How Much Does 1998 Toyota 4Runner Insurance Cost?

Pretty sure you bought an expensive car insurance policy? You’re in good company because many consumers are in the same pinch. There is such a variety of insurance companies to buy insurance from, and even though it’s nice to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Finding the best rates is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare rates on the web.

Lower your insurance prices

Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that aid in calculating the rates you pay for insurance. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables you to make decisions that can earn you lower rates. Lots of things are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious like your driving record, although others are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your financial responsibility.

The list below includes just a few of the factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rate level.

  • Where you live factors in – Choosing to live in a small town may provide you with better prices when insuring your vehicles. City drivers have to deal with more aggressive driving styles and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents.
  • How’s your driving record? – Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to bad drivers. Getting just one driving citation can increase the cost of insurance forty percent or more. Drivers who have multiple violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find that they have to to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Safer vehicles means lower prices – Safe vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce occupant injuries and fewer serious injuries means less claims paid which can result in lower premiums.
  • Liability coverage is important – Your policy’s liability coverage kicks in in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. It is affordable coverage compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Younger drivers pay more – Teen drivers are statistically shown to be careless and easily distracted when at the wheel of a vehicle therefore insurance rates are much higher. Older, more experienced drivers have been proven to be more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • Do you really need to file that claims? – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you should expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance companies provide lower rates to people who only file infrequent claims. Your car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Your credit rating is important – Your credit rating will be a significant factor in your rate calculation. Insureds with high credit scores tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit. So if your credit history is not that good, you could save money insuring your 1998 Toyota 4Runner if you improve your credit rating.
  • Extra policy coverages can add up – Policies have add-on coverages that can waste your money if you don’t pay attention. Insurance for personal injury protection, accident forgiveness, and motor club memberships could be just wasting money. They may sound like good ideas at first, but if they’re wasting money remove them and pocket the money.

Take advantage of every auto insurance discount

Some providers don’t list every possible discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving when you buy auto insurance online.

  • Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may reduce rates when you quote auto insurance on 4Runner insurance depending on your company.
  • Waiver for an Accident – but companies like Geico, State Farm, and Progressive will turn a blind eye to one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims prior to being involved in the accident.
  • Sign Online – A few insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
  • College Student Discount – Any of your kids who live away from home at college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Policy Bundle Discount – If you have multiple policies and insure them with the same company you may earn up to 20% and get you low cost auto insurance.

Don’t be surprised that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.

Companies and the discounts they provide are:

  • 21st Century has discounts for early bird, 55 and older, homeowners, driver training, anti-lock brakes, theft prevention, and automatic seat belts.
  • Progressive has savings for good student, multi-policy, homeowner, online quote discount, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online signing.
  • State Farm may have discounts that include multiple policy, good student, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, and accident-free.
  • Nationwide offers discounts including easy pay, anti-theft, Farm Bureau membership, accident-free, defensive driving, and multi-policy.
  • Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including claim free, paid-in-full, anti-theft, good student, online shopper, Pac-12 alumni, and Switch & Save.
  • The Hartford may include discounts for driver training, bundle, anti-theft, good student, air bag, and defensive driver.

Double check with each company how you can save money. Some discounts might not be offered in your area.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that claim the cheapest rates from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing that you’ll save big if you switch to their company.

It sounds good, but how can they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have specific characteristics for the type of driver that will add to their bottom line. One example of this type of driver might be married and over the age of 30, has a clear driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Someone that meets those criteria will get a cheap rate quote and therefore will save a lot of money.

People who don’t meet this ideal profile may receive a more expensive rate and this results in the customer not buying. The ads state “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. Because of this risk profiling, it’s extremely important to compare price quotes frequently. Because you cannot predict which insurance coverage company will have the best premium rates at this point in time.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

  • Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
  • Am I insured when driving a different vehicle?
  • Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
  • If my 1998 Toyota 4Runner is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Do I have newly-aquired coverage?
  • Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.

Auto insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. These are typical coverage types offered by insurance companies.

Medical expense coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like surgery, chiropractic care and prosthetic devices. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive protection – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers things such as backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox, scraping a guard rail, driving through your garage door and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability insurance – This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. This coverage protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have liability limits of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for things like medical expenses, emergency aid and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – This coverage provides protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Toyota 4Runner.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Saving money is sweet as honey

Cost effective 1998 Toyota 4Runner insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood agents, and you should compare rates from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don’t offer price quotes online and many times these regional carriers only sell through local independent agencies.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where someone dropped full coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost, not the least amount of coverage.

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