Want to know how to find more affordable Toyota Echo insurance in Nashville? Feel like you’re a prisoner to an expensive insurance policy? Trust us, you’re not alone.
It’s an obvious assumption that car insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. Drivers who shop around for the cheapest price will, in all likelihood, buy a different policy because there are good odds of finding a more affordable policy. A recent survey discovered that people who shopped around saved on average $70 a month as compared to drivers who never shopped around.
If saving the most money on car insurance in Nashville is the reason for your visit, learning the best ways to find and compare insurance coverage can make the process more efficient.
Steps to saving on Toyota Echo insurance in Nashville
Truthfully, the best way to get discount Toyota Echo insurance is to start comparing rates regularly from companies in Nashville.
- First, spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance works and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that cause high rates like speeding and a not-so-good credit rating can be improved by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Second, compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple companies.
- Third, compare the new quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Nashville. If you can save some money and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Fourth, provide written notification to your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit payment and a completed application for your new policy. As soon as you receive it, keep the new certificate of insurance somewhere easily accessible.
An important part of this process is to compare identical coverage information on each price quote and and to compare as many companies as feasibly possible. This guarantees an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Due to the large number of insurance companies to choose from that have cheaper insurance for a Toyota Echo in Nashville, it’s nearly impossible to choose the best insurance company.
The car insurance companies shown below are our best choices to provide quotes in Tennessee. If multiple companies are listed, it’s highly recommended you visit as many as you can to get the most affordable price.
Car insurance protects more than just your car
Even though Nashville Echo insurance rates can get expensive, insurance is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy specific minimum amounts of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Tennessee these limits are 25/50/15 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Toyota, most banks will require you to have insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you default on your policy, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Toyota at a much higher rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards both your car and your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your Toyota as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of insuring your car are without a doubt worth the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. The average driver in America is overpaying more than $825 a year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
Lower rate quotes by taking advantage of these nine discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you might be missing out on some discounts that you may not even know about. Some trigger automatically at the time you complete a quote, but a few must be specifically requested before you get the savings.
- Drivers Education – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
- E-sign Discounts – A handful of larger companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
- Renewal Discounts – Some insurance companies give discounts for buying a new policy early. You may see this discount when you get Nashville car insurance quotes online.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease with a few car insurance companies.
- Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
- Professional Organizations – Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on car insurance.
- Driving Data Discount – Drivers that enable driving data submission to monitor vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm may get a rate reduction as long as they are good drivers.
- Driver Safety – Taking part in a defensive driving course could earn you a small percentage discount depending on where you live.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% off PIP or medical payments premium.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Despite the appearance that all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will definitely lower the cost of coverage.
Popular car insurance companies and their offered discounts are included below.
- Farm Bureau may include discounts for driver training, good student, youthful driver, 55 and retired, renewal discount, and safe driver.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include teen driver discount, multi-policy, preferred payment discount, new move discount, newly retired, hybrid vehicle, and new vehicle discount.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including defensive driving training, multiple autos, anti-theft, student away at school, multiple policy, safe vehicle, and passive restraint.
- Auto-Owners Insurance may offer discounts for teen driver, company car, group or association, good student, multi-policy, air bags, and paperless.
- GEICO offers discounts for membership and employees, driver training, emergency military deployment, daytime running lights, and seat belt use.
- SAFECO offers discounts including teen safety rewards, safe driver, multi-car, accident prevention training, drive less, and anti-theft.
Before you buy a policy, ask all the companies to apply every possible discount. Some credits might not be offered on policies in your state. To see a list of providers that offer discounts in Nashville, click this link.
Compare prices but work with a neighborhood Nashville auto insurance agent
Many drivers still prefer to get advice from a local agent and doing so can bring peace of mind Most agents will help you protect your assets and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain cheap auto insurance rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local agents is important particularly in Nashville.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to companies in Nashville that give free quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go directly to you. If you need to get a rate quote from a specific auto insurance provider, you just need to find their quoting web page and complete a quote there.
