How to Save on Insurance for your Toyota Land Cruiser
If searching for lower car insurance rates was a good time, we'd have no problem finding the best rate. But in reality, the cost for insurance always seems too high and most people would prefer to get a root canal. Buying insurance on your Toyota Land Cruiser might leave you feeling the same way.
Step One: Compare Rates from Multiple Companies
If you haven't shopped for car insurance for awhile you might remember the days when the only option was to visit a local insurance agent. But you can now comparison shop and buy direct online!
All the major car insurance companies sell insurance for a Toyota Land Cruiser and you don't even have to visit each individual website!
To compare rates now, have your current policy handy (if you have one) and click the link below. Complete the short form and move on to step two.
Important! If you already have liability and physical damage coverage on your Land Cruiser, it's important to keep the same limits and deductibles throughout the quote process. This allows you to fairly compare rates for many companies. If you use different limits and coverages for each quote, you won't be able to judge if the final rate is better or worse than other quotes.
Step Two: Top Ways to Get Lower Land Cruiser Insurance
What you actually pay to insure your Toyota is determined by many factors, some of which you have no control over.
- If you're not sure what your credit rating is, check it now. Car insurance companies use your credit score to determine the rates you pay, so the better your credit, the less you will pay.
- Speeding tickets and other violations can negatively impact your insurance rates for up to three years. Get too many tickets and you'll be shopping for a new car insurance company.
- SUV's are more complex in design than your average passenger sedan, so expect to pay a little more for insurance.
- Renting a house or apartment rather than owning a home may keep you from paying the lowest rates on car insurance. Home ownership is viewed as being more financially responsible than renting.
- Car insurance rates for a teen driver on a Toyota Land Cruiser will be expensive no matter what kind of coverage you have. But if you don't need comprehensive and collision, consider dropping those to save money.
- Having any gaps in coverage (known as a lapse) is bad in the eyes of any insurance company. Make sure you keep coverage in force at all times by synchronizing the expiration and effective dates of your policies.
- Filing too many claims with your company can end up either costing you more for insurance or having your policy cancelled. Insurance companies don't like paying any more than you do, but they have the option of whether to keep you as a policyholder or not.
- Driver's safety courses will often get you a discount off your rates. Check to see if your company offers the discount and find a qualifying class in your area.
- Most Toyota vehicles come with standard safety features such as air bags and passive restraints, and those will help keep your insurance costs down.
- With age comes cheaper rates! If you're a senior citizen, many car insurance companies will give you a discount. Also, if you belong to a professional organization, check to see if your company gives discounts to members.
- Vehicle thefts drive up the cost of everyone's insurance, but if your Land Cruiser is on the list of the most frequently stolen cars, you might be paying just a little extra.
- Consider using higher deductibles for physical damage coverages like comprehensive and collision. Higher deductibles save money since you're willing to pay more out-of-pocket at claim time.
Step Three: Make an Informed Buying Decision
Buying a new car insurance policy is just a matter of finalizing your application form and submitting it with your down payment. Once payment has been accepted, coverage is bound the effective date shown on your application.
On your new policy, double check that the effective date is the same as the date you are cancelling your old policy. This avoids any lapse in coverage which can cause an increase in your rates.
Before you drive your Toyota Land Cruiser home, make sure you have a current car insurance policy in force. Coverage will extend to the new purchase from your policy, but if you don't have a policy then you have no protection. Coverage that extends from an existing policy is only as good as your current coverage. So if you don't carry full coverage on any vehicles, you won't have it on your new Land Cruiser.
Be sure to replace any old proof-of-insurance cards in your car. You must always have the current card in your vehicle as required by state law. If you have received a DUI, reckless driving citation or caused an accident without insurance, you may be required to file an SR-22 with your state DMV. Make sure your new company is aware of the SR-22 filing requirement.
More Resources
For more information on car insurance, please visit the Insurance Information Institute's auto insurance informational page.