1997 Lexus GS 300 Car Insurance Cost – 5 Savings Tips

Are you irritated from scraping nickels together to pay high auto insurance rates every month? You are in the same boat as many other drivers. Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Geico and Progressive promote their brand names with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to ignore the flashy ads and take the time to shop coverage around.

Consumers should take time to compare rates on a regular basis due to the fact that insurance prices are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates for GS 300 coverage two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to learn how to use the internet to lower your annual insurance bill.

How to compare car insurance quotes

Lowering your 1997 Lexus GS 300 car insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. The only thing you need to do is spend a little time comparing price quotes from different insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished by following the guidelines below.

1. The most efficient method to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This method saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will get you price quotes from several companies.
2. A different way to get comparison quotes is to take the time to go to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you need rates from Liberty Mutual, Geico and American Family. You would have to go to every website to enter the same coverage data repeatedly, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

   To view a list of companies in your area, click here.

3. The hardest way to compare price quotes is calling or driving to local insurance agencies. Comparing rate quotes online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the advice and guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, comparison shop online but buy the policy through an agent.

You can choose any of those ways to find more affodable coverage, but make sure you compare equivalent deductibles and coverage limits with each company. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate.

Five discounts for cheaper auto insurance rates

Some insurance providers don’t always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so the next list breaks down some of the best known and the harder-to-find credits that may apply to you.

• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
• Renewal Discounts – Select larger companies give a discount for buying a new policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% for GS 300 coverage with certain companies.
• Theft Deterent – Cars and trucks equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen with less frequency and will qualify for a discount on a auto insurance quote.
• Good Student – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.

As is typical with insurance, most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Despite the appearance that you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your policy premiums.

A list of auto insurance companies and a partial list of their discounts are included below.

• AAA discounts include anti-theft, education and occupation, pay-in-full, good driver, and multi-car.
• Progressive offers discounts including online quote discount, multi-policy, online signing, multi-vehicle, and good student.
• State Farm may have discounts that include driver’s education, good student, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, and good driver.
• Esurance policyholders can earn discounts including online quote, emergency road assistance, multi-car, defensive driver, and DriveSense.
• Nationwide may include discounts for accident-free, defensive driving, good student, easy pay, and Farm Bureau membership.

Before purchasing a policy, check with each company or agent which discounts you qualify for. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policies in your area. To see a list of insurance companies who offer discounts, follow this link.

Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.

• Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
• Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
• Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Do drivers who switch really save $412 a year?

Consumers can’t avoid all the ads that claim the cheapest car insurance rates from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to have a common claim about how much you will save if you get a free auto insurance quote and switch your coverage.

Is it even possible that every company can say the same thing? Just pay attention to how they say it.

Companies have specific characteristics for the driver that will not have excessive claims. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 45, has a clean driving record, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. Anybody that hits that “sweet spot” may get the lowest prices and as a result will probably save money with a new company.

Potential customers who don’t measure up to these criteria may be required to pay a higher rate which usually ends up with the customer buying from someone else. The wording the ads use say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why it’s extremely important to compare quotes as often as possible. Because you never know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Auto insurance coverages 101

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. These are typical coverage types available from auto insurance companies.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important.

Collision protection

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage 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 claims such as sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a deer, falling objects, a broken windshield and hitting a bird. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Medical expense coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for bills like hospital visits, EMT expenses, chiropractic care, funeral costs and X-ray expenses. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to all vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability

Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people in an accident. 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 liability limits of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage protects against things like medical expenses, medical services and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

When getting auto insurance quotes online, it’s not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. The goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest cost while not skimping on critical coverages.

Lower-priced 1997 Lexus GS 300 insurance is definitely available both online and from local agencies, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.

Additional learning opportunities

• How Much Auto Coverage do I Need? (Insurance Information Insitute)
• What is Covered by GAP Insurance? (Allstate)
• Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Five Tips to Save on Auto Insurance (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)