Lower Your 2002 Toyota RAV4 Car Insurance Cost

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, you’re not the only one.

There is such a variety of insurers to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates and find the lowest cost auto insurance.

Buying car insurance is quite easy. Just about anyone who is required by state law to have insurance should be able to reduce their rates. Although car owners do need to know how companies sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways to compare rate quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The simplest method to compare 2002 Toyota RAV4 insurance prices is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. The fastest way to get quotes is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing separate forms for every car insurance company. One simple form gets you coverage quotes from several companies.
  2. Another way to shop for car insurance online requires a trip to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want rates from Nationwide, Esurance and State Farm. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

    To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make darn sure you compare identical coverage information for each price quote. If you have different liability limits then you won’t be able to truly determine the lowest rate. Slightly different coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that quoting more will enable you to find the best price.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on television and other media. They all seem to say the same thing about savings after switching your coverage to them. How do they all say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has excellent credit. Any new insured who fits that profile will get very good rates and therefore will save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest Toyota RAV4 insurance rates.

Toyota RAV4 rates influenced by many factors

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

  • Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you. If your Toyota has ratings of a minimum four stars on Safercar.gov it is probably cheaper to insure.
  • Where you live – Living in less populated areas can save you money when buying insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance companies award better rates to people who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Where do you drive? – Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Improper usage on your RAV4 may be wasting your money. Double check that your insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Credit scores impact insurance rates – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in calculating your insurance rates. If your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your 2002 Toyota RAV4 by improving your rating. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit.
  • A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance lapse. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.
  • Males pay more for insurance – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. They both tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males are the most expensive to insure and thus pay the highest rates.

Discounts can save BIG

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

  • Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
  • Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% on RAV4 coverage depending on your company.
  • Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can pay as much as 50% less on RAV4 coverage than drivers with accident claims.
  • Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break just for signing your application on their website.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Companies that may have these benefits include:

Check with each company how you can save money. Discounts might not be offered in every state.

Will just any policy work for me?

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether or not you could use an agent’s help.

  • Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
  • Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
  • If my 2002 Toyota RAV4 is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • What exactly is covered by my policy?
  • When should I drop full coverage on my 2002 Toyota RAV4?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Car insurance coverage information

Knowing the specifics of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.

Collision coverage

Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your RAV4 from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree, driving through your garage door and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Liability coverages

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

Liability coverage has three limits: 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 which stand for a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and property damage coverage for $50,000.

Liability can pay for things like loss of income, funeral expenses, attorney fees and medical expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a bird, falling objects, damage from getting keyed and vandalism. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for immediate expenses for things like ambulance fees, pain medications, funeral costs, X-ray expenses and dental work. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to 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 (UM/UIM)

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

Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Saving money is sweet as honey

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Lower-priced 2002 Toyota RAV4 insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

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