Lower Your 2008 Toyota Avalon Insurance Quotes

Finding lower rates for insurance coverage can seem to be hard for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. There are so many options that it can quickly become a challenge to find lower rates.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance

When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes and find the best price. The fastest way to find the lowest 2008 Toyota Avalon rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

  • The recommended way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do a different quote for each company. A single, simple form gets you price quotes from all major companies. Just one form and you’re done.
  • A harder way to find lower rates is spending the time to visit the website of each company to request a price quote. For example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Allstate, Safeco and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

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

  • The least efficient way of getting rate comparisons is driving to different agent offices. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the professional advice of a local agent. You can, however, get the lowest quotes online but buy from a local insurance agent.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverages and limits on every quote. If you have unequal deductibles or liability limits it’s impossible to make an equal comparison. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. It’s important to know that getting more free quotes will improve the odds of getting a lower rate.

Discounts can save BIG

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Passive Restraints – Factory air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Own a Home – Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings because owning a home shows financial diligence.
  • Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% on Avalon insurance depending on your company.
  • No Accidents – Claim-free drivers can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for switching policies before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more on Avalon insurance than their less cautious counterparts.
  • Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a discount up to 10% on Avalon insurance.
  • Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.

A partial list of companies that may offer some of the above discounts are:

Before buying, ask all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. Some discounts may not be available in your area.

These factors can influence Toyota Avalon insurance rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Discounts for multiple policies – Most car insurance companies will give a discount to customers who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by splitting coverages up.
  • High numbers of claims are not good – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies award lower rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • Higher deductibles cost less – Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your Toyota from damage. Examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be on Avalon insurance.
  • High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders. If your Toyota Avalon is rated at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you are probably receiving a discount.
  • Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your car insurance policy. Coverages like roadside assistance, accidental death and membership fees may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
  • Your occupation can affect rates – Careers like doctors, business owners and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as farmers, historians and retirees pay the least on Avalon insurance.

Will just any policy work for me?

When choosing coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What is the ISO rating for a 2008 Toyota Avalon?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • How much liability coverage do I need in my state?
  • Should I buy full coverage?
  • What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • Will filing a claim cost me more?
  • Is extra glass coverage worth it?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Save $491 a year? Really?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the companies make the same claim that you’ll save big if you switch your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who fall outside the requirements will have to pay higher prices which leads to business not being written. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

What car insurance coverages do you need?

Understanding the coverages of car insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Liability auto insurance

Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover 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. As an example, you may have policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and pain and suffering. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as rock chips in glass, hitting a bird, damage from flooding, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for bills for EMT expenses, doctor visits, ambulance fees, pain medications and hospital visits. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Toyota Avalon.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Auto collision coverage

Collision coverage covers damage to your Avalon from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Shop Smart and Save

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced full coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.

Drivers switch companies for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, denial of a claim, being labeled a high risk driver and poor customer service. Whatever your reason, finding a great new company is less work than it seems.

Budget-conscious 2008 Toyota Avalon insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Additional information