Tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers. Having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to pick the most cost effective insurer.
You need to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the best rates on Echo insurance a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the right way to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes
There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but some are more efficient than others. You could waste time driving to insurance agencies in your area, or you could save time and use the internet to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.
Most of the larger companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers submit one quote, and each company then gives them pricing determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions for each company.
To compare rates now click here (opens in new window).
The one downside to doing it this way is that consumers can’t choose the insurers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.
It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure to compare the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you have different deductibles then you won’t be able to make a fair comparison for your Toyota Echo.
Save money by taking advantage of these eight discounts
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
- Life Insurance – Larger companies have better rates if you take out life insurance.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Toyota can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Accident Forgiveness – A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
- Student Driver Training – Have your child complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
- Senior Discount – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums on Echo insurance.
- Good Student – This discount can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will reduce the amount you have to pay.
To see a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates, click this link.
When should I use an insurance agent?
When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Does my Toyota Echo qualify for pleasure use?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
- I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
- What if I total my Toyota Echo and owe more than it’s worth?
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Where can I get insurance after a DUI in my state?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Auto insurance coverages and their meanings
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Comprehensive protection
This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims like hitting a bird, hail damage, hitting a deer and rock chips in glass. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability auto insurance
Liability insurance provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims such as medical services, attorney fees, repair costs for stationary objects and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for immediate expenses like pain medications, EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses, X-ray expenses and surgery. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Auto collision coverage
This coverage pays for damage to your Echo caused by collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers claims like crashing into a ditch, backing into a parked car and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
One last thing about your coverage
We covered many tips how you can shop for Toyota Echo insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with the smaller companies. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced collision coverage only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
The cheapest Toyota Echo insurance is attainable from both online companies and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