If you prefer to buy auto insurance from a local Nashville insurance agent, you should know the different types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Nashville are considered either independent or exclusive. Either type can handle auto insurance, but it’s important to point out the difference in how they write coverage because it may have an impact on which type of agent you select.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents do not sell for just one brand so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, you will want to include rate quotes from at least one independent agent so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Shown below is a list of independent agents in Nashville that can give you free price quotes.
Varallo Insurance Agency
296 White Bridge Pike – Nashville, TN 37209 – (615) 352-5747 – View Map
Nationwide Insurance: April Bowers Agency Inc
211 Donelson Pike #8 – Nashville, TN 37214 – (615) 883-8183 – View Map
Antioch Insurance
1311 Antioch Pike – Nashville, TN 37211 – (615) 834-7106 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive insurance agents can only provide pricing for a single company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Shown below is a list of exclusive agencies in Nashville that can give you price quote information.
Barbara Stewart – State Farm Insurance Agent
3055 Lebanon Pike #2103 – Nashville, TN 37214 – (615) 391-5300 – View Map
Jordan Drake – State Farm Insurance Agent
345 Harrison St – Nashville, TN 37219 – (615) 826-1200 – View Map
Phil Hardeman – State Farm Insurance Agent
3708 Nolensville Rd c – Nashville, TN 37211 – (615) 832-0630 – View Map
Choosing the best car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
- Is there a local claims center in Nashville?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Can glass claims be handled at your home?
- Does the agent have a valid license to sell insurance in Tennessee?
Once you have received acceptable answers to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets the requirements to properly insure your vehicles.
Best car insurance company in Tennessee
Insuring your vehicle with a good quality car insurance provider can be challenging considering how many choices drivers have in Tennessee. The information displayed below could help you choose which providers you want to consider comparing prices from.
Top 10 Nashville Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Allstate
- Nationwide
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Liberty Mutual
- American Family
- Esurance
- AAA Insurance
- Titan Insurance
Top 10 Nashville Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- Mercury Insurance
- Travelers
- American Family
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- The Hartford
- Erie Insurance
- Esurance
- The General
Educate yourself about insurance coverages
Knowing the specifics of your policy can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the usual coverages found on most insurance policies.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Echo resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things like backing into a parked car, sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with a tree and damaging your car on a curb. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your Echo to bring the cost down.
Coverage for liability
This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other’s property or people. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 25/50/15 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $15,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage pays for claims like bail bonds, emergency aid, funeral expenses, loss of income and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Tennessee requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/15 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The next chart shows why minimum state limits may not be enough.
Medical payments and PIP coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for bills for rehabilitation expenses, pain medications, nursing services, funeral costs and doctor visits. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/15), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.
Comprehensive auto coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like theft, a broken windshield, hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from flooding. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Don’t give up on affordable coverage
More affordable auto insurance in Nashville is possible online and from local agencies, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
How to find cheaper quotes for Toyota Echo insurance in Nashville
The most effective way to get more affordable car insurance rates in Nashville is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers in Tennessee. Rate comparisons can be done by following these guidelines.
Step 1: Try to learn about how companies price auto insurance and the things you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that drive up the price such as traffic violations, accidents, and a poor credit rating can be eliminated by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
Step 2: Request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only provide price estimates from one company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes for many different companies. Compare rates now
Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and see if you can save money. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Tell your current agent or company of your intent to cancel your current coverage and submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application for the new coverage. As soon as coverage is bound, safely store the proof of insurance paperwork in an accessible location in your vehicle.
One key aspect when comparing rates is to use similar deductibles and liability limits on every price quote and and to compare every company you can. This ensures an accurate price comparison and the best price quote selection.
Much more information about auto insurance in Tennessee can be found at these links:
- Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Explorer in Nashville? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Nashville Auto Insurance for Electric Cars? (FAQ)
- How Much is Nashville Auto Insurance for Safe Drivers? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Good Credit in Nashville? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for Welfare Recipients in Nashville? (FAQ)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- No-Fault Auto Insurance Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)