Ford Explorer Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

The average insurance price for a Ford Explorer averages out to be around $142 per month. Our complete guide will provide the information you need to know about how much car insurance companies might charge you to insure your Ford Explorer.
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Quick Facts

  • It costs less to insure a Ford Explorer than the average SUV.

  • Full coverage auto insurance for an Explorer runs about $142 monthly, on average, while liability only insurance usually tends to be around $78 a month.

  • The most affordable car insurance company for an Explorer is NationalGeneral.



Explorer Overview

With new 2021 models starting at $32,225, the Ford Explorer is a great budget-friendly car for drivers of all types. While it on the affordable end of the spectrum when it comes to overall price point, it's also a wise choice for your budget when considering your insurance premiums.

Based on looking at thousands of car insurance quotes from Compare.com, we've found that Ford Explorer insurance prices run about $142 per month, on average. How do auto insurance costs for the Explorer stack up against other similar SUVs?

Current Base Price$32,225
Body Style(s)SUV
Trim LevelsTIMBERLINE, ST, KING RANCH, LIMITED, XLT, EXPLORER, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR
Average Insurance Premium$142/mo.
Cheapest Insurance CompanyNationalGeneral

How Much is Car Insurance for a Ford Explorer?

Vehicle Liability Only Full Coverage
Ford Explorer$78$142
All Ford Models$78$162
All SUVs$81$152
Average Insurance Premium$81$169

Looking at the table above, you can see that Ford Explorer insurance rates are cheaper than average. On average, Explorer drivers can expect to pay around $78 a month for liability insurance, and about $142 monthly for full coverage, which has comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability (learn more about the difference with our guide "State Minimum vs. Full Coverage").

When you compare it to other Ford models, the Explorer is cheaper, with costs more than 10% lower than the rest of the automaker's vehicle lineup. Compared to SUV offerings from other brands, insurance for an Explorer is also more affordable, with liability only insurance premiums coming in around $3 less, and $10 less for full coverage.

Overall, they're just more affordable to insure than the average vehicle, no matter what body style, model, or make they are.


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Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Ford Explorer?

Insurance Company Average Monthly Premium
MetroMile$35
American Family$36
AnchorGeneral$37
Aspire$38
Dashers$38

If you're looking for a new car insurance policy for your Ford Explorer, you may be most interested in which carrier offers the most affordable premiums. While costs will generally be pretty different from driver to driver, MetroMile has the cheapest average rates for liability only coverage, with rates as cheap as just $35 a month. With car insurance as little as $36 monthly, American Family is the next lowest auto insurance company.

Completing the top 5 carriers are AnchorGeneral, Aspire, and Dashers. But just because these five companies offer the lowest average rates doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the cheapest carriers for you and your unique insurance profile.

After all, your results might be different, since car insurance companies look at a multitude of different things when calculating rates. By checking quotes from a range of insurance carriers at once, you can guarantee you're finding the most affordable rate.


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What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Explorer?

As we mentioned above, there are a wide array of factors that car insurance companies examine to choose how much they charge you -- and each carrier weighs certain attributes more than others, so there's not just one company that's the cheapest for everyone.

The following sections show a bunch of variables auto insurance carriers use to calculate rates:

Vehicle Age

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less than 1 Year$76
2-3 Years$76
4-5 Years$86
6-7 Years$80
8-10 Years$75
11-14 Years$81
15 Years or Older$76

The Ford Explorer has been around for a while, so vehicle age will likely make a big difference in what you end up paying for insurance. Generally, it costs more to insure newer cars because they're worth more, but as they get older, insurance costs will gradually decrease.

According to the table above, the Ford Explorer is inline with this trend, as the cheapest models to insure are those that are 8 to 10 years old, while the most expensive models are Explorers that are 4 to 5 years old, on average.

Your Age

Age Average Monthly Premium
Under 18$230
18-24$122
25-34$80
35-44$74
45-54$61
55-64$61
65 or Older$67

Age plays a role in how much car insurance companies will charge for auto insurance. Based on the information above, young Explorer drivers have higher rates than drivers with more experience on the road. In this case, drivers under 18 pay more than twice as much as those 25 or older.

