It’s an obvious statement that car insurance companies don’t want their policyholders to compare prices. Drivers who shop around for cheaper prices will presumably switch to a new company because of the good chance of finding lower rate quotes. A recent insurance study revealed that consumers who did price comparisons regularly saved about $865 a year compared to people who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the most affordable Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance is why you’re here, then having some insight into how to get free comparison quotes and analyze car insurance can help simplify the process.
If you want to save the most money, the best way to get the cheapest Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance in Oakland is to compare quotes once a year from insurance carriers who can sell car insurance in California.
- Take a few minutes and learn about how car insurance works and the changes you can make to keep rates down. Many risk factors that cause high rates like traffic citations and a poor credit score can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Keep reading for more details to help find cheaper rates and get additional discounts that may have been overlooked.
- Quote rates from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices from multiple sources.
- Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find better rates and switch companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.
- Provide proper notification to your current company of your intent to cancel your current coverage and submit a signed application and payment for your new policy. As soon as you can, safely store the proof of insurance paperwork with your vehicle’s registration.
A key point to remember is that you’ll want to compare identical coverages on each quote and and to analyze as many different companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and the most accurate and complete price analysis.
The following companies are ready to provide comparison quotes in California. If you want the best auto insurance in Oakland, we recommend you click on several of them to get the best price comparison.
These nine discounts can cut Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance rates
Car insurance companies do not list every possible discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts that may be available.
- Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
- Smart Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
- Distant College Student Discount – Older children who live away from home to go to college and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- One Accident Forgiven – This isn’t a discount exactly, but companies like Liberty Mutual, GEICO and Allstate permit an accident without the usual rate increase if your claims history is clear prior to being involved in the accident.
- Save with a New Car – Insuring a vehicle that is new can save up to 30% because newer vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices are stolen with less frequency and can earn a small discount on your policy.
- Defensive Driver – Taking part in a course teaching safe driver skills could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
- Service Members Pay Less – Having an actively deployed family member could be rewarded with lower prices.
- Telematics Discount – People who choose to allow their auto insurance company to study when and where they use their vehicle through the use of a telematics system like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm could possibly reduce rates as long as the data is positive.
You should keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
The chart below shows the comparison of Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the premium. The data assumes a male driver, no violations or accidents, California state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, multi-car, and multi-policy discounts applied.
A few popular companies and the discounts they provide can be read below.
- The Hartford offers discounts including anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, bundle, air bag, good student, and defensive driver.
- American Family includes discounts for good student, mySafetyValet, good driver, bundled insurance, and TimeAway discount.
- Progressive may have discounts that include continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, online signing, and good student.
- Travelers discounts include student away at school, multi-policy, multi-car, driver training, and save driver.
- Farmers Insurance policyholders can earn discounts including electronic funds transfer, alternative fuel, switch companies, homeowner, mature driver, and good student.
- USAA may offer discounts for multi-vehicle, safe driver, vehicle storage, annual mileage, and multi-policy.
- Liberty Mutual has savings for preferred payment discount, new vehicle discount, newly married, new graduate, newly retired, multi-car, and safety features.
It’s a good idea to ask every prospective company the best way to save money. Depending on the company, some discounts might not apply in Oakland. To find auto insurance companies with the best discounts in Oakland, click here.
Toyota FJ Cruiser detailed coverage information
The rate information displayed below outlines estimates of insurance costs for Toyota FJ Cruiser models. Learning as much as possible about how auto insurance policy rates are calculated is important for making informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $306 | $438 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,470 | $123 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $342 | $438 | $534 | $32 | $160 | $1,506 | $126 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can increase or decrease coverage rates greatly.
Analysis of deductible levels
One of the most common auto insurance questions is which deductible level should you buy. The following insurance rates can help illustrate the rate differences when you choose different insurance deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for comp and collision and the second data table uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $386 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,483 | $124 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $430 | $472 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,527 | $127 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ Cruiser 2WD | $238 | $298 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,136 | $95 |
| FJ Cruiser 4WD | $266 | $298 | $442 | $26 | $132 | $1,164 | $97 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can increase or decrease coverage prices substantially.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost you about $30 more each month or $360 each year than opting for the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would pay $750 more to settle a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have more than 25 months between claim filings, you would probably come out ahead if you choose a higher deductible. The table below shows how this decision is made.
