Save on 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Car Insurance Rates

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are lots of residents who feel the same.

Due to the large number of insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to find the most cost effective insurer.

It’s a good habit to do price comparisons periodically due to the fact that insurance prices are constantly changing. If you had the best deal for RAV4 Hybrid insurance two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to teach you the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on car insurance.

Buying more affordable protection is quite easy. Just about every driver who is required by state law to have insurance stands a good chance to be able to cut their insurance bill. But consumers do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

How to find affordable auto insurance

To get cheap auto insurance quotes, there a variety of ways to obtain and compare prices from all the different companies. The best method to find the lowest Toyota RAV4 Hybrid rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This is quite simple and can be completed in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  • One of the fastest ways to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method saves time by eliminating boring form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. A single, simple form will return price quotes from many national carriers.
  • A more difficult way to find more affordable insurance is spending the time to visit the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want to compare USAA, Allstate and Travelers. In order to get each rate, you would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which is why first method is reommended. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
  • The old school way to comparison shop rate quotes is making phone calls or going to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the middleman unless you want the professional advice that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to comparison shop online and have a local agent actually service the policy.

The method you choose is up to you, but do your best to enter exactly the same quote data on every quote you get. If you have different values for each quote you can’t possibly truly determine the lowest rate. Just slight variations in insurance coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just remember that comparing all the rates in your area will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates. Some regional insurers cannot provide rate quotes online, so it’s important to also get price quotes on coverage from those companies, too.

Lower your car insurance rates with discounts

Not too many consumers would say car insurance is affordable, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you may save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
  • Student Discounts – Excelling in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply up to age 25.
  • Professional Organizations – Belonging to certain professional organizations may earn a discount on your bill.
  • Air Bag Discount – Options like air bags may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
  • E-sign Discounts – A few car insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
  • Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could earn you a small percentage discount depending on where you live.
  • Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a house may trigger a policy discount on car insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof of financial responsibility.
  • Onboard Data Collection – Drivers who elect to allow companies to analyze when and where they use their vehicle remotely such as State Farm’s In-Drive may see discounts if they are good drivers.
  • Senior Citizen Rates – Mature drivers could receive better car insurance rates for RAV4 Hybrid insurance.
  • Drivers Education – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them successfully complete driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.

It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though the math looks like you could get a free car insurance policy, that’s just not realistic.

Larger car insurance companies and some of the discounts include:

  • State Farm includes discounts for multiple policy, safe vehicle, Drive Safe & Save, student away at school, good student, and good driver.
  • Liberty Mutual has discounts for newly retired, multi-policy, new graduate, newly married, preferred payment discount, and safety features.
  • American Family may include discounts for accident-free, air bags, mySafetyValet, defensive driver, Steer into Savings, and multi-vehicle.
  • Progressive may offer discounts for multi-vehicle, good student, multi-policy, continuous coverage, online quote discount, online signing, and homeowner.
  • Farmers Insurance discounts include youthful driver, pay in full, bundle discounts, homeowner, and business and professional.
  • Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for student away at school, multiple vehicles, anti-lock brakes, teen driver, group or association, safe vehicle, and paperless.
  • SAFECO may have discounts that include teen safety rewards, teen safe driver, safe driver, anti-theft, bundle discounts, drive less, and multi-car.

When getting a coverage quote, ask all the companies what discounts are available to you. Some discounts may not apply in your area. For a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts, follow this link.

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out if your situation could use an agent’s help.

  • Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
  • Is my 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid covered for flood damage?
  • When should I not file a claim?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
  • What is an SR-22 filing?
  • Do I need more liability coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Four factors that affect insurance prices

It’s important that you understand a few of the rating criteria that help calculate the price you pay for car insurance. When you understand what impacts premium levels, this helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs. Multiple criteria are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable like an MVR report, but others are less apparent such as your credit history or how financially stable you are.

The items below are most of the major factors car insurance companies consider when setting your premiums.

  • Certain jobs pay higher prices – Jobs such as military generals, business owners and financial analysts generally have higher premium rates in part from intense work-related stress and incredibly demanding work hours. On the other hand, occupations like professors, historians and homemakers generally pay rates lower than average for RAV4 Hybrid insurance.
  • Big cities have higher premiums – Residing in smaller towns and rural areas of the country may provide you with better prices when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have more aggressive driving styles and more severe claims. Lower population corresponds to lower accident rates and a lower car theft rate.
  • Liability protection risk factors in – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance will protect you if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides for a legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability insurance is pretty cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Discounts for alarm systems – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can earn a premium discount. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all hinder your car from being stolen.

Do drivers who switch really save?

State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make the same claim that you can save if you switch your policy. That’s great but how can every company give you a lower rate? Just pay attention to how they say it.

Most companies quote their best rates for a prospective insured that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable risk may be between 25 and 40, has never had a claim, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who fits that profile will get a cheap rate quote and will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile may be required to pay a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” will save that much if they switch. That’s why companies can lure you into getting a quote.

Because each company has a different risk profile, you need to compare many company’s premium rates. It’s not possible to predict with any certainty which company will have the best auto insurance rates.

Car insurance policy specifics

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the usual coverages found on most car insurance policies.

Liability coverage

Liability coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 100/300/100 that means you have a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability insurance covers claims such as loss of income, medical services and pain and suffering. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as falling objects, damage from getting keyed, hail damage and theft. The most a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Collision coverage

Collision insurance covers damage to your RAV4 Hybrid from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things such as colliding with a tree, hitting a parking meter, colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a ditch and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills such as pain medications, hospital visits, funeral costs, chiropractic care and doctor visits. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Knowledge is power

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best possible price.

Some insurance companies may not have internet price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent agencies. Cheap 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

We just covered a lot of techniques to lower your 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting cheaper auto insurance. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with a small local company. Smaller companies can often provide lower auto insurance rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

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