Smart shoppers know that auto insurance companies want to keep you from comparing rates. Insureds who shop for lower rates are very likely to buy a different policy because of the good chance of finding better rates. A recent auto insurance study revealed that consumers who shopped around annually saved about $3,500 over four years compared to policyholders who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding the best price on auto insurance is the reason you’re reading this, then knowing how to compare cheaper coverage can help you be more efficient.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to get affordable Toyota Highlander insurance is to compare quotes once a year from companies that insure vehicles in Raleigh. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.
Step 1: Try to learn about individual coverages and the things you can control to prevent rate increases. Many things that increase rates such as traffic violations and a bad credit rating can be remedied by being financially responsible and driving safely. Read the full article for more details to keep prices down and get discounts that may be overlooked.
Step 2: Get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can give you price quotes from many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to see if cheaper Highlander coverage is available in Raleigh. If you find a lower rate, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your company or agent to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment and a completed application to your new agent or company. Make sure you store the proof of insurance paperwork along with your vehicle registration.
A crucial key to this process is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same level of coverage on each quote request and and to get quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables the most accurate price comparison and the best price quote selection.
Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in Raleigh is not rocket science. If you have a current insurance policy or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these tips to lower your rates while maximizing coverage. Smart shoppers just have to learn the quickest way to compare rates using one simple form.
How to buy Toyota Highlander insurance in Raleigh, NC
The companies shown below are ready to provide price comparisons in North Carolina. If you want cheap car insurance in Raleigh, we suggest you visit several of them to find the lowest auto insurance rates.
Score discounts on Raleigh car insurance
Some companies don’t necessarily list every possible discount very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to you.
- Drive Less and Save – Low annual miles may enable drivers to earn lower rates due to less chance of an accident.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles are stolen less frequently and will qualify for a discount on a Raleigh auto insurance quote.
- Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for primary and secondary vehicles on a single policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than their less cautious counterparts.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars and trucks that have anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- First Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but certain companies permit an accident without getting socked with a rate hike if you are claim-free before the accident.
A little disclaimer on discounts, some credits don’t apply to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, it’s just not the way it works.
The information below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Highlander annual premium costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The information is based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-car, claim-free, homeowner, and marriage discounts applied.
To see providers with the best Toyota Highlander insurance discounts in Raleigh in Raleigh, follow this link.
Auto insurance analysis for a Toyota Highlander
The rate information displayed next outlines estimates of insurance costs for Toyota Highlander models. Having a good understanding how rates are established can assist in making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander 2WD | $92 | $142 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $560 | $47 |
| Highlander 4WD | $104 | $174 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $604 | $50 |
| Highlander Sport 4WD | $104 | $174 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $604 | $50 |
| Highlander SE 2WD | $104 | $174 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $604 | $50 |
| Highlander Sport 2WD | $104 | $174 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $604 | $50 |
| Highlander Limited 2WD | $116 | $204 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $646 | $54 |
| Highlander SE 4WD | $116 | $204 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $646 | $54 |
| Highlander Limited 4WD | $116 | $204 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $646 | $54 |
| Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $116 | $204 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $646 | $54 |
| Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD | $116 | $204 | $240 | $14 | $72 | $646 | $54 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase premium rates considerably.
The information below highlights how deductible selection and can raise or lower Toyota Highlander insurance costs for each age group. The price estimates are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Toyota Highlander insurance costs by age and gender
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Highlander auto insurance rates for male and female drivers. The information is based on no violations or claims, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are factored in.
Why You Might Pay Inflated Rates in Raleigh
Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that are used to determine car insurance rates. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in lower premium levels.
The following are some of the most rate-impacting factors used by insurance companies to determine prices.
Comp and collision deductibles are a factor – Physical damage coverage, aka comp and collision, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Examples of some claims that would be covered are a windshield shattered by a rock, hitting a deer, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount the insured is willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Do you need those extra policy coverages? – There are many extra bells and whistles that sound like a good idea at the time if you aren’t diligent. Coverages like rental car coverage, death and dismemberment, and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you have no use for them consider taking them off your policy.
