The best way to get affordable car insurance rates is to compare quotes once a year from companies in San Jose. You can compare rates by following these guidelines.
Step 1: Get an understanding of coverages and the measures you can take to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that increase rates such as traffic citations, accidents, and a not-so-good credit score can be amended by making minor changes to your lifestyle. Read the full article for instructions to help keep rates affordable and earn a bigger discount.
Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers. View companies
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your current policy to determine if you can save on Rav4 Hybrid insurance. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same deductibles and limits on every quote and and to get rates from as many different companies as possible. This guarantees an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Everyone knows that insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. People who shop around for better prices are inclined to move their business because there is a good chance of finding lower prices. A recent insurance study revealed that consumers who made a habit of comparing rates saved over $72 a month compared to other drivers who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.
If finding the lowest price on car insurance in San Jose is the reason you’re reading this, then knowing how to choose a company and compare coverage rates can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
Get cheaper Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance in San Jose with discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there’s a good chance there are discounts to reduce the price significantly. Some of these discounts will be visible at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before they will apply.
- Mature Driver Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may qualify for a slight reduction on a San Jose auto insurance quote.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags may get savings of more than 20%.
- Own a Home and Save – Simply owning a home can get you a discount because owning a home shows financial diligence.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Toyota could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Good Driver Discount – Insureds without accidents can save as much as half off their rates than drivers with accident claims.
- Theft Deterrent – Cars, trucks, and SUVs optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen and that can save you a little bit as well.
As a sidenote, most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. If you do the math and it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
A list of companies and some of their more popular discounts can be found below.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts for multi-policy, multi-vehicle, driver training, 55 and retired, safe driver, youthful driver, and renewal discount.
- State Farm has discounts for passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, good driver, anti-theft, multiple policy, and multiple autos.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, online quote discount, good student, and online signing.
- Allstate policyholders can earn discounts including passive restraint, early signing, 55 and retired, EZ pay plan discount, multi-policy, teenSMART discount, and auto/life discount.
- Nationwide offers discounts including easy pay, defensive driving, family plan, Farm Bureau membership, accident-free, good student, and multi-policy.
- MetLife may have discounts that include defensive driver, good student, multi-policy, accident-free, good driver, and claim-free.
When quoting, ask all the companies which discounts can lower your rates. All car insurance discounts may not apply in San Jose. To see a list of insurance companies who offer insurance discounts in San Jose, click this link.
When shopping for affordable San Jose auto insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways to compare rate quotes from lots of California insurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison.
Getting quotes online is very simple and it takes the place of having to drive around to different agent offices. The ability to quote Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance online eliminates this option unless you have a complicated situation and need the personal advice that you can only get from talking to an agent. Although you can find lower rates online but have a local agent actually write the policy.
When price shopping your coverage, comparing more quotes helps you find a better price. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide online rate quotes, so it’s important to compare rates from the smaller companies as well.
The providers in the list below are ready to provide comparison quotes in California. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can in order to find the most affordable rates.
Situations that may require an agent’s advice
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing coverage, there really isn’t a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that.
Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you would benefit from professional advice.
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount?
- How does medical payments coverage work?
- If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Insurance agent or online?
Some people would prefer to get professional advice from a licensed agent and that is OK! One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain cheap rate quotes and still buy from a local agent.
After completing this short form, the quote information is transmitted to companies in San Jose who will give you quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact an agency due to the fact that quote results will go instantly to you. You can get cheaper auto insurance rates without having to waste a lot of time. In the event you want to compare rates from a specific insurance company, feel free to find their quoting web page to submit a rate quote request.
Finding the right company requires more thought than just a cheap quote. Here are some questions to ask:
- Can glass claims be handled at your home?
- Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- How would your car be valued if totaled?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
Exclusive or Independent: There is a difference
When searching for local San Jose agents, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Agents are classified as either exclusive or independent.
Exclusive Agents
These agents can only provide one company’s prices and examples are State Farm, Allstate, and Farm Bureau. These agents are not able to compare rates from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agencies are well trained on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
The following are exclusive agencies in San Jose willing to provide price quotes.
Jim Fiorentino – State Farm Insurance Agent
3150 Almaden Expy #204 – San Jose, CA 95118 – (408) 267-3276 – View Map
Rolando Suarez – State Farm Insurance Agent
696 E Santa Clara St #110 – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 642-1399 – View Map
Gary Sanchez – State Farm Insurance Agent
2053 Lincoln Ave a – San Jose, CA 95125 – (408) 269-5001 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are appointed with more than one company so they can quote policies with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you want to switch companies, the business is moved internally which makes it simple for you. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you get rate quotes from independent agents for maximum quote selection.
The following is a short list of independent agents in San Jose willing to provide comparison quotes.
San Jose Insurance
2542 S Bascom Ave – Campbell, CA 95008 – (408) 371-3700 – View Map
All Spectrum Insurance Brokers
4010 Moorpark Ave #117 – San Jose, CA 95117 – (408) 604-0092 – View Map
Harrington Insurance Agency
6920 Santa Teresa Blvd #101 – San Jose, CA 95119 – (408) 754-9000 – View Map
Insurance coverages explained
Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the normal coverages found on most insurance policies.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills like X-ray expenses, hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and pain medications. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability
Liability coverage can cover damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show policy limits of 15/30/5 which stand for $15,000 bodily injury coverage, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for things like attorney fees, medical services, repair costs for stationary objects, court costs and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but drivers should carry more coverage.
The next chart demonstrates why buying minimum limits may not provide you with enough coverage.
Collision coverage protection
This will pay to fix damage to your Rav4 Hybrid resulting from a collision with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims such as crashing into a ditch, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a parking meter and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Rav4 Hybrid to bring the cost down.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.
Due to the fact that many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (California limits are 15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive auto coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as vandalism, rock chips in glass, hitting a deer, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Shop around and save
When searching for affordable Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance quotes, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price and still be able to protect your assets.
We covered a lot of tips how to reduce Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance premium rates online in San Jose. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a small local company. These companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
Low-cost Toyota Rav4 Hybrid insurance in San Jose is possible on the web and from local insurance agents, so you need to shop San Jose auto insurance with both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies may not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell coverage through local independent agents.
Other information
- What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is San Jose Auto Insurance for First-time Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Chevrolet Silverado in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Should I Buy a New or Used Car? (Allstate)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)