Really, the only way to get low-cost Toyota Highlander insurance in Long Beach is to start comparing prices regularly from providers who sell insurance in California.
- First, spend a few minutes and learn about how car insurance works and the things you can change to drop your rates. Many factors that are responsible for high rates such as inattentive driving and an imperfect credit rating can be remedied by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Second, request rate estimates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies. View companies
- Third, compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Long Beach. If you find a lower rate quote and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Fourth, notify your company or agent of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit payment and a signed application to the new company. Once the application is submitted, put the certificate verifying proof of insurance in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
An important note is that you’ll want to compare identical coverage information on every price quote and and to get quotes from as many companies as possible. This provides an apples-to-apples comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
Astonishing but true according to a recent study, the vast majority of consumers have purchased from the same company for a minimum of four years, and almost half have never shopped around. Drivers in America could save nearly 47% each year by just comparing rate quotes, but they just assume it takes a lot of time to shop around.
Auto insurance statistics for a Toyota Highlander
The rate information shown below highlights different insurance rates for Toyota Highlander models. Having knowledge of how car insurance prices are established is important to be able to make informed decisions when comparing rate quotes.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander 2WD | $342 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,414 | $118 |
| Highlander 4WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,562 | $130 |
| Highlander Sport 4WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,562 | $130 |
| Highlander SE 2WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,562 | $130 |
| Highlander Sport 2WD | $386 | $576 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,562 | $130 |
| Highlander Limited 2WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Highlander SE 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Highlander Limited 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD | $430 | $678 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,708 | $142 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific Long Beach garaging location which can raise or lower insurance rates greatly.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
One common question asked by Long Beach drivers is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The following insurance rates may aid in understanding the cost difference when you buy lower versus higher insurance deductibles. The first rate quote example uses a $100 deductible and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander 2WD | $380 | $564 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,569 | $131 |
| Highlander 4WD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
| Highlander Sport 4WD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
| Highlander SE 2WD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
| Highlander Sport 2WD | $430 | $686 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,741 | $145 |
| Highlander Limited 2WD | $478 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,913 | $159 |
| Highlander SE 4WD | $478 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,913 | $159 |
| Highlander Limited 4WD | $478 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,913 | $159 |
| Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $478 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,913 | $159 |
| Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD | $478 | $810 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,913 | $159 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander 2WD | $278 | $382 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,260 | $105 |
| Highlander 4WD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
| Highlander Sport 4WD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
| Highlander SE 2WD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
| Highlander Sport 2WD | $314 | $464 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,378 | $115 |
| Highlander Limited 2WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Highlander SE 4WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Highlander Limited 4WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD | $348 | $546 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can lower or raise auto insurance rates noticeably.
Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $32 more each month or $384 each year than selecting the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $400 more if you file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally go more than 13 months between claims, you would save money by selecting a higher deductible.
How to determine when to raise deductibles
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $151 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $119 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $32 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $32 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 13 months |
One important caveat is that raising deductibles to save money means you will have to pay more of your own money when you have a claim. You need enough money stashed away in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
Cautious drivers save money
The diagram below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders raise Toyota Highlander yearly insurance costs for each age group. The rates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
How much more does full coverage cost in Long Beach?
The example below compares Toyota Highlander car insurance costs with and without full coverage. The data is based on no violations or accidents, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no definitive guideline to drop comp and collision coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Toyota Highlander claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $5,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying in excess of $500 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are a few cases where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Best car insurance in California
Choosing a high-quality auto insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies there are to choose from in Long Beach. The ranking information below could help you choose which auto insurers to look at when comparing rates.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 98 | 100 | 100 | 94% | A++ | 98.6 |
| American Family | 98 | 89 | 100 | 86% | A | 95.4 |
| AAA of Southern California | 91 | 94 | 97 | 92% | A+ | 94.1 |
| State Farm | 88 | 93 | 96 | 90% | A++ | 92.4 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89% | A+ | 91.7 |
| AAA Insurance | 88 | 89 | 95 | 91% | A | 91.2 |
| GEICO | 84 | 93 | 93 | 89% | A++ | 90.3 |
| The General | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88% | A- | 90 |
| Titan Insurance | 90 | 87 | 91 | 95% | A+ | 89.6 |
| Progressive | 84 | 91 | 93 | 87% | A+ | 89.5 |
| Mercury Insurance | 88 | 91 | 90 | 85% | A+ | 89.4 |
| Allstate | 85 | 90 | 92 | 88% | A+ | 89.3 |
| Nationwide | 87 | 88 | 84 | 90% | A+ | 88.7 |
| Liberty Mutual | 84 | 87 | 93 | 88% | A | 88.5 |
| 21st Century | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88% | A | 86.7 |
| Esurance | 85 | 80 | 95 | 87% | A+ | 85.9 |
| Safeco | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
| Travelers | 80 | 87 | 87 | 83% | A++ | 85.2 |
| Farmers Insurance | 78 | 87 | 88 | 79% | A | 84.3 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Educate yourself about insurance coverages
Having a good grasp of insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Auto liability
This protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see values of 15/30/5 which means a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $5,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability can pay for claims such as loss of income, court costs, structural damage and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. California state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should consider buying higher limits.
The next chart shows why low liability limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Toyota Highlander.
Since many California drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5 in California), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hitting a deer, rock chips in glass and falling objects. The maximum payout 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 it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision protection
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible on your Highlander to get cheaper collision coverage.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for short-term medical expenses for surgery, pain medications and EMT expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Cheaper insurance is out there
When searching for cheaper Long Beach car insurance quotes, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost, but do not skimp to save money.
People switch companies for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, not issuing a premium refund, unfair underwriting practices and even delays in paying claims. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching insurance companies is not as hard as you think.
Some companies may not provide rates over the internet and usually these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies. Budget-friendly insurance in Long Beach can be sourced both online and from local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture.
More information is located at these links:
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Low Mileage Drivers in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Nissan Rogue in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Long Beach Auto Insurance for High Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance After a Speeding Ticket in Long Beach? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Long Beach Car Insurance Quotes for Uber Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Long Beach Car Insurance for Homeowners? (FAQ)
- Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
- All About Airbag Safety (State Farm)
- Drunk Driving Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)