Hybrids cost insurers more

[Mike Dimmick]

In the UK, the Gen 2 Prius is rated at group 7 out of 20, apart from the top-spec T Spirit model with Nav, Bluetooth, IPA etc, which is group 8. On the new range, all cars are group 7E, which is saying that it would be group 8, but the security is higher than the standard for that group so it's been reduced by one. Lower numbers mean cheaper insurance.

The group does at least partially reflect the purchase (and therefore replacement) cost of the vehicle. The Auris (hatchback Corolla) is anywhere from group 4 to group 7 in the normal range, then there are SR180 and T180 'hot hatch' models equipped with ~180hp 2.2L diesel engines, which are in group 12 and 13 respectively.

The competition (Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia) have at least some models in group 7, but the 2.0L models are generally in group 8. Honda's current Civic seems to have a hole in the range - 1.4L engines are group 4 or 5, then there's a big jump to 1.8L in group 9, 10 or 11 depending on trim (source). Our Civic hatch is quite a bit smaller than the saloon model that the HCH is based on - that is in group 7.

[Evilshin]

From a very cynical point of view: How many insurance companies have their fingers deep in oil? In the old days, insurance companies take your money, bank it and payout when they have to... Now a days, they take your money and put it in some form a direct investment. (ie. equities.) How much of that is in oil companies?

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Evilshin

From a very cynical point of view: How many insurance companies have their fingers deep in oil? In the old days, insurance companies take your money, bank it and payout when they have to... Now a days, they take your money and put it in some form a direct investment. (ie. equities.) How much of that is in oil companies?

With the economic slow-down, there has been a slacking of oil demand and fewer miles driven ... at least for the non-Prius folks. It is likely a lot of gas cars have been retired and taken off of the insurance roles ... saving the owner's insurance premiums. Although we don't need to go into it much, someone who just has unemployment to live on may find the insurance premium ... a budget item of marginal value. Also, there may be a desire by some to sustain their industry by the "gloriously wealthy and not too bright hybrid owners" who seem to be making regular premiums and adding cars. ... Pure, paranoid speculation, of course. ... Couldn't happen and I'm not Richard Belzer (plays detective munch in Law and Order.)

Bob Wilson

ps. Anyone seen my foil hat around here?

[DFWPrius2009]

That's odd. Our new 2009 Prius is $7 a month cheaper to insure than the Corolla it replaced....

[jburns]

Originally Posted by zenMachine

For owners of Toyota's Prius, one of the most common hybrid models, drivers racked up 65% more traffic tickets than their conventional-car peers.

OK that settles it. We need leather jackets and bandannas made available in the Priuschat shop. Time for the Prius Posse to roll!!!!!

[Evilshin]

Originally Posted by DFWPrius2009

That's odd. Our new 2009 Prius is $7 a month cheaper to insure than the Corolla it replaced....

Are you sure that isn't just you getting old?

Seriously, my insurance company for our company van (a chevy lumina) wanted about twice for the prius compared to the lumina. The company that I now insure the prius with wants about 1.5 times more to insure the lumina...

It's all a matter of which insurance company. Without a track record, an insurance company just guesses on much of the math...

[bwilson4web]

They mentioned hybrid drivers doing more "pleasure" driving and I'm reminded:

• lower noise
• less vibration
• reliable
• safe
• excellent A/C and heating
• comfortable seats (for those who like them)
• plenty of space for 'stuff'
• excellent cruise control mileage

I would call this pleasurable driving but "Quality" may have a point.

To end "pleasure" driving, we need to have all cars revert to the past practices of the Big-3 that led to their loss of market share:

• noisy
• vibration
• unreliable
• safe
• poor A/C and heating
• uncomfortable seats (remember having to take stretch breaks)
• poor use of space with awkward or limited access
• mileage was always bad

Perhaps we need to offer to make the "Quality" vehicles 'uncomfortable' so they too will stop "pleasure" driving. Yes, it is time to make their vehicles into human endurance test cells and having many years of Model A Ford driving, I know exactly what is needed. <GRINS>

All seriousness aside, I found this quote in their mission statement:

. . .
The rating information that underlies most insurers’ books of private passenger auto business is substantially flawed. Policy information is often incorrect, outdated, or incomplete. For an industry that prides itself on being able to rate risk accurately, this is a big problem.
. . .

These folks are critics of Insurance companies and near as I can tell, do not underwrite or offer insurance policies. They are a 'gadfly' tilting at those in the business. So part of their business model requires they prove the 'in house guys are wrong' and this report is just another marketing ploy not backed up by publicly available empirical data.

Bob Wilson

[zenMachine]

This "study" looks like another "Hummer greener than Prius" article in disguise. However sadly, it's making its way into the auto blogosphere, as one might expect.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by zenMachine

This "study" looks like another "Hummer greener than Prius" article in disguise. However sadly, it's making its way into the auto blogosphere, as one might expect.

I noticed but some of them just reprint trash and have no clue. If any of my regular sources: GreenCarCongress, Consumer Reports, or Cars.Com echos the story, I'll put in the facts and data. But I don't see any value in dealing with Edmunds and the other anti-hybrid crowd.

This may seem mean and cruel but some people deserve what they pay for. <WINK>

Bob Wilson

[Tech_Guy]

Originally Posted by jburns

OK that settles it. We need leather jackets and bandannas made available in the Priuschat shop. Time for the Prius Posse to roll!!!!!

Where can I get the gun rack option ?

Keith