It’s safe to assume that car insurance companies want to prevent you from shopping around. People who shop around annually are likely to buy a different policy because there are good odds of finding good coverage at a lower price. A survey found that drivers who shopped around annually saved over $865 a year compared to people who never compared rates.
If finding the lowest rates on insurance is your ultimate goal, then having some insight into the best way to quote and compare auto insurance can make the process less intimidating.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to find low-cost Toyota Rav4 insurance in Albuquerque is to compare prices once a year from insurance carriers in New Mexico.
First, spend some time learning about how car insurance works and the measures you can control to keep rates low. Many risk factors that increase rates like careless driving and an imperfect credit rating can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely.
Second, obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can give you price quotes from multiple companies.
Third, compare the new rates to the premium of your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find better rates and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Fourth, give proper notification to your current agent or company to cancel the current policy. Submit a signed application and payment for your new coverage. When you receive it, keep the new certificate verifying proof of insurance above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
The key thing to know about shopping around is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get prices from every company you can. This provides a fair rate comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
It’s important to know that making a lot of price comparisons helps increase your odds of locating better pricing.
The companies shown below offer free quotes in Albuquerque, NM. To locate the best auto insurance in Albuquerque, NM, we recommend you visit two to three different companies to get the best price comparison.
Verify you’re earning every discount
Some insurance providers don’t always publicize every discount available very well, so below is a list a few of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to fasten their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- Save over 55 – Mature drivers may qualify for a small discount on rates.
- Albuquerque Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars, trucks, and SUVs that have anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them enroll in driver’s education in high school.
Discounts save money, but please remember that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works.
The information below shows the difference between Toyota Rav4 insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, New Mexico state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, homeowner, multi-car, claim-free, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Some of the larger companies that have many of the previously listed discounts possibly include:
Before you buy a policy, ask each insurance company how you can save money. Some credits might not be available to policyholders everywhere. If you would like to view providers that provide some of the discounts listed above in New Mexico, click this link.
Analysis of Toyota Rav4 rates
The premium information displayed below highlights detailed analysis of insurance premium costs for Toyota Rav4 models. Having insight into how insurance rates are figured is important for drivers to make decisions when shopping your coverage around.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RAV4 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Sport 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Sport 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Sport 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Sport 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 4WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
RAV4 Limited 2WD | $248 | $420 | $322 | $20 | $96 | $1,106 | $92 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and New Mexico minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in specific location information which can change prices substantially.
The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can affect Toyota Rav4 annual premium costs for each different age group. The rates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.
Rate comparison of males versus females
The chart below illustrates the difference between Toyota Rav4 yearly insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premiums assume a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
The example below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Rav4 insurance rates with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The information is based on no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
Should you pay for full coverage?
There is no clear-cut formula to drop full coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Toyota Rav4 claim settlement value is $8,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying over $700 annually for full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage to satisfy 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 in place.
Cut Insurance Costs with These Tips
When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand the factors that play a part in calculating the level of your policy premiums. If you understand what controls the rates you pay, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in cheaper rates. Multiple criteria are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some of the criteria are obvious such as your driving history, but others are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or your vehicle rating.
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Cautious drivers pay less – Drivers with clean records pay less for auto insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Even one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers unfortunate enough to have serious tickets such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
The chart below illustrates how traffic citations and accident claims can increase Toyota Rav4 insurance premiums for each different age category. The data assumes a married male driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
- Add-on coverages push up premiums – There are a lot of add-on coverages you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Coverage for things like rental car coverage, accidental death, and extra equipment coverage could be just wasting money. The coverages may be enticing initially, but your needs may have changed so consider taking them off your policy.
- Does your occupation raise your premiums? – Occupational choices like fire fighters, business owners, and accountants generally pay higher premium rates attributed to intense work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, careers such as professors, students and retirees have the lowest average rates.
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Youthful drivers cost more – Older, more experienced drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, cost insurance companies less in claims, and are safer drivers. Beginning drivers are proven to get distracted easily with other occupants in the car so auto insurance rates are higher.
