How to Compare Riverside Toyota Highlander Insurance

How long have you put off shopping around for low-cost Toyota Highlander insurance in Riverside? Do you get frustrated by the wide range of car insurance providers available to you? California drivers have so many providers available that it can easily become a challenge to find better premium rates for Toyota Highlander insurance in Riverside. Riverside has lots to offer, but the high cost of car insurance can make it nearly impossible for many drivers to stay on budget.

Amazingly, a recent NerdWallet.com study showed that a large majority of car insurance policyholders have been with the same company for at least four years, and just under half have never shopped around. Riverside drivers can cut their rates by about 35% a year by just shopping around, but they don’t know the big savings they would realize if they switched.

You should make it a habit to shop coverage around periodically because car insurance prices go up and down regularly. Even if you got the lowest rates on Toyota Highlander insurance in Riverside a couple years back a different company probably has better rate quotes today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re about to learn the right way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

The method we recommend to compare insurance rates from multiple companies is to realize auto insurance companies provide online access to provide you with free rate quotes. The only thing you need to do is provide information like if you require a SR-22, coverage limits, if it has an anti-theft system, and if you have an active license. The data is then submitted to insurance companies and you receive quotes quickly.

To check Toyota Highlander insurance prices now, click here and enter your zip code.

The providers in the list below have been selected to offer free quotes in California. If multiple companies are shown, it’s highly recommended you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.

Affordable rates by taking advantage of discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may be missing some discounts that you may not even know about. Some trigger automatically when you get a quote, but some must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit. If you do not double check each discount you deserve, you could be getting lower rates.

• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying a policy with primary and secondary vehicles on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Driver’s Education for Students – Teen drivers should take driver’s ed class in school.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Toyota could be rewarded with discounted premium rates on garaged vehicles.
• Telematics Data Discounts – Policyholders that allow their insurance company to scrutinize when and where they use their vehicle by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Allstate’s Drivewise and State Farm’s In-Drive system might see lower rates as long as they are good drivers.
• ABS Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small discount on rates.
• Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up before driving can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off the personal injury premium cost.
• E-sign – Some of the larger companies will give a small break for signing up over the internet.
• Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed with a military unit could trigger a small discount.
• Riverside Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Riverside can save you money because maintaining a house means you have a higher level of financial diligence.

It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though you would think all those discounts means the company will pay you, insurance companies aren’t that generous.

The information below shows the difference between Toyota Highlander car insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The rates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-car, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied.

The best insurance companies and their offered discounts include:

• GEICO has savings for driver training, anti-lock brakes, seat belt use, emergency military deployment, and five-year accident-free.
• Auto-Owners Insurance offers discounts including paperless, air bags, good student, company car, and anti-theft.
• American Family has discounts for multi-vehicle, mySafetyValet, air bags, accident-free, good driver, bundled insurance, and Steer into Savings.
• Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including emergency road assistance, good driver, online shopper, renters, Switch & Save, and anti-lock brakes.
• Progressive may offer discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, online quote discount, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
• State Farm includes discounts for student away at school, anti-theft, multiple policy, good student, and safe vehicle.
• AAA may include discounts for multi-car, anti-theft, education and occupation, pay-in-full, and AAA membership discount.

Check with each insurance company which discounts you may be entitled to. Discounts may not be available in every state. If you would like to see a list of insurance companies who offer insurance discounts in California, click this link.

Insurance rate breakdown

The rate information displayed below showcases a range of policy rates for Toyota Highlander models. Learning a little about how rates are figured can be valuable when making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.

Data based on single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Riverside which can decrease or increase prices greatly.

Raise deductibles and save

When buying insurance, a common question is how high should the deductibles for physical damage be. The tables below may help you to understand the rate difference between high and low coverage deductibles. The first data table uses a $250 deductible and the second pricing table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Prices above based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in specific location information which can affect auto insurance rates noticeably.

We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible costs roughly $34 more each month or $408 a year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 22 months between claims, you would more than likely save some money by going with a higher deductible.

Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations

The example below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can impact Toyota Highlander auto insurance rates for each age group. The price estimates are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Gender-based insurance rates

The information below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Highlander car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data is based on no accidents, no driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.

Cost comparison with and without full coverage

The diagram below shows the difference between Toyota Highlander insurance premiums when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The rate quotes are based on no claims or violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.

Guidelines for eliminating full coverage

There is no set guideline to stop buying full coverage on your policy, but there is a broad guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

For example, let’s say your Toyota Highlander replacement cost is $7,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, you would only receive $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are currently paying more than $600 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Shop online but buy locally

Some consumers just prefer to talk to an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. An additional benefit of comparing rate quotes online is you can get cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to.

After completing this short form, your information is immediately sent to participating agents in Riverside who want to provide quotes to get your business. You won’t even need to leave your computer due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates AND an agent nearby. If you have a need to get a rate quote from a specific insurance company, you would need to navigate to their website to submit a rate quote request.

