How to Save on Scion tC Insurance in Miami

It’s shocking but over 70% of consumers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for at least the last four years, and virtually 40% of consumers have never taken the time to shop around. With the average auto insurance premium being $1,847, American drivers can cut their rates by 46.5% a year, but they just assume it’s a time-consuming process to save money by comparing rate quotes.

The easiest way to get low-cost auto insurance rates in Miami is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers that sell auto insurance in Florida.

• First, get a basic knowledge of individual coverages and the modifications you can make to lower rates. Many rating criteria that drive up the price such as traffic citations and poor credit can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
• Second, quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive and State Farm, while independent agents can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save some money, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
• Fourth, notify your current company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new carrier. Immediately keep the new proof of insurance paperwork in your glove compartment.

A tip to remember is to use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get rates from every insurance company. This provides an apples-to-apples comparison and many rates to choose from.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save money using these techniques. Choosing the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Miami can be made easier if you know where to look. Nevertheless, Florida drivers can benefit by having an understanding of how the larger insurance companies sell online because rates are impacted by many factors.

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from many available car insurance companies in Florida. The quickest method to find the cheapest Scion tC insurance rates is to jump online and get quotes.

It’s so easy to compare rate quotes online that it replaces the need to physically go to all the different insurance agencies. Quoting Scion tC insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the professional advice of a local agent. Although, it is possible comparison shop online but buy the policy through an agent.

Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes increases your odds of finding more affordable insurance. Not every company allows you to get online rate quotes, so you need to compare price quotes from those companies as well.

The providers in the list below offer free rate quotes in Miami, FL. If you want to find cheap car insurance in Miami, FL, we suggest you get rate quotes from several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Car insurance discounts are available for cheaper rates

Not too many consumers would say car insurance is affordable, but you may find discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but once in a while a discount must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles that have anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Accident-Free Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims are rewarded with significantly better rates on Miami car insurance quote when compared with drivers with a long claim history.
• Theft Deterrent System – Cars and trucks optioned with advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a class that teaches defensive driving techniques is a good idea and can lower rates and also improve your driving technique.
• Switch and Save Discount – Some companies reward drivers for switching policies early. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning your own home or condo can save you money because it is proof that your finances are in order.
• Senior Citizen Rates – Drivers over the age of 55 may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
• Full Payment Discount – By paying your entire bill at once instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
• Multi-line Discount – If the company offers life insurance, you could get lower car insurance rates if you buy life insurance from them.

Please keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

The chart below compares Scion tC insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The costs are based on a male driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, Florida state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-car, safe-driver, homeowner, marriage, and multi-policy discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and a selection of discounts are:

• GEICO policyholders can earn discounts including anti-theft, federal employee, military active duty, defensive driver, daytime running lights, and anti-lock brakes.
• MetLife offers discounts for good student, multi-policy, defensive driver, good driver, accident-free, and claim-free.
• State Farm discounts include good driver, safe vehicle, passive restraint, student away at school, driver’s education, good student, and anti-theft.
• Progressive includes discounts for good student, multi-vehicle, homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-policy, online quote discount, and online signing.
• Mercury Insurance offers premium reductions for good student, multi-car, low natural disaster claims, annual mileage, location of vehicle, good driver, and age of vehicle.
• 21st Century has discounts for anti-lock brakes, 55 and older, teen driver, student driver, good student, and driver training.
• Allstate has savings for premier discount, teenSMART discount, utility vehicle, FullPay discount, and new car.

Double check with each insurance company which credits you are entitled to. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policies in Miami. To find companies that can offer you the previously mentioned discounts in Miami, click this link.

Coverage analysis

The price information shown below highlights estimates of insurance rates for Scion tC models. Learning a little about how insurance premiums are formulated is important to be able to make informed coverage decisions.

Cost estimates assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Rates do not factor in vehicle location which can change premiums considerably.

Policy deductibles

One common question asked by Miami drivers is how high should the physical damage deductibles be. The tables below may aid in understanding the costs and benefits when you choose different coverage deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.

Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can impact rates substantially.

Based on the figures above, using a $250 deductible would cost the average driver about $19 more each month or $228 annually across all Scion tC models than buying the higher $500 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average more than 13 months between claims, you would save money if you elect the higher deductible.

The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can increase or decrease Scion tC insurance premiums for different ages of insureds. The data assumes a married male driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Insurance rates are higher with tickets and accidents

The information below illustrates how violations and accidents can affect Scion tC insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The rate quotes are based on a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Scion tC insurance rates: Men versus women

The information below shows the difference between Scion tC premium costs for male and female drivers. The rate quotes are based on no violations or accidents, full coverage, $500 deductibles, single status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Full coverage or liability only

The example below illustrates the comparison of Scion tC auto insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The rate quotes are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Should you be buying full coverage?

There isn’t a steadfast formula of when to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Scion tC replacement cost is $3,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $2,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

There are some scenarios where buying only liability insurance is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

Local agents and auto insurance

A lot of people prefer to have an agent’s advice and doing so can bring peace of mind The biggest benefit of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheaper prices but also keep your business local. And providing support for local agencies is especially important in Miami.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to participating agents in Miami who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to even leave your home since rate quotes are delivered immediately to you. Get lower rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If for some reason you want to compare prices from a specific insurance company, you just need to go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.

When finding a local insurance agency, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agents in Miami can be classified as either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Independent Insurance Agents

Agents that choose to be independent are not limited to a single company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with multiple insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to do anything.

If you are trying to find cheaper rates, you definitely need to include rate quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

Shown below is a small list of independent agencies in Miami who may provide free rate quotes.

View more Miami agents

Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents

Agents that choose to be exclusive have only one company to place business with such as Allstate and State Farm. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.

The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Miami that can give you comparison quotes.

View more Miami agents

Finding a good car insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. Any good agent in Miami should know the answers to these questions.

• Where would glass claims be handled in Miami?
• Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
• Does their agency support local causes in Miami?
• Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?
• Does the quote include credit and driving reports?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Do I need special coverages?

When selecting adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. You are unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply.
For example, these questions might point out if you might need professional guidance.

• When would I need rental car insurance?
• What are good deductibles for a Scion tC?
• Is my Scion tC covered if I use it for business?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Florida?
• Is a fancy paint job covered?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• If my car is totaled with they pay enough to replace it?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Insurance coverages 101

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the usual coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and also any damage incurred to your Scion tC.

Due to the fact that many Florida drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 10/20/10), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Normally the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Coverage for medical payments

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, hospital visits and pain medications. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverages

This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hitting a deer, rock chips in glass, fire damage and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for collisions

This will pay to fix damage to your tC caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers things like hitting a parking meter, crashing into a building, hitting a mailbox and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your tC in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Liability

This will cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see liability limits of 10/20/10 that means you have $10,000 bodily injury coverage, $20,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage protects against things such as structural damage, loss of income, attorney fees and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10/20/10 but drivers should carry more coverage.

The next chart shows why buying low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.

Don’t give up on affordable rates

Cheap Scion tC insurance in Miami is possible online in addition to many Miami insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not offer rate quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies prefer to sell through independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost and still be able to protect your assets.

We’ve covered a lot of tips how to lower your Scion tC insurance rates in Miami. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even be surprised to find that the most savings is with the least-expected company. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

Other resources

• How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
• Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for a Ford Fusion in Miami? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Miami Car Insurance Quotes for Government Employees? (FAQ)
• How Much are Miami Auto Insurance Quotes for Seniors? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for Business Use in Miami? (FAQ)
• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• Credit and Insurance Scores (Insurance Information Institute)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• What does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cover? (Allstate)