The following data uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $500 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Your location is important – Having an address in areas with lower population has it’s advantages when it comes to auto insurance. Residents of big cities regularly have much more traffic and higher rates of accident claims. Fewer drivers and short commutes means less chance of accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.
- Credit rating impact auto insurance premiums – Your credit rating can be a huge factor in calculating your premium rate. If your credit rating can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your Toyota Rav4 by repairing your credit. Insureds that have very good credit scores tend to file fewer claims than those with poor credit scores.
- Five star IIHS safety rating saves money – Safe vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less claims paid passed on to you as lower rates. If your Toyota has at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website you may pay a lower rate.
- Prevent policy lapses – Having a gap between insurance policy dates will be a quick way to bump up your auto insurance costs. And not only will your rates increase, getting caught without coverage may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license. You may need to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the New Mexico motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
What if I want to buy from local Albuquerque insurance agents?
Many people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get cheap rate quotes but also keep your business local. Putting coverage with local agencies is especially important in Albuquerque.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will give competitive quotes for your coverage. You never need to search for any insurance agencies because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. It’s the lowest rates AND an agent nearby. If you want to get a comparison quote for a specific company, feel free to jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
The difference between Albuquerque auto insurance agents
If you’re trying to find a good Albuquerque insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures and how they can write your policy. Auto insurance agents in Albuquerque are considered either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive).
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Agents of this type are appointed with more than one company and that gives them the ability to insure with an assortment of companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything.
If you need lower rates, you definitely need to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.
Listed below is a partial list of independent agencies in Albuquerque who can help you get free auto insurance rate quotes.
Free Market Insurance Agency
6211 San Mateo Blvd NE #120 – Albuquerque, NM 87109 – (505) 881-2645 – View Map
Daniels Insurance Inc
320 Gold Ave SW # 700 – Albuquerque, NM 87102 – (505) 766-9676 – View Map
Menicucci Insurance Llc
2116 Vista Oeste NW Bldg 5 – Albuquerque, NM 87120 – (505) 883-3683 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
These agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques and that enables them to sell even at higher rates.
The following are Albuquerque exclusive insurance agencies willing to provide rate quotes.
Greg Shamas – State Farm Insurance Agent
9680 Eagle Ranch Rd NW #2 – Albuquerque, NM 87114 – (505) 898-3648 – View Map
Emily Rivera – State Farm Insurance Agent
3500 Indian School Rd NE – Albuquerque, NM 87106 – (505) 294-3330 – View Map
Cindy Maxwell – State Farm Insurance Agent
8244 Menaul Blvd NE – Albuquerque, NM 87110 – (505) 883-9000 – View Map
Finding the right auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just the quoted price. The questions below may impact your decision as well.
- Are they in the agency full-time?
- Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Albuquerque?
- Which companies can they place coverage with?
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
How do I know if I need professional advice?
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do I need replacement cost coverage on my Toyota Rav4?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Why do I only qualify for high-risk insurance?
- Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
- Is my Toyota Rav4 covered for flood damage?
- Are my custom wheels covered?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Am I missing any policy discounts?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.
How to find a good Albuquerque auto insurance company
Buying coverage from the highest-rated car insurance provider can be challenging considering how many companies are available to choose from in New Mexico. The company rank data listed below may help you choose which companies you want to consider to insure your vehicles.
Top 10 Albuquerque Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- USAA
- American Family
- The Hartford
- Titan Insurance
- The General
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Mercury Insurance
- Nationwide
- Safeco
Top 10 Albuquerque Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- Nationwide – 90%
- State Farm – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- 21st Century – 88%
- Liberty Mutual – 88%
- Allstate – 88%
The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest
We covered a lot of information how to compare Toyota Rav4 insurance premium rates in Albuquerque. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding the cheapest Toyota Rav4 rate quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies.
When shopping online for car insurance, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the lowest possible cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.
Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation or denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, switching companies can be easy and end up saving you some money.
More tips and info about car insurance is located in the articles below:
- Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Drivers Over Age 50 in Albuquerque? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Jeep Wrangler in Albuquerque? (FAQ)
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- How Can I Save Money on Auto Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)