Insurance shopping is not really something drivers like to do, but all states require it before the rubber hits the road.
Effectively comparing car insurance prices can take hours if you don’t understand the fastest way to get free quotes. You could spend your day talking to insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes for quick rates.
Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace where prospective buyers submit one quote, and every company can give them a price based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company you want a rate for.
To enter your information into the quoting system, click here (opens in new window).
One minor caviat to using this type of form is you can’t choose which companies you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare, we have a listing of companies who write car insurance in your area. Click to view list.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverages for every company. If each company quotes different limits and deductibles on each one then you won’t be able to determine the lowest rate for your Toyota Corolla. Quoting even small variations in coverage limits could mean much higher rates. Just remember that comparing more company’s prices helps you find better pricing.
When choosing the best insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
Having a good grasp of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your Toyota Corolla.
Since many drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Liability insurance
This coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. It protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see values of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability insurance covers claims like structural damage, court costs, bail bonds and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible.
Collision protection
This covers damage to your Corolla resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision insurance covers claims like rolling your car, hitting a mailbox and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as rock chips in glass, damage from flooding and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses like funeral costs, EMT expenses, nursing services and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage