How Much Does 2012 Toyota Prius Insurance Cost?

Searching for affordable insurance coverage over the internet may be difficult for vehicle owners new to quoting and comparison shopping over the internet. With dozens of companies, how are vehicle owners expected to possibly compare every insurance coverage company to find the cheapest available price?

You may qualify for discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following list contains both well-publicized and the harder-to-find credits that you can use to lower your rates. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Life Insurance Discount – Select car insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance.
  • Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Military Rewards – Being deployed in the military can result in better premium rates.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off the PIP or medical payment premium.
  • ABS Brakes – Cars and trucks with ABS and/or traction control have fewer accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.
  • Mature Driver Discount – Seniors could receive a discount up to 10% on Prius insurance.

A quick disclaimer, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

Companies and a partial list of their discounts can be read below.

  • GEICO may offer discounts for anti-theft, seat belt use, emergency military deployment, driver training, and air bags.
  • SAFECO may include discounts for bundle discounts, accident prevention training, homeowner, anti-theft, multi-car, safe driver, and drive less.
  • State Farm may have discounts that include passive restraint, student away at school, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, defensive driving training, multiple policy, and accident-free.
  • MetLife offers discounts including good student, defensive driver, good driver, accident-free, claim-free, multi-policy
  • 21st Century has savings for driver training, anti-lock brakes, teen driver, air bags, automatic seat belts, good student, and student driver.
  • Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including good student, multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.

If you need cheap insurance quotes, ask every prospective company how you can save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in your area.

How to lower your insurance rates

Lots of things are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Most are fairly basic like your driving record, but other factors are less obvious such as your marital status or your vehicle rating.

The itemized list below are just a few of the factors used by insurance companies to determine your rate level.

  • Cars with good safety ratings means better insurance coverage rates – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to be cheaper to insure. These vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries means less money paid by your insurance company which can mean better rates for you.
  • Low stress employer equals lower prices – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupational choices like doctorsair traffic controllers and medical professionals have higher rates than average attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and retirees pay the least on Prius insurance.
  • Good drivers pay less – How you drive has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Having just one speeding ticket or other violation could increase your next policy renewal substantially. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance as compared to those with violations. Drivers unfortunate enough to have license-revoking violations such as DUI, reckless driving or excessive speeding may find that they have to to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Your liability limits – The liability coverage on your policy will provide protection in the event that you are found to be at fault for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. It provides legal defense coverage to attempt to prove you were not liable. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so insureds should have plenty of protection for their assets.
  • Save miles and save money – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more it will cost to insure it. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Improper usage on your Prius can cost quite a bit. It’s a smart idea to ensure your insurance coverage policy is showing the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Keep claims to a minimum – Car insurance companies generally give lower rates to insureds who only file infrequent claims. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher premiums or even policy non-renewal. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
  • Younger driver insurance prices – Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents , and are generally more financially stable.Teen drivers are proven to be inattentive when behind the wheel therefore insurance coverage rates are much higher.

There’s no such thing as the perfect insurance coverage policy

When it comes to buying coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • I have a DUI can I still get coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
  • If my 2012 Toyota Prius is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
  • Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount?
  • What discounts do I qualify for?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
  • Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Is there truth in advertising?

Popular insurance coverage providers such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive consistently run ads on television and other media. All the ads make the point that people will save if you move to them. How can each company give you a better price? It’s all in how they say it.

Insurance coverage companies require specific criteria for the type of driver that will generate a profit. For example, a profitable customer should be over the age of 50, has never had a policy lapse, and insures a new vehicle. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” receive the lowest rate quotes and will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who cannot meet this ideal profile will have to pay more expensive rates which translates to business going elsewhere. If you listen closely, the ads state “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can make those statements. Each company has different criteria, so drivers should get price quotes at each policy renewal. You cannot predict which insurance coverage company will have the lowest rate quotes.

Insurance coverage basics

Understanding the coverages of a insurance policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims like backing into a parked car, scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, driving through your garage door and hitting a mailbox. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family and damage to your 2012 Toyota Prius.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required, it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Liability auto insurance – Liability insurance provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for claims such as loss of income, funeral expenses, legal defense fees and medical services. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as nursing services, funeral costs, prosthetic devices, EMT expenses and pain medications. They are utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive auto coverage – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like hail damage, hitting a deer, rock chips in glass and a broken windshield. The most your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Power to the consumer

We just presented some good ideas how you can lower your 2012 Toyota Prius insurance auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote insurance, the better likelihood of getting low cost insurance. You may be surprised to find that the lowest auto insurance rates are with a lesser-known regional company.

Budget-friendly car insurance can be purchased both online and from local agencies, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers may not offer rate quotes online and usually these smaller providers sell through independent agents.

Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, policy non-renewal, being labeled a high risk driver or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is actually quite simple.

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