Compare 2013 Toyota Prius Insurance Quotes

Trying to find cheaper auto insurance rates for your Toyota Prius? There isn’t anyone who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when it costs too dang much.

There is such a variety of insurance companies to buy insurance from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, more choices can make it harder to compare company pricing.

It’s a great practice to do rate comparisons as often as possible due to the fact that insurance prices change frequently. Just because you found the lowest rates for Prius insurance last year there is a good chance you can find better rate quotes now. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the internet, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some guaranteed methods to stop overpaying for insurance.

Choosing the best insurance company for you is easy if you know what you’re doing. In a nutshell, anyone who is shopping for auto insurance should be able to find lower rates. Nevertheless, drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.

Finding car insurance

Most of the larger companies give prices for coverage from their websites. Comparing rates online is quite easy as all you need to do is type in your required coverages on the page. When complete, their quoting system gets credit information and your driving record and provides a quote based on the information you submitted. Online price quotes streamlines rate comparisons, but having to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s necessary to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for the best price possible.

Quote rates the easy way

A better way to get multiple rate quotes uses just one form that analyzes rates from more than one company. It’s a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes online shopping much easier. After sending the form, your coverage is rated and you can select any or none of the price quotes you receive. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. This process just takes a couple of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

If you want to fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, simply click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you copy deductibles and limits exactly as they are listed on your policy. Doing this guarantees you will get an apples-to-apples comparison using the exact same coverages.

Auto insurance savings promises

Popular auto insurance providers such as Geico, State Farm and Progressive seem to constantly run television, radio, and online ads. All the ads try to convey promises that you can save just by moving your coverage to them. It sounds good, but how can they all cost less than your current company? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies look for specific characteristics for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be over age 30, carries full coverage, and drives a lower-performance vehicle. A propective insured who fits that profile will get low prices and will also save a lot if they switch.

Consumers who are not a match for these criteria may be required to pay more expensive rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. If you pay close attention to the ads, they say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” will save that much if they switch. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you really should compare quotes as often as possible. Because without a comparison, you cannot know which company will provide the lowest prices.

Informed drivers know how to find insurance for less

Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that help calculate your insurance rates. If you have a feel for what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that could help you find lower premium levels. Many things are considered when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but some are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your commute time.

The following are just a few of the factors insurance companies consider when setting your rate level.

  • Never let your insurance lapse – Having an insurance coverage lapse is a guaranteed way to bump up your insurance costs. And not only will your rates increase, getting caught without coverage could earn you fines or a revoked license. You will then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with your state motor vehicle department.
  • Your stress level may be raising your insurance rates – Careers like fire fightersair traffic controllers and medical professionals tend to have the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the flip side, careers like farmers, athletes and retirees pay lower than average rates for Prius insurance.
  • Don’t buy add-on coverages that aren’t used – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t diligent. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage, and Farm Bureau memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when buying your policy, but if you’ve never needed them in the past eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Males pay more for auto insurance – Over the last 30 years, statistics show females are less aggressive when driving. This data doesn’t prove that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both genders have fender benders in similar numbers, but guys get into accidents with more damage. Not only that, but men also have more aggressive citations like DWI (DUI) or reckless driving.
  • Low mileage costs less – The more miles you rack up on your Toyota in a year the more you will pay for insurance. Most companies charge rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Having an incorrect usage rating on your Prius may be costing you higher rates. It’s always a good idea to double check that your insurance policy states annual mileage, because it can save money.
  • Don’t cut corners with liability – Your policy’s liability coverage will provide protection if you are determined to be liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense coverage which can cost a lot. Liability is cheap compared to other policy coverages, so do not skimp.
  • Can a thief steal your car? – Buying a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your premiums. Theft prevention devices like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all help stop car theft.
  • Good credit equals lower prices – An insured’s credit score can be an important factor in determining premium rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit scores. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your 2013 Toyota Prius by repairing your credit.

These discounts can lower your auto insurance quotes

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list all possible discounts very well, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known credits available to bring down your rates.

  • College Student Discount – who are attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
  • Smart Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades can save 20 to 25%. Many companies even apply the discount to college students well after school through age 25.
  • Own a Home and Save – Owning a home may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
  • Clubs and Organizations – Joining a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your next auto insurance statement.
  • Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could qualify for a slight premium decrease for Prius insurance with select insurance companies.
  • Cautious Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less for Prius insurance as compared to drivers with claims.

We need to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any amount of discount should help lower your auto insurance premiums.

Some of the larger companies who may offer these benefits may include but are not limited to:

When getting free insurance coverage quotes, it’s a good idea to every prospective company which discounts you may be entitled to. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not apply in your area. If you would like to see a list of insurers that offer multiple discounts, click here.

Different people need different insurance coverage coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out whether you could use an agent’s help.

  • Is upholstery damage covered by car insurance?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Does coverage extend to Mexico or Canada?
  • Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
  • How do I insure my teen driver?
  • How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
  • What is UM/UIM insurance?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Insurance coverages and their meanings

Learning about specific coverages of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are the usual coverages found on the average insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your 2013 Toyota Prius.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.

Collision insurance

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

Collision insurance covers things like driving through your garage door, crashing into a ditch and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

Insurance for medical payments

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for short-term medical expenses such as hospital visits, rehabilitation expenses and ambulance fees. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision)

Comprehensive insurance covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as a tree branch falling on your vehicle, rock chips in glass, fire damage, a broken windshield and hitting a bird. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Auto liability insurance

This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which stand for 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 insurance covers things such as structural damage, repair costs for stationary objects, legal defense fees, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and court costs. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a personal decision, but consider buying as high a limit as you can afford.

Quote more. Save more.

We just presented a lot of tips how to shop for 2013 Toyota Prius insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest car insurance rates are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies can often provide lower premium rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive.

Cost effective 2013 Toyota Prius insurance is attainable from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should compare rates from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.

More detailed insurance information can be read in these articles: