new insurance company is actually quite simple.
Additional information can be found below:
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- How Much are Baltimore Car Insurance Rates for Low Income Drivers? (FAQ)
- How Much are Car Insurance Quotes for Ride Shares in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Postal Workers in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Baltimore Car Insurance Rates for 19 Year Olds? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Baltimore Auto Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Altima? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Kia Optima in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda CR-V in Baltimore? (FAQ)
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
- Rearview cameras reduce backing crashes (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)