1996 Toyota Tacoma Insurance Cost – 5 Ways to Save

Paying more affordable rates for car insurance can seem to be challenging for drivers not familiar with comparison shopping online. With so many agents and insurance companies available, it can easily turn into a difficult mission to find cheaper rates.

Car insurance companies offer many discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all disounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the following list contains both well-publicized and also the more inconspicuous discounts you could be receiving when you buy auto insurance online.

  • Employee of Federal Government – Having worked for a branch of the government may reduce rates when you quote auto insurance on Tacoma insurance with a few car insurance companies.
  • Onboard Data Collection – Policyholders that allow data collection to analyze their driving habits by using a small device installed in their vehicle like Allstate’s Drivewise could save a few bucks if they have good driving habits.
  • Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Toyota could qualify for cheaper premium rates.
  • Professional Memberships – Being in specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations may earn a discount on your bill.
  • One Accident Forgiven – This one is not really a discount per se, but some insurance companies will let one accident slide without getting socked with a rate hike as long as you don’t have any claims before the accident.

As a footnote on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any amount of discount will definitely reduce your premiums.

Larger car insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are shown below.

  • State Farm has savings for accident-free, good student, Steer Clear safe driver discount, student away at school, multiple policy, driver’s education, and safe vehicle.
  • GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, military active duty, daytime running lights, good student, and defensive driver.
  • Progressive has discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, good student, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
  • 21st Century offers discounts including 55 and older, anti-lock brakes, homeowners, early bird, good student, and air bags.
  • American Family may offer discounts for bundled insurance, defensive driver, good student, early bird, and air bags.
  • The Hartford discounts include bundle, air bag, good student, vehicle fuel type, and driver training.
  • AAA may have discounts that include good driver, anti-theft, multi-policy, education and occupation, and good student.

It’s a good idea to ask every company which discounts they offer. A few discounts may not be offered everywhere. If you would like to view car insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts, click here to view.

Do I just need basic coverages?

When buying coverage, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

  • When would I need rental car insurance?
  • Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
  • When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
  • Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
  • If my pet gets injured in an accident are they covered?
  • What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
  • If my 1996 Toyota Tacoma is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • What happens if I owe more than my 1996 Toyota Tacoma is worth?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form.

Specific coverage details

Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement.

Medical expense coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for doctor visits, pain medications, prosthetic devices and hospital visits. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Uninsured or underinsured coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your 1996 Toyota Tacoma.

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 is very important.

Comprehensive protection – Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims like theft, vandalism and a broken windshield. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Auto liability insurance – This can cover injuries or damage you cause to people or other property by causing an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like emergency aid, attorney fees, legal defense fees and medical expenses. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays for damage to your Tacoma resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things like scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Pennies from heaven

We just covered a lot of information how to reduce 1996 Toyota Tacoma insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the most savings is with a small local company.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many cases, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

More affordable insurance coverage can be bought both online and from local agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies may not offer online price quotes and these smaller companies prefer to sell through independent insurance agents.

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