The Ford Explorer has been a popular seller for the company for years now. The Explorer first came about in 1990 in place of the bulkier Ford Bronco II. Many experts in the industry credit the Explorer with being one of the main vehicles that helped create a popular market for the SUV. While SUVs were once viewed as mainly big and utilitarian, the introduction of this vehicle helped revolutionize the market, making it more accessible to the average driver for everyday use.

Most people doing research about this vehicle, though, are considering a newer model of the Ford Explorer, starting with the Fifth Generation from 2011 until now. The 5–door, 6-speed automatic has been a best seller for Ford. Some of what drivers love about the Fifth Generation include:

• Front wheel or all wheel drive
• Engine options including 2.0 EcoBoost I4, 3.5 Duratec V6, or 3.5 EcoBoost V6
• Push-button start and remote engine start
• Power liftgate
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Active Park Assist
• Plus many of the whistles and bells consumers now expect to come standard, such as GPS and entertainment technology

Of course, if you are looking into Ford Explorer car insurance rates, you will also want to know about some of the safety features. Remember, when comparing rates for different types of vehicles, the more safety and anti-theft features included, the better the premiums will be. Some of the standard safety features of this Ford vehicle include:

• BLIS blind spot system
• Dual front adaptive SRS air bags
• For the front seats, side impact air bags
• Side curtain head plus dual rear seat belt air bags plus
• Rollover and torso protection air bags
• Collision warning with brake support
• RSC, or Roll Stability Control
• Electronic Stability Control, or ESC
• Curve Control
• Plus much more

When shopping around for your Explorer, find out what additional options there are for safety and anti-theft. Not only will these features better protect you, your family, and the vehicle but you will see a difference on your car insurance rates as a result too.

Finding the Best Ford Explorer Car Insurance Premiums

Did you realize where you park your car at night could impact your auto coverage premiums? It’s true. Some companies will offer better rates if you are able to park your car in your garage and better protect it from factors like weather, vandalism, or theft. Car insurance rates can be impacted by a great number of factors, and you should certainly get an idea of what you could be paying for insurance before agreeing to get into new car payments.

Something else you should be aware of when it comes to having the right amount of vehicle insurance protection for your Ford Explorer is Gap insurance. If you plan on financing a new vehicle, you need to know about Gap insurance before finding out too late that you wish you had it.

So what is Gap insurance?

• Say you just bought your new Ford Explorer and drove it off the lot. Well, any vehicle begins to lose value the moment it leaves the lot and before it has even lost that “new car” scent. The problem is that the amount you owe on it versus what any car insurance company would value it at is not going to match. So if you have an accident, your insurance provider is only liable for the value of the car, not what you owe. Any difference between those two figures, which can easily be in the thousands of dollars, is up to you to still cover out of your own pocket, even if your car is completely destroyed, leaving you without a car to drive.

That is, of course, unless you have Gap insurance coverage to make up for the difference. These are all things you should know before signing on the dotted line for a new Explorer or any new vehicle for that matter.

What Else Is There?

The average driver realizes their driving record is probably the biggest factor in determining premium rates. Obviously, the better your driving record, the lower your rates can be. Keep in mind that if you already have a policy in place and had accidents, tickets, or other violations that could cost you more money with higher rates, keep an eye on when these “expire.”

Usually if you have an accident or get a ticket but then keep a clean record for three years, these come off your insurance record for affecting your rates. Know when these three years are up and make sure your rates reflect this.

The bottom line is that car insurance is the most important thing to have for your car. Make sure you get the best rates possible for your new Ford Explorer.