If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find lower priced Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance in San Jose is to do a yearly price comparison from providers that insure vehicles in California.
First, read about how companies price auto insurance and the things you can control to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that increase rates like traffic citations, accidents, and an imperfect credit rating can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover information to help reduce premium rates and get additional discounts.
Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from many different companies.
Third, compare the quotes to your existing policy and determine if there is any savings. If you find better rates and make a switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
Fourth, provide notification to your current company to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new agent or company. Once the application is submitted, place your new proof of insurance paperwork in an easily accessible location.
One important bit of advice is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get prices from all possible companies. Doing this enables the most accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
It’s amazing but a large majority of car insurance policyholders have remained with the same car insurance company for well over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never taken the time to shop around. With the average car insurance premium being $1,400, California drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year just by comparing rates, but most just don’t grasp how much savings they would realize if they switched.
Obtaining price quotes for more affordable auto insurance in San Jose is not as hard as you may think. In a nutshell, every car owner who needs more affordable auto insurance will most likely find a lower-cost company. But California vehicle owners must comprehend how companies sell insurance online.
When shopping for low cost San Jose auto insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways to compare prices from insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to find the lowest rates consists of shopping online. Just remember that making a lot of price comparisons will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.
The companies shown below offer comparison quotes in California. If several companies are displayed, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get the lowest price.
Auto insurance data for a Toyota FJ Cruiser
The rate table shown below showcases estimates of coverage prices for Toyota FJ Cruiser models. Being more informed about how car insurance premiums are calculated is important for you to make informed decisions.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $430 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,594 | $133 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $478 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,642 | $137 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can affect premium rates greatly.
How high should deductibles be?
One common question asked by San Jose drivers is how low should you set your deductibles. The rates shown below can help show how much more you’ll pay between low and high coverage deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $386 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,483 | $124 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $430 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,527 | $127 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $314 | $382 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,296 | $108 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $348 | $382 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,330 | $111 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data rating is based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise rates considerably.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $16 more each month or $192 for a full year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 16 months between claim filings, you would probably be better off if you choose a higher deductible. The numbers below show an example of how you can come to your own conclusion.
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $126 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $110 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $16 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $16 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 16 months |
One important note is that raising deductibles to get cheaper rates means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a physical damage claim. It will be required that you have enough money stashed away in the event you need to pay more to get your vehicle repaired.
The example below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can change Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance premiums for different age groups. The data is based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Rate increases following a ticket or accident
The information below illustrates how speeding tickets and fender-benders can drive up Toyota FJ Cruiser auto insurance rates for different age groups. The price estimates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
Gender differences in auto insurance premiums
The example below shows the comparison of Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance prices for male and female drivers. The price estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Best reasons to buy insurance in California
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Toyota FJ Cruiser in San Jose, maintaining insurance serves an important purpose.
First, almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability insurance in order to drive the car. 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 have a loan on your vehicle, it’s most likely the lender will require that you have physical damage coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you default on your policy, the lender may insure your Toyota at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects both your car and your personal assets. It will also cover many types of medical costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of insuring your FJ Cruiser definitely exceed the price paid, especially if you ever need it. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is wasting up to $865 each year so compare rates at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
Lower Insurance Rates with These Tips
Lots of things are used when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, but others are more obscure such as your credit history or your financial responsibility.
The factors shown below are just a few of the factors companies use to determine rates.
High credit equals lower rates – Credit score is likely to be a major factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People with very high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit is low, you could be paying less to insure your Toyota FJ Cruiser if you clean up your credit.
Vehicle options impact premiums – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can earn a premium discount. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart your car from being stolen.
Liability insurance limits are a factor – Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if a court rules you are at fault for an accident. Your policy’s liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost a lot. Liability is cheap compared to other policy coverages, so buy as much as you can afford.
Having a spouse can save on auto insurance – Having a spouse may cut your premiums on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Qualify for multi-policy discounts – Most insurance companies will award lower prices to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by buying from different companies
Too many insurance claims and you’ll pay more – Companies in California generally give cheaper rates to people who are not frequent claim filers. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Drive less and save – Driving more miles in a year the more you’ll pay to insure it. Many insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than cars that get driven a lot. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money. Improper usage on your FJ Cruiser can result in significantly higher rates.
Save money with these rate reducing discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there may be some discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but some need to be inquired about before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit available, you may be paying too high a price.
- Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying in monthly installments you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Clubs and Organizations – Joining a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your next renewal.
- Employee of Federal Government – Having worked for a branch of the government could provide a small rate reduction with select insurance companies.
- Driver Education Discount – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
- Low Mileage – Driving less may allow you to get lower car insurance rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Buy New and Save – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
You should keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. If you do the math and it seems like you can get free auto insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Toyota FJ Cruiser auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied. The data is based on a male driver, no claims, a clean driving record, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.
To see insurers who offer discounts in California, click here to view.
Can’t I compare rate quotes from local San Jose car insurance agents?
Some consumers would rather buy from a licensed agent and that can be a great decision A good thing about comparing auto insurance online is the fact that you can find the best rates and also buy local. And providing support for neighborhood insurance agencies is especially important in San Jose.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your information is transmitted to insurance agents in San Jose that can provide free San Jose auto insurance quotes for your auto insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent directly to you. It’s the lowest rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to get a price quote from one company in particular, you can always find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
If you need to find a reliable insurance agent, it helps to know the two different types of agents and how they are distinctly different. Auto insurance agents in San Jose can be categorized as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company and that is an advantage because they can write policies amongst many companies and find you the best rates. If they quote lower rates, your policy is moved internally which is easy for the insured. When comparison shopping, you need to compare prices from independent agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison. Most have the option of insuring with different regional companies that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
The following is a short list of independent agents in San Jose that can give you price quotes.
- Filice Insurance Agency
738 N 1st St – San Jose, CA 95112 – (408) 350-5700 – View Map - Donald Browne Insurance Services
330 W Hedding St #207 – San Jose, CA 95110 – (408) 292-4329 – View Map - All Spectrum Insurance Brokers
4010 Moorpark Ave #117 – San Jose, CA 95117 – (408) 604-0092 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
These type of agents can only place business with one company like State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive agents receive extensive training on what they offer which helps them compete with independent agents. Some insured continue to choose to use an exclusive agent mostly because of high brand loyalty rather than having low rates.
The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in San Jose who can help you get price quotes.
- Rachel Bhan – State Farm Insurance Agent
1625 N Capitol Ave – San Jose, CA 95132 – (408) 272-2629 – View Map - Dick Alesch – State Farm Insurance Agent
164 N Bascom Ave a – San Jose, CA 95128 – (408) 918-0877 – View Map - Tina Choi – State Farm Insurance Agent
4300 Stevens Creek Blvd #130 – San Jose, CA 95129 – (408) 247-4713 – View Map
Choosing the best car insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the bottom line cost. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in San Jose?
- How often do they review coverages?
Once you have received good responses as well as an affordable premium quote, you may have found an insurance agent that meets the criteria to properly service your auto insurance policy. But remember, it’s your coverage and you can cancel coverage when you choose so don’t think that you are obligated to a specific agent for the entire policy term.
Persistent drivers can save
Insureds switch companies for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, high prices or unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider is not as hard as you think.
Budget-conscious Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance is attainable on the web as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies prefer to sell through independent agents.
When getting San Jose auto insurance quotes online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.
More information can be found at these links:
- Booster Seat Ratings (iihs.org)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Teenagers in San Jose? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota Tundra in San Jose? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Nurses in San Jose? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for a Company Car in San Jose? (FAQ)
- What is Covered by an Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Understanding Car Crashes Video (iihs.org)
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)