2012 Toyota RAV4 Car Insurance Rates – 9 Tips for Best Quotes

Consumers have options when looking for low-cost Toyota RAV4 insurance. They can either spend hours contacting agents getting price quotes or leverage the internet to compare rates. There is a right way and a wrong way to shop for insurance so you’re going to learn the quickest way to get price quotes on a Toyota and get the lowest price.

The quickest method to compare car insurance company rates takes advantage of the fact auto insurance companies will pay a fee to compare rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is give the companies some data such as your occupation, the year, make and model of vehicles, if you lease or own, and whether or not you need a SR-22. That rating information is then submitted to many highly-rated insurers and they provide comparison quotes within a short period of time.

These nine discounts can slash insurance rates

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on insurance. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Paperless Signup – Some insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application online.
  • Bundle and Save – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates for RAV4 insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
  • Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
  • Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • No Charge for an Accident – A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
  • Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way.

Companies that may have these discounts may include but are not limited to:

Before buying, ask all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts may not apply everywhere.

When might I need the advice of an agent?

When buying adequate coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

  • Is my trailer covered?
  • At what point should I drop full coverage?
  • Do I need an umbrella policy?
  • How can I find cheaper teen driver insurance?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Drivers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching to their company.

How do they all say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay a higher premium which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest Toyota RAV4 insurance rates.

Car insurance coverages and their meanings

Understanding the coverages of car insurance can be of help when determining the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Collision coverage protection

This coverage covers damage to your RAV4 caused by collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for claims such as hitting a parking meter, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage pay for immediate expenses for things like rehabilitation expenses, chiropractic care and hospital visits. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as theft, falling objects, hitting a deer, hail damage and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability coverages

Liability insurance protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property by causing an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

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 limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000.

Liability coverage protects against things like pain and suffering, loss of income, medical services, emergency aid and attorney fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

UM/UIM Coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Toyota RAV4.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Shop Smart and Save

Insureds switch companies for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, denial of a claim, delays in paying claims or being labeled a high risk driver. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company can be pretty painless.

Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to save on 2012 Toyota RAV4 insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on insurance coverage is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

Much more information about insurance coverage is located at these links: