Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that about 70% of customers kept buying from the same company for four years or more, and almost half have never compared rate quotes at all. Pittsburgh drivers could cut their rates by almost $700 a year, but they assume it’s a waste of time to find cheaper rates by getting comparison quotes.
The recommended way to find cheaper Lexus GX 460 insurance in Pittsburgh is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from insurance carriers in Pennsylvania. You can shop around by following these steps.
First, learn about the different coverages in a policy and the measures you can take to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price like speeding tickets, accidents and poor credit can be eliminated by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
Second, request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agents can quote rates for many different 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 decide to switch, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
Fourth, tell your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current policy and submit the required down payment along with the signed application for your new coverage. As soon as you receive it, place your new certificate verifying coverage along with the vehicle’s registration papers.
One thing to point out is to try to use the same amount of coverage on every quote and and to look at as many car insurance companies as possible. Doing this ensures an accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
Insurance Cost Influencing Factors
An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that could result in cheaper rates. Multiple criteria are considered when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable like an MVR report, although others are more obscure like where you live or your commute time.
The items below are a few of the “ingredients” auto insurance companies consider when setting your prices.
Don’t skimp on liability protection – A critical coverage on your policy, liability insurance is the coverage that protects you when a court rules you are at fault for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. It is affordable coverage compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
Credit rating impacts premium rates – Having a bad credit history is likely to be a major factor in determining your rates. People that have good credit tend to be better risks to insure than drivers with bad credit. If your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your Lexus GX 460 by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Vehicles with better crash test results save money – Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Vehicles built for safety protect occupants better and fewer injuries means your insurance company pays less and thus lower rates.
Keep policy claims to a minimum – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you shouldn’t be surprised to get increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Insurance companies in Pennsylvania give better rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is designed for more catastrophic claims.
Teen drivers cost more – Older people are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents, and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers have a tendency to be inattentive behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates.
The chart below uses these variables: single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
Theft deterrents save – Selecting a car model with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you some money. Advanced theft deterrents like vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all hinder vehicle theft.
Marriage pays dividends – Being married can get you a discount on auto insurance. It demonstrates that you tend to be more mature and responsible and insurance companies like that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Loss statistics for a Lexus GX 460 – Companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle to help calculate premium rates. Models that historically have a trend towards higher claims will have increased rates.
The table below outlines the actual insurance loss data for Lexus GX 460 vehicles. For each type of coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles averaged together is set at 100. Percentage values below 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while percentages above 100 indicate more frequent losses or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
| Vehicle Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus GX 460 4dr 4WD | 97 | 100 | 125 | 63 | 52 | 63 |
Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
Rates and other information
The data table shown below showcases estimates of insurance premium costs for Lexus GX 460 models. Having a good grasp of how insurance prices are determined can help you make decisions when shopping around.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX 460 4WD 4-Dr | $200 | $390 | $310 | $18 | $92 | $1,010 | $84 |
| GX 460 Premium 4WD 4-Dr | $220 | $390 | $310 | $18 | $92 | $1,030 | $86 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Table data does not factor in vehicle garaging location which can modify premium rates considerably.
Deductible analysis
One frequently asked question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The figures shown below show the rate difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate comparisons uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX 460 4WD 4-Dr | $320 | $582 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,375 | $115 |
| GX 460 Premium 4WD 4-Dr | $352 | $582 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,407 | $117 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX 460 4WD 4-Dr | $198 | $366 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,012 | $84 |
| GX 460 Premium 4WD 4-Dr | $218 | $366 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,032 | $86 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate quotes do not factor in garaging location in Pittsburgh which can change price quotes noticeably.
Based on the above data, using a $250 deductible will cost in the ballpark of $31 more each month or $372 each year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more to file a claim with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to average at a minimum 24 months between claim filings, you would come out ahead if you elect the higher deductible.
The diagram below shows how choosing a deductible and can change Lexus GX 460 premium costs for different age groups of insureds. The premiums are based on a single female driver, full coverage, and no policy discounts are applied.
Gender-based car insurance premiums in Pittsburgh
The illustration below shows the comparison of Lexus GX 460 annual premium costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no claims, a clean driving record, full coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Take advantage of these discounts on Lexus GX 460 insurance in Pittsburgh
Car insurance can cost a lot, but there’s a good chance there are discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain credits will be shown when you complete an application, but some need to be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.
- Active Service Discounts – Having a deployed family member can result in better prices.
- One Accident Forgiven – This isn’t a discount exactly, but certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
- Senior Citizen Rates – Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- No Claim Discounts – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to bad drivers.
- Discount for Low Mileage – Maintaining low annual mileage could be rewarded with lower premium rates on the low mileage vehicles.
- Theft Prevention System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and can earn a small discount on your policy.
Policy discounts save money, but most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.
The information below illustrates the comparison of Lexus GX 460 insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the premium. The price estimates are based on a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, 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-policy, safe-driver, marriage, multi-car, and homeowner discounts applied.
To find insurance companies that offer multiple discounts in Pennsylvania, click this link.
Lower rates by being persistent
We just presented quite a bit of information on how to compare Lexus GX 460 insurance car insurance rates in Pittsburgh. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest car insurance rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Some insurance companies do not provide internet price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies work with independent agents. The cheapest Lexus GX 460 insurance in Pittsburgh is definitely available on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, so you need to compare both to get a complete price analysis.
Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, high rates after DUI convictions, high prices and policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new company is actually quite simple.
Much more information about insurance in Pennsylvania can be read at the links below
- Neck Injury FAQ (iihs.org)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a GMC Sierra in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Drivers Over Age 70 in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Pittsburgh Auto Insurance Quotes for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Single Moms in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Handicapped Drivers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Crash Avoidance Technologies FAQ (iihs.org)
- Coverage Information (Progressive Insurance)
- Things to Know Before you Cancel Insurance (Allstate)
- Distracted Driving Extends Beyond Texting (State Farm)