How Much Does 2017 Toyota Prius Insurance Cost?

Consumers have many options when looking for low-cost Toyota Prius insurance. They can either spend hours contacting agents to compare prices or utilize the internet to get rate quotes.

There are more efficient ways to find auto insurance online so you’re going to learn the quickest way to get price quotes for a Toyota and obtain the lowest price from both online companies and local agents.

If you have a current insurance policy or need a new policy, you can learn to find better prices and still get good coverage. The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. Drivers just need to understand the proper methods to shop their coverage around online.

Informed consumers can cut insurance costs

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that are used to determine the level of your policy premiums. When consumers understand what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

• Remove unneeded incidental coverages – There are a lot of extra coverages that can add up if you aren’t diligent. Insurance for things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage, and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
• How many miles do you drive? – The more you drive in a year’s time the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies calculate rates based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting can be on a lower rate level compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your declarations sheet states the correct usage for each vehicle. An improperly rated Prius may be costing you.
• Is you vocation costing you more? – Occupational choices like lawyers, executives and stock brokers have the highest rates in part from job stress and long work days. Conversely, careers such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed pay lower than average rates for Prius coverage.
• Never let your insurance policy lapse – Not having insurance is against the law and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance expire. Not only will you pay more, being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
• Gender as a rate factor – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males tend to have higher claims. Men also get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.
• Insurance companies don’t like frequent insurance claims – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies award discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Your car insurance is intended for more catestrophic claims.

More affordable rates with these discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t list the entire discount list in an easy-to-find place, so the list below details a few of the more common and the harder-to-find credits that you can use to lower your rates. If you are not receiving all the discounts you deserve, you are not getting the best rate possible.

• Early Switch Discount – A few insurance coverage companies allow discounts for switching companies before your current expiration date. This discount can save up to 10%.
• Distant Student – Kids who are attending college and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Bundled Policy Discount – If you combine your auto and homeowners policies with one insurance company you will save over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
• Driver’s Education for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class as it will make them better drivers and lower rates.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can get a slight reduction on a car insurance quote for Prius coverage.

As is typical with insurance, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you could get a free insurance coverage policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any amount of discount should definitely cut your policy premiums.

A partial list of companies that possibly offer most of the discounts above possibly include:

• Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• Progressive
• Allstate
• Nationwide
• MetLife

If you are trying to find affordable car insurance quotes, ask all the companies how you can save money. Some discounts may not apply to policies in your area. To locate insurers with discount insurance coverage rates, click this link.

Insurance can be complex

When it comes to choosing coverage, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

• Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in my state?
• Am I covered if my car is in a flood?
• Where can I find high-risk insurance?
• Does my 2017 Toyota Prius need full coverage?
• Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
• When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Is my 2017 Toyota Prius covered for flood damage?
• Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Specific coverage details

Understanding the coverages of insurance aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Comprehensive auto coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like vandalism, hail damage, a broken windshield and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Toyota Prius.

Due to the fact that many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for immediate expenses like pain medications, prosthetic devices and hospital visits. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not available in all states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Coverage for liability – This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 100/300/100 that means you have $100,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use one number which is a combined single limit which combines the three limits into one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers things like court costs, legal defense fees, bail bonds, attorney fees and loss of income. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying higher limits if possible.

Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims such as sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

A penny earned…

Some auto insurance companies do not provide price quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents. Budget-conscious 2017 Toyota Prius insurance can be bought from both online companies and from local agencies, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture.

Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, delays in paying claims, policy cancellation and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

While you’re price shopping online, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.

Much more information about auto insurance can be found at these links:

• Smart Auto Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)
• Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Uninsured Motorists: Threats on the Road (Insurance Information Insitute)
• Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
• Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)