2003 Toyota RAV4 Insurance Cost – 8 Tips to Save

Are you at wits end from sacrificing other expenses to pay high auto insurance rates every month? You are in the same boat as many other consumers. Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your insurance dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the best price available.

Buy insurance online

Finding low cost insurance rates is a great way to save money. Drivers just need to take a couple of minutes to get quotes online from several insurance companies. Price comparisons can be done by following the guidelines below.

1. If you are pressed for time, the simplest way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. In just a few minutes this one form gets coverage cost estimates instantly.
2. A more time consuming way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to each company website and repeat the quote process again and again. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want to compare prices for USAA, 21st Century and American Family. In order to compare rates, you need to go to every website and enter your information, which can get old fast. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in your area, click here.
3. The most difficult way to get price estimates is going to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to get quotes online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you have a need for the peace of mind of a licensed agent. It is possible with some companies price shop your coverage online but buy the policy through an agent.

Compare rates however you want, just try to keep exactly the same coverages for each quote you get. If your comparisons have mixed coverages you can’t possibly determine which company has the best rates.

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Car insurance policy discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list every policy discount very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden car insurance savings.

• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars with ABS and/or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions and will save you 10% or more.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents could pay up to 40% less on RAV4 insurance compared to accident prone drivers.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles can earn discounted premium rates on garaged vehicles.
• Home Ownership Discount – Simply owning a home can get you a discount because owning a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
• Professional Memberships – Joining qualifying clubs or civic groups may earn a discount on your next car insurance statement.
• Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% since new model year vehicles are generally safer.
• College Student – Youth drivers who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car could get you a discount.
• Driver’s Education for Students – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.

You should keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though you would think you could get a free car insurance policy, that’s just not realistic.

Popular car insurance companies and the discounts they provide can be read below.

• Geico offers discounts including five-year accident-free, daytime running lights, good student, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle.
• Mercury Insurance may include discounts for type of vehicle, ease of repair, age of vehicle, multi-car, good driver, anti-theft, and multi-policy.
• Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for switch companies, alternative fuel, electronic funds transfer, homeowner, and distant student.
• Auto-Owners Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including paperless, safe vehicle, paid in full, student away at school, and company car.
• Liberty Mutual has savings for new graduate, good student, safety features, teen driver discount, new vehicle discount, and exclusive group savings.
• SAFECO may offer discounts for homeowner, anti-theft, teen safety rewards, accident prevention training, anti-lock brakes, safe driver, and bundle discounts.
• Progressive discounts include online quote discount, online signing, good student, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy.
• USAA may have discounts that include good student, multi-policy, loyalty savings, defensive driver, driver training, and new vehicle.

When getting a coverage quote, ask every company which discounts you qualify for. A few discounts might not be offered on policies in your area. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies that offer many of these discounts, click here.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

• When would I need additional glass coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• What is UM/UIM insurance?
• Do I have newly-aquired coverage?
• Am I covered if I hit a deer?
• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Insurance coverages 101

Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Coverage for collisions

This pays for damage to your RAV4 resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and crashing into a building. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Comprehensive protection

This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like damage from getting keyed, theft, damage from a tornado or hurricane, falling objects and fire damage. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your 2003 Toyota RAV4.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.

Auto liability insurance

Liability insurance can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability coverage pays for things such as structural damage, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Medical expense coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses such as nursing services, dental work and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

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More comparisons equals lower rates

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don’t sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford and still be able to protect your assets.

Lower-priced 2003 Toyota RAV4 insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and many times these regional carriers prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional detailed information can be found by following these links:

• Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)
• Who Has Cheap Fresno Auto Insurance for a Toyota RAV4? (InsureFresno.com)
• Driving in Bad Weather (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Information for Teen Drivers (Geico)
• What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)

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