Lower Your 2012 Toyota Matrix Insurance Quotes

Do you get frustrated by the wide range of car insurance choices that you can choose from? There are so many options that it can quickly become a lot of work to compare rates.

You need to compare premium rates on a regular basis because prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you think you had the best quotes for Matrix coverage last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Buying car insurance is not rocket science. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Although drivers must understand how insurance companies sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Find hidden discounts to get affordable car insurance rates

Buying car insurance is not cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts to help offset the cost. Many of these discounts will be applied automatically at the time you complete a quote, but some must be asked about before they will apply.

• Early Signing – Some car insurance companies reward drivers for switching companies prior to the expiration date on your current policy. You can save around 10% with this discount.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen with less frequency and will qualify for a discount on a car insurance quote.
• Telematics Data Discounts – People who choose to allow companies to look at driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s In-Drive might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
• First Accident Forgiveness – but a handful of insurance companies may permit one accident without raising rates so long as you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations may earn a discount on your next renewal.
• Federal Government Employee – Federal government employees can save as much as 8% for Matrix coverage depending on your car insurance provider.
• Passive Restraints – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20 to 30 percent.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks with one company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member could be rewarded with lower rates.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you could earn a discount of as much as 10 to 15 percent.

One last thing about discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

Companies and a partial list of their discounts include:

• State Farm offers discounts including good driver, Drive Safe & Save, student away at school, multiple autos, and passive restraint.
• Geico includes discounts for good student, anti-theft, military active duty, five-year accident-free, seat belt use, federal employee, and daytime running lights.
• Progressive has savings for continuous coverage, good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and online quote discount.
• 21st Century has discounts for anti-lock brakes, air bags, theft prevention, teen driver, 55 and older, good student, and student driver.
• American Family offers discounts for defensive driver, multi-vehicle, good driver, accident-free, mySafetyValet, TimeAway discount, and early bird.
• The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including air bag, defensive driver, bundle, vehicle fuel type, good student, anti-theft, and driver training.
• AAA may have discounts that include multi-car, good driver, anti-theft, pay-in-full, education and occupation, good student, and AAA membership discount.

Check with all the companies how you can save money. Some discounts might not be available to policyholders everywhere. To locate car insurance companies with significant discounts, click this link.

Tailor your insurance coverage coverage to you

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique.

For example, these questions might help in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• Can I make deliveries for my home business?
• Am I covered if I hit my neighbor’s mailbox?
• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
• Do I have newly-aquired coverage?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in my state?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Auto insurance advertisements

Geico, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads tend to make the same promise that people will save if you switch your auto insurance policy to them. How does each company have lower policy pricing? It’s all in the wording.

Companies give the best rates for the type of insured that will generate a profit. An example of a profitable customer might have to be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 5,000 miles a year. Anybody that meets those criteria will probably get the lowest rates and will most likely save when switching.

People who do not fit these stringent criteria will probably have to pay higher premium rates and this can result in the customer buying from someone else. The ad wording is “drivers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can claim big savings. That is why you really need to compare many company’s prices. Because you never know with any certainty which company will have the lowest rate quotes.

Specific coverages for a 2012 Toyota Matrix

Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Toyota Matrix.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Coverage for liability

This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability insurance covers claims like pain and suffering, emergency aid, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, structural damage and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses like doctor visits, pain medications, rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs and chiropractic care. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Collision coverage protection

Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a mailbox, sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as vandalism, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft, fire damage and rock chips in glass. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut full coverage only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheaper insurance coverage can be purchased from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so get free car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not have online price quotes and these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent agents.

Drivers change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium and even policy cancellation. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

More tips and info about insurance coverage can be found in the articles below:

• Credit and Insurance Scores (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• How Does Hitting a Deer Impact Insurance Rates? (Allstate)
• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)