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $126 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $96 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $30 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $30 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 25 months |
An important sidenote is that increasing deductibles to save money means you will have to pay more when you have a physical damage claim. You must have some available funds in the event you need to pay the higher deductible in order to repair your vehicle.
Insurance rate increases from tickets or accidents
The example below shows how violations and fender-benders can drive up Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance prices for different age groups. The prices are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $100 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Male drivers compared to female drivers in Oakland
The diagram below visualizes the comparison of Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance prices for male and female drivers. The data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
Insurance agents near you
Certain consumers still prefer to sit down with an agent. Agents will help you protect your assets and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance online is the fact that drivers can get cheap insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local agents is still important in Oakland.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, the quote information is transmitted to participating agents in Oakland that can provide free Oakland auto insurance quotes for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to search for any insurance agencies since rate quotes are delivered to you instantly. If you have a need to get a price quote for a specific company, feel free to find their quoting web page and fill out their quote form.
If you want to buy insurance from a reputable agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agents in Oakland are classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for. Both types can properly insure your vehicles, but it is important to understand how they are different because it can factor into buying decisions.
Independent Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel are not limited to a single company so as a result can place your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If they find a cheaper price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and the insured can keep the same agent.
When comparing rates, you should always get some free quotes from a couple of independent agencies to have the best price comparison. Most independent agents also contract with mutual insurance companies that many times have cheaper rates.
Featured below is a partial list of independent agencies in Oakland that may be able to give you cheap rate quotes.
- Thandi Insurance Brokerage
2859 Mandela Pkwy – Oakland, CA 94608 – (510) 452-1566 – View Map - JCB Insurance Services
6427 Westover Dr – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 336-3490 – View Map - Fred Loya Insurance
1620 High St STE B – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 434-1801 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to provide other company’s prices so keep that in mind. Exclusive agents are usually well trained on what they offer and that enables them to sell even at higher rates. Consumers sometimes choose to use an exclusive agent primarily because of loyalty to the company rather than low rates.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Oakland that can give you price quotes.
- Rich Kirchner – State Farm Insurance Agent
5736 Thornhill Dr Ste 101 – Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 339-9340 – View Map - Jose Cano – State Farm Insurance Agent
3301 E 12th St Suite 113 – Oakland, CA 94601 – (510) 533-8107 – View Map - Jessica Hebert – State Farm Insurance Agent
490 Grand Ave #210 – Oakland, CA 94610 – (510) 653-2900 – View Map
Picking an insurance agent should include more criteria than just a low price. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Does the agent help file claims?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
Why insurance is not optional
Despite the potentially high cost of Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance, maintaining insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
First, just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In California 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.
Second, if your FJ Cruiser has a loan, it’s most likely the lender will make it mandatory that you have physical damage coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Toyota at a significantly higher premium and force you to pay the higher price.
Third, insurance protects both your Toyota FJ Cruiser and your assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, will also pay attorney fees if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If your Toyota gets damaged, collision and comprehensive coverages will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays as much as $869 every year so smart consumers compare quotes once a year at a minimum to save money.
Insurance policy specifics
Understanding the coverages of your insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Coverage for medical payments
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills for pain medications, hospital visits, prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and dental work. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
This coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many California drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5 in California), 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 set the same as your liability limits.
Comprehensive coverages
This coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a bird, hitting a deer, a broken windshield, falling objects and vandalism. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability coverages
This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property that is your fault. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and a limit of $5,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage pays for claims like court costs, emergency aid, medical services and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. California state law requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but drivers should carry higher limits.
The next chart shows why low liability limits may not be adequate.
Coverage for collisions
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your FJ Cruiser caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, crashing into a ditch, crashing into a building, driving through your garage door and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible on your FJ Cruiser in order to get cheaper collision rates.
The lowest rates come from being thorough
Discount Toyota FJ Cruiser insurance in Oakland is available from both online companies as well as from insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller providers work with independent agencies.
When you buy Oakland auto insurance online, don’t be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation, being labeled a high risk driver or even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.
Other learning opportunities
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance for Drivers with Bad Credit? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes for Low Income Drivers in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Oakland Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 21? (FAQ)
- How Much is Car Insurance for Drivers with Accidents in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Rates for a Nissan Rogue in Oakland? (FAQ)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
- Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)