Best Toyota Highlander Insurance in Durham

Would you like an easy way to compare cheaper Toyota Highlander insurance in Durham? Searching for the cheapest insurance for a new or used Toyota Highlander in North Carolina could be an all-consuming task, but you can learn our car insurance buying tips to make it easier.

There are both good and bad ways to buy car insurance so we’re going to tell you the proper way to price shop coverage for your Toyota and locate the cheapest rates either online or from Durham insurance agents.

Shocking but true, a large majority of drivers renewed their policy with the same company for at least four years, and roughly 40% of drivers have never compared quotes from other companies. U.S. insurance shoppers could save themselves as much as $860 a year just by shopping around, but most undervalue the amount of money they would save if they switched to a more affordable policy.

Consumers need to check car insurance prices on a regular basis because prices fluctuate regularly. Even if you got the lowest rates on Toyota Highlander insurance in Durham last year there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re going to learn one of the easiest ways to save on car insurance.

Finding and comparing the best-priced policy in Durham can be fairly easy. If you’re already insured or are shopping for new coverage, you can use this information to save money without having to cut coverage. Consumers just have to know the least time-consuming way to find the lowest price from many companies at once.

Finding more affordable insurance rates can be relatively painless. The only thing you need to do is take the time comparing free Durham auto insurance quotes from different insurance companies.

The companies in the list below offer comparison quotes in Durham, NC. To get cheap car insurance in North Carolina, we recommend you visit as many as you can in order to find the most affordable rates.

Toyota Highlander detailed coverage information

The rate table shown next showcases detailed analysis of coverage costs for Toyota Highlander models. Understanding how insurance rates are formulated is important for you to make smart choices when selecting a policy.

Data based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in garaging location in Durham which can influence insurance rates substantially.

Raise deductibles and save

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The rates shown below show how much more you’ll pay between low and high deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.

Table data represents married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Information does not factor in specific location information which can impact insurance rates considerably.

Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $11 more each month or $132 each year across all Toyota Highlander models than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would pay $250 more if you turn in a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you go at a minimum 23 months between claims, you would come out ahead going with the higher deductible. The illustration below shows the way you can perform this determination yourself.

An important thing to remember is that raising deductibles to save money means you will have to cover more of the damage yourself when you have a claim. That will necessitate some extra funds in the event you have to pay more for the deductible.

The diagram below demonstrates how deductible levels and can raise or lower Toyota Highlander annual premium costs for different age categories. The price estimates are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.

Impact of careless driving on Durham car insurance rates

The diagram below demonstrates how traffic citations and accident claims can affect Toyota Highlander car insurance rates for different ages of insureds. The premiums assume a married male driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Toyota Highlander annual premiums for males versus females

The information below illustrates the comparison of Toyota Highlander annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The rates are based on no violations or claims, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no other discounts are factored in.

Cost comparison with and without full coverage

The diagram below shows the comparison of Toyota Highlander auto insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The price estimates are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to drop full coverage

There is no set guideline of when to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of having full coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Toyota Highlander settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $8,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are currently paying more than $800 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some conditions where removing full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to keep full coverage as part of the loan requirements. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not consider dropping full coverage.

Why you need insurance for your Toyota vehicle

Despite the high insurance cost for a Toyota Highlander in Durham, maintaining insurance may be required and benefits you in several ways.

• Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In North Carolina these limits are 30/60/25 which means you must have $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
• If you bought your vehicle with a loan, most lenders will require you to have full coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may buy a policy for your Toyota at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over for the much more expensive policy.
• Insurance protects both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also provide coverage for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay attorney fees if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your Toyota gets damaged, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.

The benefits of buying enough insurance outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. As of last year, the average driver in North Carolina is overpaying more than $800 each year so compare quotes from several companies at every renewal to save money.

Smart Choices Result in Lower Insurance Rates

Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when you get a price on insurance. Most are fairly basic like your driving record, although some other factors are more transparent like where you live or how financially stable you are.

Listed below are some of the factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your rates.

Prevent theft and lower prices – Purchasing a vehicle that has a built-in theft deterrent system can earn a premium discount. Advanced theft deterrents like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms all aid in stopping vehicle theft.

Insurance policy lapses raise premiums – Letting your insurance expire can be a guaranteed way to increase your rates. Not only will you pay higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may result in a steep fine or even jail time.

High performance vehicles cost more to insure – The performance of the vehicle you need to insure makes a huge difference in your auto insurance rates. Small economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

The chart below uses these assumptions: single female driver age 30, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations. It compares Toyota Highlander insurance rates compared to other makes and models that have a range of performances.

Companies want multiple policies – The majority of insurers provide lower prices to buyers who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to help ensure you have the lowest rates. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.

Your location is important – Choosing to live in less populated areas may provide you with better prices if you are looking for the lowest rates. Less people means a lower chance of having an accident. Urban drivers tend to have much more traffic and more time behind the wheel. Longer commute distances means more chance of being in an accident.

