If you want to save the most money, the best way to find low-cost prices for car insurance rates in Pittsburgh is to compare prices annually from insurers who can sell car insurance in Pennsylvania.
First, learn about how insurance companies determine prices and the measures you can control to drop your rates. Many things that drive up the price like at-fault accidents and poor credit rating can be remedied by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Keep reading for additional ideas to find cheap prices and get discounts that may be available to you.
Second, compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
Third, compare the new rates to your existing coverage to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a lower rate and make a switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel the current policy and submit a completed application and payment to your new insurance company. Make sure you place your new proof of insurance certificate in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
An essential thing to point out is to make sure you enter identical deductibles and limits on each price quote and and to look at every company you can. This guarantees a fair price comparison and a complete price analysis.
Shocking but true, nearly 70% of customers have bought auto insurance from the same company for at least four years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never quoted auto insurance rates at all. The average driver in Pennsylvania could pocket 55% a year just by shopping around, but they just don’t understand how easy it is to compare rates online.
There are several ways of comparing price quotes from many available car insurance companies in Pennsylvania. The best way to comparison shop consists of shopping online. Just remember that comparing more quotes increases the chance that you will find more affordable rates.
The companies shown below can provide free rate quotes in Pennsylvania. If you wish to find the best cheap car insurance in Pittsburgh, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Rates and other information
The premium information below highlights estimates of insurance prices for Toyota Rav4 models. Learning a little about how insurance quotes are formulated can help customers make smart choices when purchasing an insurance policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 2WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 Sport 2WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 4WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| RAV4 Sport 4WD | $162 | $294 | $316 | $18 | $94 | $884 | $74 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data represents married male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in specific zip code location which can alter coverage rates substantially.
Deductible comparison
When buying car insurance, a common question is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The comparison tables below may help you to understand the costs and benefits between low and high deductibles. The first rate estimation uses a $250 deductible and the second rate chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 2WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 Sport 2WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 4WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| RAV4 Sport 4WD | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 2WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 Sport 2WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 4WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 Limited 2WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 Limited 4WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| RAV4 Sport 4WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can decrease or increase premiums substantially.
Using the data above, we can ascertain that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $13 more each month or $156 for a full year than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you average more than 19 months between claims, you would save more money if you decide on a higher deductible.
How to determine if a higher deductible is a good idea
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $96 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $83 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $13 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $250): | $250 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $250 / $13 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 19 months |
One important issue to know is that increasing deductibles to lower your rates means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you have a physical damage claim. You must have some money saved in the event you need to pay the higher deductible.
The illustration below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can raise or lower Toyota Rav4 annual premium costs for different age groups. The rates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no other discounts are factored in.
Toyota Rav4 insurance premiums by gender
The chart below shows the comparison of Toyota Rav4 insurance premiums for male and female drivers. The premiums are based on no claims or driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no other discounts are factored in.
Full coverage versus liability-only
The chart below shows the difference between Toyota Rav4 car insurance rates with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The data is based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no definitive formula to drop physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s assume your Toyota Rav4 replacement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $5,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying in excess of $500 a year for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you still have a loan on your vehicle, you have to maintain full coverage in order to prevent your loan from defaulting. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
Car insurance in Pennsylvania serves several purposes
Even though it can be expensive, insuring your vehicle is a good idea for several reasons.
- The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means state laws require specific limits of liability if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Pennsylvania these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Toyota, it’s most likely the lender will require you to have physical damage coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender may insure your Toyota at an extremely high rate and force you to pay for it.
- Insurance protects both your car and your personal assets. It will also pay for most medical and hospital costs incurred in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than cancel out the cost, particularly for liability claims. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver overpays more than $810 a year so compare quotes from several companies at least once a year to ensure rates are competitive.
Verify you’re earning every discount
Companies don’t always publicize every discount available very well, so the following list contains both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.
- Braking Control Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS braking systems or traction control can avoid accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Paper-free Discount – A few larger online companies provide a small discount for completing your application digitally online.
- Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles on your Toyota could qualify for slightly better auto insurance rates than normal.
- College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home to go to college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Discounts for Multiple Vehicles – Insuring all your vehicles on a single policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Military Deployment Discount – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and will qualify for a discount on a Pittsburgh car insurance quote.
- Employee of Federal Government – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may get savings up to 30%.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Passing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and make you a better driver.
You can save money using discounts, but most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between Toyota Rav4 insurance prices with and without some available policy discounts. The premiums are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-car discounts applied.
A few companies that may offer many of the previously listed discounts include:
Before buying, ask all companies you are considering which discounts they offer. Some credits may not be available in Pittsburgh. To locate companies that provide some of the discounts listed above in Pittsburgh, follow this link.
Are auto insurance agents a thing of the past?
A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. A good thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain cheaper prices and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local insurance agents is especially important in Pittsburgh.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance data is emailed to local insurance agents who can give free rate quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to you. You can find lower rates without a big time investment. If you have a need to compare rates from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Shown below is a short list of auto insurance companies in Pittsburgh that are able to give comparison quotes for Toyota Rav4 insurance in Pittsburgh.
- James L Smith Insurance Agency Inc
304 Cochran Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15228 – (800) 701-5909 – View Map - Spodek Insurance Agency, Inc.
4349 Murray Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15217 – (412) 521-8600 – View Map - Feeney Insurance Agency
1350 Old Freeport Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15238 – (412) 963-8850 – View Map - Chad Gregorini – State Farm Insurance Agent
7 Brilliant Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15215 – (412) 784-8855 – View Map
Selecting an provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap quote. A good agent in Pittsburgh will have answers to these questions.
- Can you contact them at any time?
- How are they compensated?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- When do they do a full risk review?
- What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
Auto insurance coverages
Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Comprehensive insurance
This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, fire damage and a broken windshield. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for short-term medical expenses for things like chiropractic care, EMT expenses and X-ray expenses. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Collision protection
Collision insurance pays for damage to your Rav4 caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things like colliding with a tree, crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible on your Rav4 to get cheaper collision coverage.
Liability
This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 15/30/5 that means you have a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Occasionally you may see one limit called combined single limit (CSL) that pays claims from the same limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability can pay for things like medical expenses, legal defense fees and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but buy as much as you can afford. Pennsylvania state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The illustration below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not be high enough to cover claims.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
This protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your Toyota Rav4.
Due to the fact that many Pennsylvania drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Smart shoppers get results
We covered a lot of ways to compare Toyota Rav4 insurance car insurance rates in Pittsburgh. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get premium rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Pittsburgh car insurance quotes. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.
When buying insurance coverage, it’s not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut collision coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford, but do not sacrifice coverage to save money.
Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like an unsatisfactory settlement offer, extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium and even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is easier than you think.
For more information, feel free to visit the articles below:
- Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Toyota Corolla in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Welfare Recipients? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for State Employees in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
- What is Covered by GAP Insurance? (Allstate)