Compare 2014 Toyota RAV4 Car Insurance Rates

Locating better insurance prices for a Toyota RAV4 can turn out to be a painful process, but you can use a few tricks to find lower rates. There is a better way to shop for insurance coverage so you’re going to learn the absolute fastest way to get price quotes for a new or used Toyota and obtain the cheapest rates from local insurance agents and online providers.

It’s a good idea to shop coverage around every six months because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rate for RAV4 coverage two years ago you can probably find a better premium rate now. Forget all the misinformation about insurance coverage because you’re going to learn how to use the internet to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

How you can control Toyota RAV4 insurance costs

Many different elements are part of the equation when you get your auto insurance bill. Most are fairly basic like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are more transparent like your continuous coverage or your vehicle rating.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by companies to determine your premiums.

  • Increase coverage deductibles to save – Insurance for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers your vehicle from damage. A few examples of covered claims would be a windshield shattered by a rock, hail damage, and damage caused by flying debris. The deductibles tell how much the insured will be required to pay before your insurance pays a claim. The more money you have to pay, the lower your rates will be for RAV4 coverage.
  • Premiums also based on gender – Statistics show that females tend to be a little less risky than males. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Females and males are in at-fault accidents at about the same rate, but males tend to have more serious accidents. In addition to higher claims, males also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Certain occupations pay higher premiums – Did you know your insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as lawyersairline pilots and miners are shown to have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and lots of time spent away from family. Conversely, jobs like scientists, engineers and homemakers generally pay rates lower than average for RAV4 coverage.
  • Deter vehicle theft – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Systems that thwart theives like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack can help prevent vehicle theft.
  • Premiums may be higher where you live – Being located in less populated areas may provide you with better prices when it comes to insurance. City drivers tend to have traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. Fewer drivers and short commutes corresponds to lower accident rates and lower theft and vandalism rates.

Where can I get the cheapest car insurance?

Reducing your 2014 Toyota RAV4 insurance rates can be quick and easy. You just need to spend a little time to compare rate quotes from some recommended companies. Insurance prices can be quoted using a couple different methods.

  1. The easiest and least time consuming way to get quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This method saves time by eliminating separate forms for every company. In just a few minutes this one form will get you price quotes instantly. This is by far the quickest method.
  2. Another way to get comparison quotes is to take the time to go to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For instance, let’s assume you are doing a rate comparison from USAA, Safeco and Progressive. In order to get each rate, you would have to navigate to each company’s site to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, which is why first method is reommended.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.

You can use whichever method you prefer to find lower rates, just try to use apples-to-apples coverages with every price quote. If the quotes have different liability limits it’s impossible to determine which rate is truly the best.

Drivers who switch save $480 a year? Really?

Consumers can’t get away from all the ads for the lowest price insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all state the claim about savings just by switching your insurance policy to them.

But how can every company cost less than your current company? You have to listen carefully.

Different companies provide the lowest rates for the type of customer that will generate a profit. An example of this type of insured may be a female over age 40, has few claims, and has great credit. Any new insured that matches those criteria will get very good premium rates and as a result will probably save money with a new company.

Potential customers who cannot meet those criteria will be charged a higher premium with the end result being the prospect going elsewhere. The ads state “people that switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” can save as much as they claim. That is how companies can make claims that they all have the best premium rates. This illustrates why it is so important to do a rate comparison at every renewal. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the best car insurance rates.

Reduce your auto insurance rates with discounts

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize their entire list of discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits available to you.

  • Homeowners Discount – Owning your own home or condo can help you save on auto insurance since home ownership means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
  • Driver Training Discounts – Completing a defensive driver course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and make you a better driver.
  • Resident Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have a car could qualify for this discount.
  • Drivers Education – Have your child complete a driver education course as it can save substantially.
  • Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies provide a discount for switching companies early. The savings is around 10%.
  • Good Grades Discount – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. You can use this discount normally up to age 25.
  • Anti-theft System – Cars and trucks that have factory anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
  • Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags may qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Lower Rates for Military – Having an actively deployed family member could be rewarded with lower rates.

Remember that many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.

A few popular companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.

  • Progressive may have discounts that include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, good student, homeowner, online signing, online quote discount, and continuous coverage.
  • SAFECO has discounts for teen safety rewards, anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, drive less, homeowner, and teen safe driver.
  • American Family may offer discounts for mySafetyValet, bundled insurance, defensive driver, Steer into Savings, and good student.
  • MetLife offers premium reductions for claim-free, defensive driver, good student, accident-free, and multi-policy.
  • Geico includes discounts for anti-lock brakes, air bags, driver training, membership and employees, military active duty, federal employee, and seat belt use.
  • The Hartford offers discounts including air bag, driver training, defensive driver, anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, and good student.

When comparing rates, check with all the companies which discounts you qualify for. Savings may not be offered everywhere. To see a list of auto insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts, click this link.

You are unique and your insurance coverage should be too

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.

  • How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving out-of-state?
  • How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
  • Is my Toyota RAV4 covered if I use it for business?
  • What if I total my 2014 Toyota RAV4 and owe more than it’s worth?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Car insurance coverages for a Toyota RAV4

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision can pay for claims such as crashing into a ditch, sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Liability – This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for things such as loss of income, emergency aid and funeral expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your Toyota RAV4.

Since many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Coverage for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills like funeral costs, ambulance fees and prosthetic devices. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hail damage and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount a insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Save for a rainy day

You just learned a lot of ways to shop for 2014 Toyota RAV4 insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive insurance. Consumers could even find that the lowest auto insurance rates come from a smaller regional carrier.

As you restructure your insurance plan, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Drivers switch companies for many reasons like poor customer service, delays in paying claims, denial of a claim or an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

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