Liability protection is critical – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Your liability coverage provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Type of car, truck or SUV determines base premiums – The type of car you need insurance for makes a huge difference in determining your rates. The cheapest rates are usually found on economy passenger models, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
The following data is based on a married female driver age 50, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It illustrates Toyota Highlander insurance premiums compared to other makes and models that have a range of performances.
Excellent credit equals lower prices – Your credit rating will be a significant factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. People with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have worse credit. So if your credit leaves room for improvement, you could save money insuring your Toyota Highlander if you clean up your credit.
Claims statistics for a Toyota Highlander – Insurers analyze historical claim data to calculate a rate that will offset any claims. Models that are shown to have higher claim amounts or frequency will have a higher premium rate.
The next table shows the historical loss data for Toyota Highlander vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is represented as 100. Values that are below 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while percentage numbers above 100 show a trend for more claims or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
| Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander 4dr 2WD | 88 | 82 | 94 | 94 | 78 | 75 |
| Toyota Highlander 4dr 4WD | 95 | 86 | 117 | 88 | 74 | 78 |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4dr 4WD | 111 | 143 |
Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Exclusive or independent car insurance agents
Some people prefer to get advice from a local agent and often times that is recommended Insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that you can find lower prices and still have an agent to talk to.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this simple form, your insurance data is sent to insurance agents in Raleigh who will give you bids for your business. You won’t need to find an agent as quotes are delivered directly to you. If you wish to compare rates from a specific insurance company, you just need to search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Finding the right insurance company is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
- How many years of experience in personal auto insurance do they have?
- Where would glass claims be handled in Raleigh?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Exclusive or Independent: There is a difference
When searching for a local insurance agency, there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Agents may be either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Either can write policy coverage, but it’s worth mentioning the differences since it can impact the kind of agent you use.
Exclusive Agencies
These type of agents can only place business with one company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Exclusive agencies are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price. Some consumers prefer to use the same exclusive agent primarily because of the brand name and strong financial ratings.
Below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Raleigh that are able to give rate quotes.
- Allstate Insurance: Jay Adkins
1033 Oberlin Rd Ste 200 – Raleigh, NC 27605 – (919) 755-1133 – View Map - Vincent Boone – State Farm Insurance Agent
7850 Alexander Promenade PI #105 – Raleigh, NC 27617 – (919) 957-9009 – View Map - Tom Patterson – State Farm Insurance Agent
805 Spring Forest Rd #1400 – Raleigh, NC 27609 – (919) 954-1340 – View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent do not have single company limitations so they can insure your vehicles with a variety of different insurance companies and find the cheapest car insurance rates. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparing car insurance rates, you definitely need to compare prices from several independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Many can place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with which may provide better rates.
Listed below are Raleigh independent insurance agencies willing to provide price quote information.
- Nationwide Insurance: E Bradford Parker Insurance Agency Inc
1425 Rock Quarry Rd #105a – Raleigh, NC 27610 – (919) 833-6111 – View Map - Superior Insurance of Raleigh
2431 Spring Forest Rd #123 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 261-6164 – View Map - Lee Winters Insurance Agency
1330 St Marys St Suite 250 – Raleigh, NC 27605 – (919) 828-7130 – View Map
You are unique and your auto insurance should be too
When it comes to buying coverage online or from an agent for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed.
For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in North Carolina?
- Do I have coverage if I rent a car in Mexico?
- Should I buy full coverage?
- What is motorclub and do I need it?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- If I use my vehicle for business use is it covered?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Cheap insurance prices are available
When trying to cut insurance costs, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Throughout this article, we presented many ways to shop for Toyota Highlander insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the best prices are with the least-expected company. These smaller insurers often have lower rates on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
For more information, feel free to browse these articles:
- What is Gap Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Focus in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- How Much is Raleigh Car Insurance for a GMC Sierra? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Lyft Drivers in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Government Employees in Raleigh? (FAQ)
- Learn About Car Insurance (GEICO)
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- Self-driving cars won’t replace humans (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)