Save on 2013 Toyota Prius v Insurance Rates

Shopping for affordable car insurance may at first seem to be challenging for people new to comparing rates and buying car insurance online. With so many options of online companies, how can people be able to compare them all to find the cheapest rates?

First Step: Get free insurance quotes

To get the cheapest auto insurance quotes, there a variety of ways to compare rate quotes from lots of insurance companies. By far the easiest way to do a complete rate comparison is to perform an online rate comparison. It’s really quite simple and can be done in several different ways.

  1. The most recommended method to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for every insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will get you price quotes from all major companies. This is by far the quickest method.
  2. A less efficient way to compare prices is spending the time to visit each company’s website and repeat the quote process. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want rates from Auto-Owners, Allstate and Liberty Mutual. You would have to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

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

  3. Even if you have time, the least recommended method to get rate quotes is physically going to local insurance agencies. Quoting online makes this process obsolete unless your situation requires the professional assistance of a local agency. It is possible with some companies get the lowest quotes online and get advice from an agent in your area.

You can choose any of those ways to find more affodable coverage, but make sure you are using equivalent coverage information on every quote. If the quotes have different coverage information it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best. Just a small difference in coverages may result in a large different in cost. Just keep in mind that comparing more rates from different companies helps locate the best price.

Get lower-cost insurance coverage quotes with discounts

Some insurers don’t always publicize every disount available in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden insurance coverage savings.

  • Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could qualify for a slight premium decrease for Prius v insurance with some insurance coverage companies.
  • Driver Training Discounts – Taking part in a course that instructs on driving safety can save you 5% or more and make you a better driver.
  • Senior Discount – Older drivers can possibly qualify for lower premium rates for Prius v insurance.
  • Smart Student Discounts – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Switch and Save Discount – Some larger companies give discounts for signing up before your current coverage expires. You can save around 10% with this discount.
  • Multi-car Discount – Insuring multiple cars with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
  • Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down on your Toyota may enable drivers to earn lower premium rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Own a Home – Being a homeowner can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof of financial responsibility.

It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it’s just not the way it works. But all discounts will lower your policy premiums.

The best insurance coverage companies and some of the discounts are included below.

  • 21st Century offers premium reductions for air bags, student driver, theft prevention, automatic seat belts, and driver training.
  • State Farm may offer discounts for multiple policy, accident-free, defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, passive restraint, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and anti-theft.
  • AAA offers discounts including education and occupation, good driver, good student, AAA membership discount, multi-car, anti-theft, and multi-policy.
  • Liberty Mutual has discounts for good student, safety features, teen driver discount, preferred payment discount, and new move discount.
  • Progressive offers discounts for multi-vehicle, homeowner, online signing, multi-policy, and good student.

If you need lower rates, check with all companies you are considering which discounts you may be entitled to. A few discounts might not be offered in every state. If you would like to see a list of providers who offer discounts, click here.

Good decisions result in lower insurance rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for a few of the rating criteria that play a part in calculating the price you pay for insurance coverage. If you know what impacts premium levels, this allows you to make good choices that could result in better insurance coverage rates.

  • Driving citations can increase premiums – Drivers with clean records get better prices as compared to careless drivers. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost by as much as twenty percent. People who have dangerous tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find that they have to to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state’s licensing department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Where you live is a factor – Choosing to live in smaller towns and rural areas of the country is a positive aspect when it comes to insurance coverage. Less people means reduced accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates. Urban drivers regularly have congested traffic and much longer commute distances. More time behind the wheel means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
  • More policies can equal more savings – Some insurance companies afford lower prices to people who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, consumers should still check prices from other companies to help ensure you have the lowest rates.
  • Bad credit hurts insurance prices – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining premium rates. Insureds with excellent credit tend to be more responsible and file fewer claims than those with worse credit. So if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your 2013 Toyota Prius v by improving your rating.
  • Liability limits should be high – The liability coverage on your policy will provide protection if you are responsible for physical damage or personal injury to other. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. It is affordable coverage as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
  • Age of drivers impacts prices – Inexperience drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible behind the wheel so insurance coverage rates are higher. If you’ve ever had to add a teenage driver onto your insurance coverage can increase premiums substantially. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, cause fewer claims and accidents and are safer drivers.
  • Pay lower costs if you’re married – Getting married may cut your premiums when shopping for insurance coverage. Having a spouse means you’re more mature than a single person and insurance companies like that drivers who are married file infrequent claims.

Tailor your car insurance coverage to you

When it comes to choosing the best car insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

  • Is a fancy paint job covered?
  • Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
  • How does medical payments coverage work?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

The insurance coverage bait and switch

Popular insurance coverage providers such as Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim of big savings if you switch to them. How does each company make the same claim? This is the way they can do it.

Many companies quote their cheapest rates for the type of customer they prefer to insure. For instance, a driver they prefer might be between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has a high credit rating. A customer who matches those parameters gets the lowest prices and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who do not fit this ideal profile will probably have to pay a higher premium which results in the customer not purchasing. The trick is to say “customers who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” can get the lowest rates when switching. That is how insurance companies can lure you into getting a quote. Because of these techniques, drivers should do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the best car insurance rates at this point in time.

Car insurance coverages and their meanings

Having a good grasp of car insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and fire damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This provides protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your Toyota Prius v.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Liability auto insurance

Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Liability coverage has three limits: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show limits of 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000.

Liability coverage pays for things such as attorney fees, court costs and medical expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as chiropractic care, rehabilitation expenses, ambulance fees and X-ray expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision insurance

Collision coverage pays for damage to your Prius v resulting from a collision with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against things like damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox, backing into a parked car and crashing into a building. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Final considerations

When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at the best cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

Consumers switch companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, delays in paying claims, policy cancellation and even unfair underwriting practices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

We covered some good ideas how you can save on 2013 Toyota Prius v insurance. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your premium rates. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company.

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