Auto insurance prices continue to go lower as you get older, with the cheapest age group for Explorer drivers being 55-64.

Your Gender

Gender Average Monthly Premium
Male$81
Female$75

Women normally to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of an insurance claim. The Ford Explorer is no different, and women pay about $75 per month for car insurance and men pay around $81.

Where You Live

State Average Monthly Premium
California$52
Florida$121
Georgia$96
Illinois$49
New York$189
North Carolina$59
Ohio$59
Pennsylvania$72
Texas$62
Virginia$59

You may already know that factors like what vehicle you drive and how old you are play a role in your auto insurance prices, but did you know that where you live can matter just as much? Because insurance is regulated on the state level rather than nationally, rates can change quite a bit from state to state.

For example, the average Ford Explorer driver in New York pays about $189 a month for liability coverage. Meanwhile, the same owner in California will pay less than a third of that price, on average. The chart above shows average prices for the 10 largest states by population, just to give you a good idea of how much costs can change across states.


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Ford Explorer Car Insurance Discounts

Whatever your car, your home state, or your age, using as many discounts as possible when it comes to your car insurance is always a good idea when shopping around for a policy.

Not every auto insurance carrier will offer the same discounts, but there are a few that are relatively universal. These include things like:

  • Multi-car discounts for having several vehicles on your auto policy
  • Pay-in-full discounts for choosing to pay your entire policy premium up front, rather than by monthly payments
  • Defensive driving discounts for taking a defensive driving class through an accredited school or institution
  • Vehicle safety discounts for having a vehicle with certain safety features (like air bags or anti-lock brakes) or one with higher safety ratings

But these aren't the only discounts car insurance carriers offer to their customers. Often, the best way to get great rates is to work on your overall insurance profile.

Although you may not be able to control every factor insurance carriers take a look at to calculate premiums (like some of the ones mentioned above), you can influence some of them. Below are just a few of the variables you can use to your favor when it comes to saving cash:

Your Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$100
Multiple Accidents$139
1 Ticket$92
Multiple Tickets$118

You've no doubt noticed ads from auto insurance companies promoting big savings for safe drivers. It follows that your car insurance rates will increase if you get into a collision or get a speeding ticket. But you still might be left wondering exactly how much collisions and moving violations will cost you.

If you look at the table above, you'll notice that accidents will usually cost Explorer drivers more than tickets, but both will result in a raise in rates. Ford Explorer drivers with a single ticket will pay an average of $92 monthly, while drivers with one accident on their record pay about $100 every month (up $22 from the $78/mo. overall average). Drivers with more than one of either violation will end up paying even more.

How Much You Drive

Annual Mileage Average Monthly Premium
0-2,500 Miles$68
2,501-5,000 Miles$73
5,001-7,500 Miles$70
7,501-10,000 Miles$81
10,000+ Miles$79

How much you drive annually affects your auto insurance prices. Drivers who are on the roads less have fewer opportunities to get into an accident, so they'll typically end up paying less for insurance. In the above table, you can see that Ford Explorer owners who drive fewer than 2,500 miles per year pay about $68 per month for auto insurance, while those who put 10,000 miles or more on their cars pay $79.

If you don't use your Ford Explorer that often, it may be worth getting usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance. With these kinds of plans, you pay a small monthly amount, and your final monthly bill is calculated based on the number of miles you drove.


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How Do Ford Explorers Compare to Other Vehicles?

If you're thinking about making a Ford Explorer your next vehicle, it might be helpful to do your research. Insurance is just one cost that's associated with buying a new car, but it's guaranteed to be one that's worth considering.

Take a look at the table below to see how the Ford Explorer stacks up:

Ford Explorer National Average
Liability Insurance$69$81
Full Coverage Insurance$142$169
Base MSRP$32,225$46,228
Average Annual Mileage11,14711,681

Overall, the Ford Explorer is a great value when it comes to price, with an MSRP that's a quarter less than the going rate for a new vehicle. While the average vehicle MSRP in the U.S. is $46,228, the Explorer goes for just $32,225.