Insurance loss probability for a Toyota Highlander – Insurers take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle to help set a rate to offset losses. Models that tend to have increased claim numbers or amounts will have a higher premium rate.

The table below demonstrates the historical insurance loss data for Toyota Highlander vehicles. For each coverage category, the claim amount for all vehicles averaged together is equal to 100. Numbers that are below 100 imply a favorable loss record, while numbers shown that are more than 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or tendency to have higher losses.

Earn discounts on Durham car insurance

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you may qualify for discounts that many people don’t even know exist. A few discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but some discounts are required to be manually applied before they will apply.

• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
• Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will provide an incentive for buying your policy online.
• Discounts for Federal Employees – Federal government employees can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
• Renewal Discounts – Some companies reward drivers for switching companies before your current Highlander insurance policy expires. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Accident-Free Discounts – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
• ABS Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
• Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.

Policy discounts save money, but most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.

The chart below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Highlander annual premium costs with and without discounts being applied to the rates. The data is based on a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, North Carolina state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-car discounts applied.

Companies and their offered discounts are shown below.

• State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including multiple autos, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, good driver, and driver’s education.
• Progressive may have discounts that include multi-policy, homeowner, continuous coverage, online signing, online quote discount, good student, and multi-vehicle.
• Travelers includes discounts for hybrid/electric vehicle, continuous insurance, new car, save driver, early quote, IntelliDrive, and good student.
• American Family discounts include mySafetyValet, early bird, bundled insurance, TimeAway discount, accident-free, defensive driver, and air bags.
• Liberty Mutual offers discounts including safety features, preferred payment discount, exclusive group savings, newly married, multi-policy, new move discount, and good student.

When comparing rates, check with every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policies in your state. To see a list of providers that provide some of the discounts listed above in North Carolina, follow this link.

Buying insurance from Durham insurance agencies

A small number of people just prefer to buy from a local agent and doing that can be a smart decision Good agents can help you choose the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. A good thing about comparing insurance prices online is that drivers can save money and get better rates and also buy local. Putting coverage with neighborhood insurance agencies is important especially in Durham.

Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents in Durham that provide free Durham auto insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to search for any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered instantly to you. If you want to quote rates for a specific company, just jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.

If you need to find a reliable agent, you should know the different types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Agencies in Durham can either be exclusive or independent. Both types of agents can write policy coverage, but it is a good idea to know the difference in the companies they write for because it can influence the type of agent you choose.

Independent Insurance Agents

Agents of this type are normally appointed by many insurers so as a result can place your coverage with any number of different companies and get you the best rates possible. If premiums increase, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, we recommend you include rate quotes from at least one independent agent so that you can do a thorough price comparison. They often place coverage with mutual insurance companies that may provide cheaper insurance rates.

Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Durham who can help you get cheap rate quotes.

• Marsh Dawson Insurance Agency
  5410 – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 484-8400 – View Map
• The Insurance Pros, Inc.
  1210 Cole Mill Rd Suite 101 – Durham, NC 27705 – (919) 294-6613 – View Map
• The Sorgi Insurance Agency
  16 Consultant Pl Suite 102 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 682-4814 – View Map

View more Durham agents

Exclusive Insurance Agents

Exclusive agents can only provide one company’s prices and some examples include American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. These agents are well schooled on the products they sell which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Some insured continue to choose to use an exclusive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand rather than low price.

Shown below is a list of exclusive agents in Durham willing to provide price quotes.

• Rollie Olin – State Farm Insurance Agent
  4810 Hope Valley Rd #116 – Durham, NC 27707 – (919) 489-6008 – View Map
• Zonya Autmon – State Farm Insurance Agent
  2402 S Miami Blvd #103 – Durham, NC 27703 – (919) 993-3555 – View Map
• Nationwide Insurance: Sizsiz L Wong
  105 W North Carolina 54 Ste 279 – Durham, NC 27713 – (919) 544-7000 – View Map

View more Durham agents

Choosing the best auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap quote. These are some valid questions you should ask.

• Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
• How are they compensated?
• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Durham?
• Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?

Persistence is the key to cheap rates

We just presented some good ideas how to lower your Toyota Highlander insurance prices in Durham. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of getting affordable Durham auto insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a small local company.

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best possible price and still be able to protect your assets.

Insureds switch companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices, high prices and even poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider can be less work than you think.

Steps to saving money on Toyota Highlander insurance in Durham

The best way we recommend to get the cheapest Toyota Highlander insurance in Durham is to compare prices annually from insurers in North Carolina. Price quotes can be compared by completing these steps.

• First, get a basic knowledge of individual coverages and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases such as accidents, traffic violations, and poor credit can be amended by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
• Second, request rate estimates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and see if there is a cheaper rate in Durham. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.

A crucial key to this process is to make sure you’re comparing identical limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and a better comparison of the market.

For more information, take a look at the resources below:

• Teen Driver Licensing Information (iihs.org)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Hyundai Sonata in Durham? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Dodge Ram in Durham? (FAQ)
• What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Older Drivers FAQ (iihs.org)
• Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
• Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)