Lower Your 2004 Toyota Sienna Insurance Cost

Looking for better insurance coverage rates for your Toyota Sienna? Finding better insurance prices for a new or used Toyota Sienna can normally be difficult, but you can learn the following methods to make it easier.

There are both good and bad ways to compare insurance coverage rates and we’ll show you the best way to get price quotes on a Toyota and locate the best price possible either online or from local insurance agents.

Finding auto insurance

Performing a rate comparison can be exhausting if you don’t utilize the most efficient way to do it. You could spend the better part of a day talking to insurance companies in your area, or you could save time and use online quoting to maximize your effort.

Many of the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and each company returns a competitive quote based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. To use this form to compare rates click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you can’t choose which carriers you want to price. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of low cost auto insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.

Compare rates however you want, just be sure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you use different coverage information it’s impossible to determine the best price for your Toyota Sienna.

Car insurance discounts are available to slash your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always advertise every policy discount very clearly, so the below list has both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious credits available to bring down your rates.

• Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
• Waiver for an Accident – Not a discount per se, but certain companies will turn a blind eye to one accident without the usual rate increase with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories have much lower rates in comparison with insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
• Policy Bundle Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you may save up to 20% and get you the cheapest car insurance.
• Early Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can avoid monthly service charges.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way. But all discounts will reduce the premium cost.

Car insurance companies that may offer quotes with these money-saving discounts are:

• The Hartford
• American Family
• Progressive
• Travelers
• Farmers Insurance
• USAA
• Liberty Mutual

Before purchasing a policy, check with every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits may not apply in your area. To see a list of car insurance companies that offer multiple discounts, click this link.

Everyone needs different auto insurance coverages

When buying adequate coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For instance, these questions may help you determine if your situation could use an agent’s help.

• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
• Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
• Should I buy full coverage?
• Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in my state?
• What happens if I owe more than my 2004 Toyota Sienna is worth?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
• How can I get my company to pay me more for my totalled car?
• Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

How insurers determine Toyota Sienna insurance premiums

One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of a few of the rating criteria that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. If you know what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can earn you lower rates.

• Urban areas may pay more – Choosing to live in less populated areas is a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and higher rates of accident claims. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.
• Job and insurance premiums – Occupations like military generals, architects and stock brokers generally pay higher rates than the rest of us due to job stress and incredibly demanding work hours. On the other hand, occupations such as professors, historians and retirees pay lower than average rates for Sienna coverage.
• Prices increase with policy add-ons – Insurance policies have a lot of optional add-on coverages that may not really be needed on your auto insurance policy. Coverage for things like rental car reimbursement, death and dismemberment, and extra life insurance coverage are probably not needed. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if you’ve never needed them in the past get rid of them and save.
• Low coverage deductibles can be expensive – Insurance for physical damage to your car, also called ‘full coverage’, insures against damage to your Toyota. Examples of some claims that would be covered could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles define the amount the insured will be required to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more you pay before a claim is paid (deductible), the less your auto insurance will be for Sienna coverage.
• Allowing your auto insurance to lapse raises rates – Driving without insurance coverage in place is a misdemeanor and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance lapse for non-payment. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage might get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license. You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department.
• Marriage can lower costs – Having a spouse may save some money on your auto insurance policy. Marriage demonstrates that you tend to be more stable financially and it’s proven that married drivers tend to have fewer serious accidents.

Insurance coverage options for a 2004 Toyota Sienna

Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical expense coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for immediate expenses for doctor visits, EMT expenses, ambulance fees, pain medications and funeral costs. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability car insurance

This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have liability limits of 25/50/25 which stand for $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers claims such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, attorney fees, bail bonds, funeral expenses and loss of income. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like damage from getting keyed, falling objects and hitting a deer. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Collision insurance

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Sienna resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision can pay for claims like backing into a parked car, crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. Another option is to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

In any little way, save everyday

Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and denial of a claim. Whatever your reason, finding a great new company can be less work than you think.

When buying insurance coverage, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where someone dropped collision coverage to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Lower-priced 2004 Toyota Sienna insurance can be found on the web and from local agencies, so you need to quote car insurance with both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not have rates over the internet and these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agents.

Other resources

• Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Comprehensive Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)
• Senior Drivers (Insurance Information Insitute)