In the same fashion, car insurance premiums run below average when compared to other vehicles on the market. Liability insurance for a Ford Explorer is around $12 a month less expensive than average, while full coverage is more than $20 cheaper per month.

When it comes to usage, Ford Explorer drivers aren't far from the national average in annual miles driven, with 11,681 miles a year for all vehicles compared to the Explorer's 11,147 each year.

Ford Explorer Car Insurance Costs by Model Year

You've seen how different things can affect how much you might pay for auto insurance. If you're considering buying a new Explorer, knowing what you'll likely pay can be extremely valuable as you weigh your choices.

So we've broken down Ford Explorer insurance costs by model year. Choose a specific Explorer model year in the dropdown below and see average rates for both full coverage and liability only insurance. We've included some additional information you might find helpful, too, such as who offers the lowest policies, the base MSRP, and which trim levels are offered for each Explorer model year.

2021 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$69
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$142
Base MSRP$32,225
Cheapest Insurance CompanyHugo - $21/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, KING RANCH, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, ST, TIMBERLINE, XLT

If you're considering a brand new Ford Explorer, there are plenty of options to choose from. With eight different trim levels to pick from, there's surely a style for everyone.

When it comes to insuring a Explorer, the average 2021 Ford Explorer normally costs about $142 monthly for full coverage and $69 per month for a liability only policy. And if you want the cheapest insurance possible, Hugo offers liability only policies for as little as just $21 monthly.

Even though this gave you a good idea of what the average 2021 Explorer will cost to insure, there's no way to know exactly how much you'll pay without getting a personalized quote. With Compare.com, you can get a variety of quotes at once, all for free. To get started, just enter your ZIP code below.


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2020 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$95
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$184
Base MSRP$32,765
Cheapest Insurance CompanyAmica - $27/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, ST, XLT

If you're looking to buy a 2020 Explorer or already own one, you can expect an average car insurance rate of around $95 for liability or $184 for full coverage.

And if you're just looking for the most affordable auto insurance for your Explorer, Amica offers liability only policies for sometimes as little as $27 a month.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Explorer, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.


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2019 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$88
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$168
Base MSRP$32,365
Cheapest Insurance CompanyDairyland - $27/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

2019 Ford Explorer drivers can expect to pay an average of $88 monthly for liability or $168 for full coverage.

With premiums sometimes as cheap as $27 a month, Dairyland offered the lowest policy we found for the 2019 Ford Explorer.

Want to know exactly how much you'll pay? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several free customized quotes.


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2018 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$86
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$168
Base MSRP$32,140
Cheapest Insurance CompanyClearcover - $19/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

It costs about $86 per month for liability or $168 for a full coverage policy for the 2018 Explorer.

Clearcover has prices as low as $19 monthly for the 2018 Ford Explorer.

If you want to know just how much your cost will be, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.


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2017 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$84
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$144
Base MSRP$31,510
Cheapest Insurance CompanyHugo - $17/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

The average cost to insure a 2017 Ford Explorer with liability only coverage is $84 per month, while full coverage runs around $144 a month.

If you're looking for the most affordable 2017 Ford Explorer insurance policy, Hugo offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates sometimes as low as $17 monthly.

Want to find the best rates? Just enter your ZIP code below to get lots of personalized quotes for free.


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2016 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$83
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$147
Base MSRP$30,620
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMetroMile - $18/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, PLATINUM, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

You can expect full coverage for a 2016 Explorer to run about $147 per month, while liability only coverage will average around $83 a month.

With costs as cheap as $18 monthly, MetroMile offered the lowest policy we found.

While these are good estimates of what the average driver might pay to insure a 2016 Ford Explorer, these rates might differ based on your driver profile. Get free personalized quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.


