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Insurance for my Prius is more than my BMW!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by priusenvious1, Jan 12, 2013.

  1. priusenvious1

    priusenvious1 Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Advanced
    I have a 2012 Prius Plug in. Before this, I had a 2006 BMW 330i. The premium on the BMW was about 450 for 6 months and now the PIP is about $750.

    This may be a stupid question but I don't know much about how car insurance works -is it simply because the BMW is old? I can't think of any other reason.

    The Prius is slower (less accident prone?), less likely to get stolen and cheaper in terms of new car value.

    I'll start a separate thread asking how much people are paying for their insurance to see if there are cheaper/better companies out there. I'm using Geico.
     
  2. Vas25tl

    Vas25tl Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    It's because the BMW is older and is worth less than your Prii. My Prius is more expensive to insure than my 2004 Lexus GS430 was.
     
    priusenvious1 likes this.
  3. Bob Hahn

    Bob Hahn Wingman08

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Jacksonville, Fl
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I pay more for my 2013 Prius than what I did on my 09 RAV4 -6 with all wheel drive. Exact deductibles and coverage. It's ridicules!
     
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    It's actually based on repair costs judged by the insurance institute that specializes in crashing and repairing cars. The high costs may still be influenced by the GII which had the thermos "in harms way" and unprotected, causing minor front end collisions to be expensive. To understand further we'd have to find out what is damaged on a GIII in a "minor" front end collisions. For example, the radar unit on vehicles equipped with radar cruise control and the pre-collision system.
    You will also find SUVs are expensive. Probably because they are heavy, and that weight drives them further into other vehicles, causing more damage.
     
    F8L likes this.
  5. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    If you compare the breakdown of the premiums for the 2 cars, I suspect you'll see collision & comprehensive higher for the Prius (newer car, higher value), and perhaps lower for the liability related items.
     
  6. NinnJinn

    NinnJinn Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My State Farm agent said pretty much the above, while adding that more prius type cars are totaled due to the liability issues and more things have to be repaired on prius like vehicles.

    Although the info is outdated, (spoke to him about it 4-5yrs ago) Back when I spoke to him, his company was totaling roughly 60-65% of prius that had been in accidents.



    And for what its worth, I pay roughly $80 more/6months on my 02 prius than my wife's 04 camry fully loaded with leather! Same coverage with deduct, clean records etc. Only difference besides the cars, She is 29 and I am 37
     
  7. Me Here

    Me Here Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I have progressive and pay $558 / 6 months, for myself and better half on the same policy. 25/50/25 with 500 deductibles. I'm 28 and my better half 25. No at fault accidents or tickets on our records. We don't have roadside or rental with progressive, opted to get those 2 things with the car as an extra bundle.
     
  8. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Vehicle:
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    I had a 2006 325i on Geico. Switched to a 2012 Prius same coverage and my policy lowered $3 per month.
     
  9. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Adding our Prius to our other 2 cars was only $50 a month more with USAA.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

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    The value of your new PiP is higher than your BMW. In addition, your BMW isn't old enough that its insurance rates are starting to increase (because the insurance company thinks that repairs vs. value gap will shrink and eventually a car is old enough that it's more expensive to insure than a new cheap car).

    Ask around and see if any insurance companies offer "green" discounts for insuring a hybrid. Mine does (Canada)
     
  11. Miata Racer

    Miata Racer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2012
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    Location:
    St. Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Our Prius replaced a 2004 Sienna and the rates are about the same.
     
    JMD likes this.
  12. Hoosier1

    Hoosier1 Member

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    Location:
    Southwest Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Paying less than $500 a year, but I live in Indiana. It appears that my rate is great compared to other states. I have a great insurance score and no claims for over 30 years.
     
  13. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    It always makes sense to keep your Insurance company honest and shop around and see how your policy compares to other carriers.
     
  14. itengineer

    itengineer Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2011
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    Location:
    Minneapolis
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Check with Geico. I only pay 286 for a 6 month policy on a 2011 Prius.
    However I pay 875 on a 99 V6 Camry for 6 months mainly because of 3 speeding tickets on the Camry.

    both policies are full comp/collision 100/300 with a 200 deductible.
     
  15. KKirk

    KKirk Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    III
    progressive wanted more to insure my prius 3 than the wife's 2011 lincoln MKX. In total for those, plus a 2006 tundra and an old 1994 ranger, they wanted 1050/6 months. I shopped around and progressive was actually the 2nd cheapest, Geico beat progressive by 200. State Farm came in last at 2700 for six months, wth were they thinking. No tickets, no accidents besides a deer strike 3 years ago.
     
  16. Neohybrid

    Neohybrid Not-so-junior member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
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    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Mine increased about $50 every six months - traded the 05 Beetle convertible in on the 2012 Prius. Been with State Farm for 40 years. Only claim we had was last year when an uninsured motorist hit the gen II in the driver's rear quarter - $3500 in repairs. Not sure if SF got their money back, but I doubt it.

    FYI - Wife and I are both over 55, but we have a 17 year old driver on the policy. She added about $300 every six months to the premium. I also have one of those older cars that is getting more expensive to insure.