Prius Insurance

mine was almost $200 cheaper for the year

 

Do you have any suggestions for carriers? My insurance Company told me it would be HIGHER, which seemed totally opposite what I've heard and seen with other Companies. (My present vehicle is more expensive than my new Prius too, so that was a shock!)

- Matt

 

My AAA Automotive Policy jumped by...

Wait for it...

$1300 annually. Insane. Very upsetting.

I was driving a 2002 Camry before. Now, I'm looking for another carrier. Any bright ideas would be appreciated.

 

Part of the reason that I finally made the leap and got the Prius was because the insurance rate was better than I thought. I called my carrier on a whim to get an quote when I thought that getting a Prius was still just a dream. When I heard the number I said, "I want full coverage, not just liability". She responded, "That is for full coverage". That weekend I ran straight to the dealer.

It's costing me onle $30 a month more for full coverage on my 2006 Prius than it cost me just for liability on my 1988 Nissan Stanza. I'm using State Farm.

 

my ins company gave me a discount for engine disable and anti lock brakes. neither of which i had on my truck.

my rates are high from a bad driving record, every 6 months, my policy has gone down by 2-300. you think $1300 a year was bad??? mine was more than that last year and i have MINIMUM coverage. no collision, no uninsured motorist, etc.

i will be getting a rate quote in two weeks, if its below $1300 a year for collision, i will add it.

 

I'm now with Progressive and paying half of what I was paying with State Farm... that's with identical coverage, as well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Matt Domenici @ Apr 4 2006, 06:13 AM) [snapback]234645[/snapback]</div>

I'm using Allstate for my carrier currently. Here in L.A. my yearly premium is about $1200 for full coverage.

 

I'm with Geico. Paying about $1900 per year with full coverage. I had an at fault accident about 3 years ago tho.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Apr 4 2006, 08:33 AM) [snapback]234701[/snapback]</div>

Mercury: About $1000 per year, full coverage is the cheapest that I have found so far, that will do monthly payments.

Safeco at $550 for the year is the absolute cheapest, but no monthly payments and not sure about thier quality.

 

As seen recently in the news, Travellers insurance is giving a discount to hybrid owners in many states. As soon as I move to one of those states, I plan to call for a quote.

For now, I'm dealing with the increase of about $200 with Geico when I traded my 1996 Volvo for the 2005 Prius (full coverage). The only new safety features I got in the Prius were the side-curtain airbags and VSC.

 

I traded a 2005 Scion TC for my 2006 Prius...kept the same coverage and the price went up 1 cent.

 

I went from a 1992 Camry that was broken into twice. With the same coverage, the Prius will come out about $20 more each month.

 

While it is nice to hear what people in various places are paying -- the numbers are meaningless as insurance rates vary greatly by state. You could probably insure a $100,000 car cheaper in ND than you can insure a Prius in NJ. Rates can also vary greatly by city versus farm area in a given state. Rates are based on exposure.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(heliotropehead @ Apr 4 2006, 07:24 AM) [snapback]234697[/snapback]</div>

May be identical numbers, but insurance is worthless if they don't pay out. Some companies charge less, and then fight you tooth and nail when you have a claim.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marjflowers @ Apr 4 2006, 05:54 AM) [snapback]234639[/snapback]</div>

I'm guessing it's due to theft risk. The Prius is harder to steal, and less in demand for parts. A thief who steals a Prius to sell whole, would have to replace the computer in order to have working keyfobs (unless he can steal an original fob with the car), and if he plans to ship the car to Mexico to sell, the market is essentially non-existent because there are no dealers set up to service it there.

My rates went up, but that's because my old car was an '89 Civic, too old to be worth much.

 

In The Netherlands (Europe) I got an ever better suprise. I was looking into insurrances when a car magazine came in with very good news. One insurance company is giving 15% extra off on Hybrid vehicles. That's because, in The Netherlands don't know if it's also true in the rest of the world, most Prius owners are people between 40 and 60 years and they drive without doing to much damage so they figured that this group of drivers has to get the 15% extra off.
For me it's extra nice as I am 28 and I do not get extra money off for non-claiming years (that's because I only just got my license). Because that insurance company is a lot cheaper in the first place then most I can keept the 400 euro's I would normally pay more with other insurance companies.
I think the 15% off has also to do with the fact that stealing a Prius would be pointless as Daniel said.
And about breaking in: just do not leave anything in the car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(heliotropehead @ Apr 4 2006, 08:24 AM) [snapback]234697[/snapback]</div>

I was paying $1300 for 6 months with Progressive but I switched to Esurance and now pay about $950 for 6 months for the same coverage. I'm 23 with a clean driving record, only 2 more years to go before I can get cheap insurance.

 

If you belong to Costco, then the least expensive insurance is through the Costco/Ameriprise insurance program. They were at least $200/year less then all of the others you guys have mentioned. They are pretty picky though, and I think you have to have a pretty clean record. Also, if their home insurance is great...and you get a better discount if you sign up for both. You have to be a Costco member though. Phone number is 888-404-5365.

 

I have USAA and switching from my 2004 Accord EX V6 to my 06 prius was about $60 a year more expensive (Total of $660/year, $500 deductable collision, 250 comp).