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2015 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$90
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$160
Base MSRP$30,185
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMetLife - $17/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

On average, drivers who own a 2015 Ford Explorer can expect to pay $90 to $160 per month for liability only and full coverage car insurance, respectively.

Looking for the most affordable policy? MetLife offered liability only coverage for as low as just $17 a month.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.


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2014 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$80
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$136
Base MSRP$29,705
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMetroMile - $18/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

The average cost to insure a 2014 Explorer with liability only coverage is $80 monthly, while full coverage runs about $136 per month.

We found MetroMile offered the lowest policy, with rates as little as just $18 a month.

If you want to find the best prices for insurance for a 2014 Ford Explorer, enter your ZIP code below and compare multiple personalized quotes in just a few minutes.


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2013 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$79
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$147
Base MSRP$28,580
Cheapest Insurance CompanyAcceptance - $23/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, POLICE INTERCEPTOR, SPORT, XLT

On average, drivers who own a 2013 Ford Explorer can expect to pay $79 to $147 per month for liability only and full coverage car insurance, respectively.

Acceptance offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates sometimes as little as $23 monthly.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Explorer, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.


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2012 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$86
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$150
Base MSRP$28,280
Cheapest Insurance CompanyStateAuto - $22/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, XLT

2012 Explorer drivers can expect to pay an average of $86 a month for liability or $150 for full coverage.

With rates sometimes as low as $22 per month, StateAuto offered the cheapest policy we found for the 2012 Ford Explorer.

Want something more accurate than nationwide averages? Just enter your ZIP code below to get multiple customized quotes for free.


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2011 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$78
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$138
Base MSRP$28,190
Cheapest Insurance CompanyShelter Mutual - $19/mo.
Available TrimsEXPLORER, LIMITED, XLT

You can expect full coverage for a 2011 Ford Explorer to run around $138 a month, while liability only coverage will average about $78 monthly.

Shelter Mutual has premiums as low as $19 a month for the 2011 Ford Explorer.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Explorer, just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes in minutes.


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2010 Ford Explorer Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$76
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$143
Base MSRP$28,210
Cheapest Insurance CompanyElephant - $24/mo.
Available TrimsEDDIE BAUER, LIMITED, XLT

It costs around $76 monthly for liability or $143 for a full coverage policy for the 2010 Explorer.

We found Elephant offered the lowest policy, with rates sometimes as cheap as $24 per month.

Interested in exactly how much you'll pay? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several free personalized quotes.


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Ford Explorer Insurance FAQs

Is a Ford Explorer expensive to insure?

The Ford Explorer is less expensive to insure compared to the average SUV. Liability insurance runs an average of $78 a month, while full coverage will cost you around $142.

How can I get the best price on car insurance for my Ford Explorer?

There's only one way to make sure you're getting the most affordable rates -- regularly shopping around and comparing quotes from several carriers. Over time, your driver profile changes, so it's a good rule of thumb to review quotes every 6 months or so. Luckily, sites like Compare.com let you compare costs from multiple companies at once, meaning you can find the cheapest rates (or guarantee you already have the best deal) for free.

Does the color of my Ford Explorer affect my insurance rates?

Have you heard that it is more expensive to insure red cars that silver or white vehicles before? Well, that's actually not true. There are a variety of variables insurance carriers use when they decide how much to charge you for auto insurance, but the color of your Ford Explorer isn't one of them.

Do I need to have insurance before I buy a Ford Explorer?

You'll need to have valid insurance for your car before you can legally drive your it off the dealership lot. Some dealerships will offer you an insurance policy as part of the buying process, but your best bet is letting your auto insurance company know ahead of time.

What car insurance discounts can I get for my Ford Explorer?

You will find tons of discounts out there when it comes to car insurance. Many of them (like "safe driver discounts" and "pay-in-full discounts") are more based on you than the Explorer you drive, but if your Explorer has safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft systems, and other features, it may qualify for certain discounts. You'll only know about which discounts you qualify for if you get in touch with your insurance carrier and ask about their discounts, since they vary quite a bit from company to company.

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