2012 Toyota Prius Car Insurance Quotes – 9 Tricks for Best Rates

Buying the lowest cost insurance on the web can appear to be rather difficult for consumers that are relatively new to online price comparisons. When there are so many companies competing online, how are consumers able to possibly compare every insurance company to find the cheapest available price?

Smart consumers take time to price shop coverage once or twice a year because rates are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the best premium rates on Prius insurance two years ago a different company probably has better prices today. Ignore everything you know about insurance because you’re about to find out the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Compare free insurance price quotes

Most major insurance companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm allow consumers to get price estimates directly from their websites. Getting online rates is pretty easy because it’s just a matter of typing in as requested by the quote form. Once entered, their quoting system collects your driving and credit reports and returns pricing information.

This streamlines rate comparisons, but the work required to visit several different sites and type in the same information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it’s necessary to get many rate quotes if you want to find better insurance pricing.

The better way to compare rates

The preferred way to find lower prices uses one simple form that obtains quotes from several companies at one time. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes rate comparisons much simpler. As soon as the form is sent, your coverage is rated and you can select your choice of the quotes returned. If you find a better price you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

If you want to compare rates using this form now, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you complete the form with coverages and limits identical to your current policy. Doing this guarantees you will have a price comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Nine discounts for affordable auto insurance rates

Some providers don’t always publicize all available discounts very well, so below is a list a few of the more well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are just wasting money.

Save with More Vehicles Insured – Purchasing coverage when you have multiple cars or trucks on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Good Driver Discounts – Safe drivers could pay up to 40% less on Prius insurance as compared to drivers with claims.
Theft Deterent – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices have a lower chance of being stolen and will qualify for a discount on a car insurance quote.
Full Payment Discount – If you can afford to pay the entire bill as opposed to paying monthly you may have a lower total premium amount.
Early Signing – Select insurance companies give a discount for buying a new policy before your current policy expires. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Include Life Insurance and Save – Auto insurance companies who offer life insurance give a small discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Discount for Home Ownership – Owning a home can save you money since home ownership requires personal responsibility.
Paperless Signup – Many companies give back up to $50 shop car insurance on your computer.
Defensive Driver Discount – Taking part in a defensive driving course is a good idea and can lower rates if you qualify.

One thing to note about discounts is that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.

To find companies with the best auto insurance discounts, click here.

You may need specialized car insurance coverage

When choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different.

For instance, these questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
Are my friends covered when driving my 2012 Toyota Prius?
Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
What are the financial responsibility laws in my state?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
When should I not file a claim?
Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?
What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.

Car insurance coverages explained

Understanding the coverages of a car insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need at the best deductibles and correct limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Auto collision coverage

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Prius from colliding with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for things like hitting a parking meter, damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and backing into a parked car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for bills for rehabilitation expenses, EMT expenses, nursing services and doctor visits. They can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Liability coverages

Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see values of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage protects against things like attorney fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and structural damage. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford.

Comprehensive auto coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like fire damage, a broken windshield, hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from getting keyed. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This coverage provides protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Toyota Prius.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.