Are you drained from wondering where the money will come from to buy car insurance? You’re in the same situation as millions of other vehicle owners.
It’s a known fact that insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Insureds who compare other prices will, in all likelihood, buy a different policy because of the good chance of finding a more affordable policy. A recent study showed that drivers who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved on average $3,500 over four years compared to other drivers who never shopped around.
If finding discount rates on car insurance is your ultimate goal, then having some insight into how to get rate quotes and compare insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
Lots of auto insurance companies contend for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest cost out there.
When comparing auto insurance rates, know that more quotes will enable you to find a lower rate than you’re paying now.
The companies in the list below have been selected to offer price comparisons in Orlando, FL. To locate cheap car insurance in FL, we suggest you visit several of them to get the best price comparison.
Auto insurance analysis for a Lexus GS 350
The premium table below outlines different coverage costs for Lexus GS 350 models. Having a better idea how auto insurance prices are figured is important for drivers to make smart choices when comparing insurance quotes.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 350 | $320 | $582 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,394 | $116 |
GS 350 AWD | $352 | $658 | $362 | $22 | $108 | $1,502 | $125 |
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Cost estimates assume married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in specific Orlando garaging location which can decrease or increase coverage rates noticeably.
Choosing deductibles
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The tables below may help you to understand the rate fluctuation when you buy lower versus higher deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second rate table uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 350 | $406 | $736 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,647 | $137 |
GS 350 AWD | $446 | $834 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,785 | $149 |
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Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS 350 | $250 | $464 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,194 | $100 |
GS 350 AWD | $276 | $524 | $354 | $20 | $106 | $1,280 | $107 |
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Price data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can change premiums significantly.
Using the premium rates above, we can conclude that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $39 more each month or $468 each year than buying 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 normally go at least 19 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you choose a higher deductible.
How to calculate if a higher deductible is a good decision
Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $143 |
Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $104 |
Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $39 |
Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $39 |
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 of your own money when you have to file a claim. It will be required that you have enough disposable savings in the event you have to pay the higher deductible.
Auto insurance cost for men versus women in Orlando
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Lexus GS 350 insurance rates for male and female drivers. The costs are based on no claims or driving citations, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Should you buy full coverage?
The diagram below shows the difference between Lexus GS 350 insurance premiums with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The data is based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
When to drop comp and collision
There isn’t a steadfast formula to exclude physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it might be time to buy liability only.
For example, let’s say your Lexus GS 350 book value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $4,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $400 annually for full coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are a few cases where eliminating full coverage is not advised. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Do you qualify for discounts?
Auto insurance companies don’t always list all available discounts very clearly, so the next list breaks down a few of the more well known and also the more inconspicuous discounts that you can inquire about if you buy Orlando auto insurance online.
- Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Sign Early and Save – Some larger companies reward drivers for buying a policy early. Ten percent is about the average savings.
- Telematics Data – Drivers who elect to allow driving data submission to monitor vehicle usage by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate might get better premium rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Passing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down on your Lexus could qualify for lower prices on the low mileage vehicles.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
- Distant College Student Discount – College-age children who live away from home at college without a vehicle on campus may be insured at a cheaper rate.
- Full Payment Discount – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying in monthly installments you can avoid the installment charge.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
As is typical with insurance, some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like you could get a free insurance policy, you aren’t that lucky.
The chart below visualizes the comparison of Lexus GS 350 insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the rates. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, no violations or claims, Florida 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 homeowner, multi-car, marriage, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy discounts applied.
Insurance companies that may offer most of the discounts above may include but are not limited to:
When quoting, ask each company how you can save money. Some credits might not be available to policyholders everywhere. If you would like to see a list of insurers that offer discounts in Orlando, follow this link.
Three reasons to not skimp on car insurance
Even though Orlando GS 350 insurance rates can get expensive, paying for car insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
- The majority of states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to carry specific minimum amounts of liability coverage if you drive a vehicle. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you have a loan on your Lexus GS 350, almost all lenders will have a requirement that you buy insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the lender will be forced to insure your Lexus at an extremely high rate and require you to fork over the higher premium.
- Insurance safeguards not only your car but also your assets. It will also pay for many types of medical costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If you have damage to your Lexus as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. Unknowingly, the average driver overpays as much as $865 each year so you should quote and compare rates each time the policy renews to ensure rates are competitive.
How to find a good Orlando car insurance company
Ending up with a highly-rated insurance company can be rather challenging considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Orlando. The company information listed below can help you decide which insurers to look at purchasing a policy from.
Top 10 Orlando Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value
- Mercury Insurance
- Travelers
- American Family
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- The Hartford
- The General
- 21st Century
- Esurance
Top 10 Orlando Car Insurance Companies Overall
- Travelers
- USAA
- Mercury Insurance
- AAA Insurance
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- The Hartford
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
Your situation helps dictate your coverage
Always keep in mind that when comparing your policy, there is no one-size-fits-all type of policy. Your needs are unique to you and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply.
For example, these questions might help in determining whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- How long can I keep a teen driver on my policy?
- Do I have ACV or replacement cost coverage?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- How do I insure my teen driver?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Lexus GS 350 is totaled?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Are auto insurance agents a thing of the past?
Some consumers still prefer to go talk to an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. An additional benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local. Buying from small agencies is important particularly in Orlando.
Once you complete this short form, your coverage information is submitted to insurance agents in Orlando who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact an agency due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. You can get cheaper insurance rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you have a need to compare rates from one company in particular, just go to their quote page and complete a quote there.
If you need to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, it can be helpful to understand the types of agencies and how they operate. Insurance agents in Orlando may be either exclusive or independent.
Independent Insurance Agencies
Independent agents are not employed by one company so they can quote policies through many different insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If they quote lower rates, they simply move the coverage in-house and you stay with the same agent. If you are comparing rate quotes, you will want to include rate quotes from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.
Shown below is a small list of independent agents in Orlando that can possibly get you competitive price quotes.
State and Co Insurance Agency
605 E Robinson St #450 – Orlando, FL 32801 – (407) 334-7505 – View Map
Collins Insurance Agency, Inc.
522 E Colonial Dr – Orlando, FL 32803 – (407) 423-8345 – View Map
J Meyers Insurance Agency
5003 Old Cheney Hwy – Orlando, FL 32807 – (407) 273-0230 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These type of agents can only place business with one company like American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. They are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so keep that in mind. These agents receive a lot of sales training on the products they sell which can be an advantage.
The following is a short list of exclusive insurance agencies in Orlando that are able to give rate quotes.
Chris Vella – State Farm Insurance Agent
992 N Semoran Blvd – Orlando, FL 32807 – (407) 898-8836 – View Map
Leigh DelVesco – State Farm Insurance Agent
3806 Edgewater Dr – Orlando, FL 32804 – (407) 290-8544 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Amy Rossi
901 N Mills Ave – Orlando, FL 32803 – (407) 843-3333 – View Map
Finding the right insurance agency requires more thought than just a low price. Any agent in Orlando should have no problem answering these questions:
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Can you contact them at any time?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Will they give you a referral list?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
- Where would your vehicle be repaired?
- Where are claims handled?
After receiving satisfactory answers to any questions you may have as well as an affordable premium quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that is professional and can insure your vehicles.