If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find better pricing on auto insurance rates in Jacksonville is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers who provide car insurance in Florida. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.
- Step 1: Get an understanding of how your policy works and the factors you can control to lower rates. Many things that cause high rates like tickets, at-fault accidents, and an unacceptable credit history can be controlled by paying attention to minor details. Later in this article we will cover instructions to find cheap prices and get additional discounts that may be available.
- Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rates to the premium of your current policy and determine if cheaper Echo coverage is available in Jacksonville. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Step 4: Notify your company or agent of your decision to cancel the current policy and submit the completed application along with a down payment to your new insurance company. Once received, put the new proof of insurance certificate in an easily accessible location.
The key aspect of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing identical deductibles and limits on each quote and and to analyze every insurance company. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and a better comparison of the market.
Astonishing but true according to a recent study, nearly 70% of consumers have purchased from the same company for over three years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never compared auto insurance rates at all. Many drivers in the United States can save hundreds of dollars each year just by shopping around, but they just feel it’s too hard to compare other rate quotes.
If you’re already insured or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. The intent of this article is to teach you how car insurance works and some tips to save money. You just need to understand the proper methods to compare rate quotes from many different companies.
Compare quotes for Jacksonville Toyota Echo insurance
The following companies provide comparison quotes in Jacksonville, FL. If the list has multiple companies, we suggest you compare several of them to get the best price comparison.
Insuring your vehicle just makes sense
Despite the high insurance cost for a Toyota Echo in Jacksonville, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific minimum amounts of liability coverage in order to be legal. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a lien on your Toyota, most banks will force you to have comprehensive coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may buy a policy for your Toyota at a more expensive rate and require you to reimburse them the higher premium.
- Insurance safeguards both your assets and your car. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays expenses related to your legal defense 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 restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance more than cancel out the cost, especially for larger claims. The average driver in Florida overpays more than $700 annually so it’s important to compare rates once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are competitive.
Score discounts on Jacksonville car insurance
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you might find some hidden discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but a few must be manually applied before being credited.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles and insure them with the same company they may give you a discount of up to 20% and get you inexpensive Toyota Echo insurance in Jacksonville.
- Responsible Driver Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than their less cautious counterparts.
- Claim-Free Discount – Claim-free drivers get the best car insurance rates as compared to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Discount for Home Ownership – Being a homeowner can earn you a little savings since home ownership is proof of financial responsibility.
- Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can stop better under adverse conditions and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them take driver’s ed class in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Employee of Federal Government – Having worked for a branch of the government may qualify for a discount when you quote Jacksonville auto insurance with a few car insurance companies.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some insurance companies give lower rates if you buy some life insurance too.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts as much as 30%.
We need to note that most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. If you do the math and it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
Large car insurance companies and their possible discounts can be found below.
- Travelers may have discounts that include payment discounts, home ownership, student away at school, driver training, early quote, new car, and multi-policy.
- 21st Century may include discounts for defensive driver, early bird, 55 and older, good student, and student driver.
- State Farm has savings for safe vehicle, good driver, student away at school, accident-free, and passive restraint.
- GEICO includes discounts for seat belt use, air bags, military active duty, defensive driver, good student, and membership and employees.
- SAFECO offers discounts for anti-lock brakes, teen safety rewards, homeowner, anti-theft, safe driver, bundle discounts, and teen safe driver.
- AAA offers discounts including good student, anti-theft, multi-car, multi-policy, pay-in-full, and education and occupation.
If you need lower rates, check with each company or agent how you can save money. Savings might not be available to policyholders in your area. For a list of car insurance companies with the best discounts in Jacksonville, click here.
Car insurance agents are professional risk managers
A small number of people still like to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Insurance agents are trained risk managers and help file insurance claims. The best thing about comparing car insurance online is you may find lower auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent. Putting coverage with local agents is important especially in Jacksonville.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home since rate quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you just need to go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.
The following is a short list of insurers in Jacksonville that are able to give comparison quotes for Toyota Echo insurance in Jacksonville.
- Cam Anderson – State Farm Insurance Agent
4555 San Juan Ave – Jacksonville, FL 32210 – (904) 381-1206 – View Map - Bob Gibbs – State Farm Insurance Agent
5495 Fort Caroline Rd – Jacksonville, FL 32277 – (904) 744-2702 – View Map - A and B Insurance Agency, Inc
2153 Blanding Blvd – Jacksonville, FL 32210 – (904) 388-6446 – View Map - Bill Doyle – State Farm Insurance Agent
11555 Central Pkwy #904 – Jacksonville, FL 32224 – (904) 642-4000 – View Map
Choosing the best company is decision based upon more than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- How long has their agency been open in Jacksonville?
- Will the agent help in case of a claim?
- Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
- How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- Is auto insurance their primary focus in Jacksonville?
After receiving good responses to any questions you have and an affordable coverage quote, you may have found an provider that is a good match to service your policy.
Car insurance coverage information
Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Coverage for medical payments
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses for things like ambulance fees, surgery, funeral costs and EMT expenses. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability auto insurance
This can cover 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.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show limits of 10/20/10 that means you have a limit of $10,000 per injured person, a total of $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability coverage pays for things like medical expenses, loss of income, attorney fees, medical services and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10/20/10 but drivers should carry more coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying the state minimum limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Collision protection
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision can pay for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, scraping a guard rail, colliding with a tree and crashing into a ditch. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Echo to save money on collision insurance.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Toyota Echo.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (10/20/10 in Florida), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Normally the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for claims such as damage from getting keyed, a broken windshield, fire damage and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Compare but don’t skimp
Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy cancellation and policy non-renewal. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company is easier than you think.
As you prepare to switch companies, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
The cheapest Toyota Echo insurance in Jacksonville is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Jacksonville agents, so you need to quote Jacksonville auto insurance with both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not have price quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies work with independent agencies.
To learn more, take a look at these articles:
- Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Much is Jacksonville Car Insurance for a Jeep Grand Cherokee? (FAQ)
- How Much are Jacksonville Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers Over Age 70? (FAQ)
- How Much are Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Camry in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for First-time Drivers in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for High Mileage Drivers in Jacksonville? (FAQ)
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Institute)
- Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)