Deciding on an provider shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. The questions below may impact your decision as well.

• Are they full-time agents?
• Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?
• Are they able to provide referrals?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• How long has their agency been in business in Riverside?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?

Compare rates from both independent and exclusive car insurance agents

If you need to find a reputable agency, there are two types of insurance agents and how they can service your needs differently. Insurance agents in Riverside may be either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents in the exclusive channel are contracted to one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well on sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. A lot of people purchase coverage from exclusives primarily because of the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Listed below are Riverside exclusive insurance agents who may provide you with price quote information.

• Enrique Martinez – State Farm Insurance Agent
  9305 Magnolia Ave – Riverside, CA 92503 – (951) 351-2085 – View Map
• Allstate Insurance: Cynthia MC Ghee
  6710 Magnolia Ave – Riverside, CA 92506 – (951) 369-8850 – View Map
• Scott Fowler – State Farm Insurance Agent
  7177 Brockton Ave #340 – Riverside, CA 92506 – (951) 777-2446 – View Map

View more agents

Independent Agents

Independent agents often have many company appointments so they can write business through many companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a lower price, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies.

If you need cheaper insurance rates, you absolutely need to get several quotes from several independent agencies to maximize your price options. Most independent agents also contract with companies you’ve never heard of which can save you money.

The following is a list of independent insurance agencies in Riverside who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Bergman Insurance
  6281 Brockton Ave # 2 – Riverside, CA 92506 – (951) 684-3624 – View Map
• Insurance Incorporated
  6809 Indiana Ave – Riverside, CA 92506 – (877) 898-9333 – View Map
• Nationwide Insurance: EG Insurance Agency Inc
  11728 Magnolia Ave Suite B – Riverside, CA 92503 – (951) 202-1871 – View Map

View more agents

Learn How to Lower Your Insurance Prices

Many different elements are part of the equation when pricing auto insurance. Some are obvious such as traffic violations, although some other factors are not as apparent like your continuous coverage or your vehicle rating.

Is your car, truck or SUV built for speed? – The performance level of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in determining your rates. Economy passenger vehicles generally receive the lowest base rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

The next chart uses these assumptions: single female driver age 30, full coverage with $250 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. The chart compares Toyota Highlander insurance rates compared to other models that have different risk factors.

Be proud to be claim-free – If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in California generally give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.

Get better rates if married – Walking down the aisle may earn you lower rates when buying insurance. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.

Never have coverage lapses – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a big no-no and you may have a hard time finding new coverage because you let your insurance lapse for non-payment. Not only will you pay more, not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.

Low credit score equals high costs – Having a bad credit score factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your Toyota Highlander by improving your rating. People with high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower ratings.

Insurance loss statistics a Toyota Highlander – Insurance companies use past loss statistics for each vehicle as a tool for profitable underwriting. Models that the data shows to have increased claim numbers or amounts will have higher premium rates.

The table below outlines the historical insurance loss data for Toyota Highlander vehicles. For each insurance policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles combined as an average equals 100. Numbers below 100 imply a favorable loss record, while percentages above 100 indicate more frequent losses or larger claims.

Buying the right Toyota Highlander insurance in California is an important decision

Even though Riverside Highlander insurance rates can get expensive, insurance is required in California but it also protects you in many ways.

First, most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a specific minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in order to license the vehicle. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you took out a loan on your car, more than likely the lender will have a requirement that you carry insurance to guarantee payment of the loan. If the policy lapses, the bank may buy a policy for your Toyota at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.

Third, insurance protects your Toyota and your assets. It will also provide coverage for medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you cause an accident and are sued. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the repair costs.

The benefits of buying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially when you need to use it. But the average American driver is overpaying over $810 a year so smart consumers compare quotes each time the policy renews to make sure the price is not too high.

Get the best coverage at the best price

Some insurance providers don’t offer online price quotes and these smaller companies prefer to sell through local independent agents. Lower-priced car insurance in Riverside can be sourced on the web and with local Riverside insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money.

While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the best cost, not the least amount of coverage.

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, questionable increases in premium, denial of a claim or lack of trust in their agent. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch switching car insurance companies is less work than it seems.

How to save money on Toyota Highlander insurance in Riverside

Truthfully, the best way to get cheaper Toyota Highlander insurance is to compare prices annually from insurance carriers in Riverside.

Step 1: Get an understanding of how insurance works and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many things that result in higher prices such as tickets, at-fault accidents, and your credit history can be improved by being financially responsible and driving safely.

Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from many different companies. View a list of agents

Step 3: Compare the quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Riverside. If you can save some money and buy the policy, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.

Step 4: Notify your agent or company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit payment and a completed application for the new policy. Once coverage is bound, put the proof of insurance certificate in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.

One tip to remember is to use similar limits and deductibles on every quote and and to get rates from every company you can. This ensures an apples-to-apples comparison and maximum price selection.

Additional learning opportunities

• Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)
• Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)