If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to find better pricing on Toyota Avalon insurance is to do an annual price comparison from insurance carriers that sell auto insurance in Oakland. This can be done by following these steps.
- Learn about how companies price auto insurance and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many risk factors that drive up the price such as getting speeding tickets and an imperfect credit score can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
- Compare price quotes from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates for many different companies.
- Compare the new rates to the premium of your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
One thing to point out is to use identical coverage information on every quote and and to look at as many carriers as you can. Doing this provides the most accurate price comparison and the best rate selection.
Shocking but true, nearly 70% of customers have bought insurance from the same company for four years or more, and just short of a majority have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. The average driver in the United States can save 46.5% each year by just shopping around, but they won’t spend time to shop their coverage around.
The most recommended method to compare policy rates for Toyota Avalon insurance in Oakland is to know all the major auto insurance companies will pay a fee to provide you with free rate quotes. To begin a comparison, all you need to do is give the companies some data including deductibles desired, whether you drive to work or school, if you lease or own, and how much you drive. That information is sent automatically to insurance companies and they provide comparison quotes quickly.
To compare cheaper Toyota Avalon insurance rates now, click here and find out if you can get cheaper insurance in Oakland.
The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Oakland, CA. If you want to find cheap auto insurance in Oakland, it’s a good idea that you visit two to three different companies to get the cheapest price.
Coverage analysis
The information displayed next covers estimates of insurance rates for Toyota Avalon models. Learning a little about how auto insurance premiums are determined can benefit drivers when making decisions when shopping around.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon XL | $204 | $354 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,094 | $91 |
| Avalon XLS | $204 | $418 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,158 | $97 |
| Avalon Limited | $228 | $418 | $394 | $24 | $118 | $1,182 | $99 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can affect price quotes greatly.
The diagram below illustrates how your deductible choice and can affect Toyota Avalon insurance prices for each different age group. The premiums assume a married female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations
The chart below shows how violations and accident claims can influence Toyota Avalon auto insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Gender-based car insurance rates
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Avalon yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. Data assumes no tickets, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Insurance protects more than just your car
Even though it can be expensive, insurance is required in California but also provides important benefits.
First, most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a 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 have a lien on your Avalon, almost every bank will make it mandatory that you buy insurance to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Toyota at a significantly higher premium and force you to reimburse them for the much more expensive policy.
Third, insurance safeguards not only your car but also your financial assets. It will also cover many types of medical costs for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay to defend you if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of buying insurance more than offset the price you pay, particularly for liability claims. The average driver in California is overpaying over $800 each year so compare rates each time the policy renews to save money.
You may qualify for discounts for Toyota Avalon insurance in Oakland
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there are discounts available that may help make it more affordable. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you complete an application, but a few must be asked about before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit available, you could be saving more on your insurance.
- Multi-Vehicle Discounts – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same insurance company can get a discount for every vehicle.
- Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government could qualify for a slight premium decrease depending on your company.
- Organization Discounts – Being in certain professional organizations could earn you a nice discount when getting a Oakland auto insurance quote.
- Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies provide a small discount for buying your policy online.
- Theft Deterrent – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen less frequently so companies will give you a small discount.
- Save with a New Car – Buying a new car model can save you some money because new model year vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. If you do the math and it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts should definitely cut the cost of your policy.
The example below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Avalon insurance costs with and without discounts. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-car, and marriage discounts applied.
To see a list of companies with discount rates in Oakland, click here.
You may want advice from an agent
Certain consumers still like to talk to a local agent and that can be a smart move A good thing about getting free rate quotes online is that drivers can save money and get cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent. And providing support for neighborhood agents is important particularly in Oakland.
After filling out this quick form, the quote information is submitted to local insurance agents who will return price quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent directly to you. You can find better rates AND an agent nearby. If you need to quote rates from a specific car insurance provider, just go to their quote page and give them your coverage information.
Choose an insurance agent wisely
If you want a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the types of insurance agents and how they work. Car insurance agents in Oakland can be classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Independent Car Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Independent insurance agents are normally appointed by many insurers and that enables them to quote your coverage through many different car insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If you want to switch companies, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you stay with the same agent. If you are trying to find cheaper rates, we recommend you check rates from several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison. Most can insure with smaller mutual companies who may have lower rates.
The following is a partial list of independent agencies in Oakland that may be able to provide comparison quotes.
- Cook Disharoon and Greathouse Insurance Brokers
1942 Embarcadero – Oakland, CA 94606 – (510) 437-1900 – View Map - All Purpose Insurance Agency
5857 MacArthur Blvd – Oakland, CA 94605 – (510) 382-1900 – View Map - Western-Southern Life Insurance Co
80 Swan Way # 102 – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 877-4119 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive insurance agents work for only one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agencies are well trained on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents partially due to the prominent brand name rather than having low rates.
The following are exclusive insurance agents in Oakland who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Farmers Insurance – Norman Garcia
8105 Edgewater Dr #118 – Oakland, CA 94621 – (510) 878-7555 – View Map - Rich Kirchner – State Farm Insurance Agent
5736 Thornhill Dr Ste 101 – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 339-9340 – View Map - State Farm: Julie La
3800 Park Blvd #200 – Oakland, CA 94602 – (510) 550-9775 – View Map
Deciding on an insurance agency should include more criteria than just the premium amount. The answers to these questions are important, too.
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
- Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- How are claims handled?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
- Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Oakland?
After receiving reasonable responses to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have found an insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Car insurance coverage specifics
Learning about specific coverages of car insurance helps when choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from flooding, a broken windshield and falling objects. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5 in California), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Normally the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Medical expense insurance
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for things like dental work, nursing services, X-ray expenses and surgery. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Collision protection
Collision coverage pays for damage to your Avalon from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as crashing into a building, hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also bump up the deductible on your Avalon to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability car insurance
This coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
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 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims such as attorney fees, structural damage, funeral expenses, medical expenses and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but buy higher limits if possible. California requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The next chart demonstrates why minimum state limits may not be high enough to cover claims.
You can find cheap coverage
We just covered a lot of tips how to compare Toyota Avalon insurance rates in Oakland. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable Toyota Avalon insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut liability coverage limits and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company can be less work than you think.
Additional detailed information can be found in the articles below:
- What if I Can’t Find Coverage? (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford F-150 in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Good Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Teenagers in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Understanding your Policy (NAIC.org)
- Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
- Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
- New head restraint design cuts injuries (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)