Shoppers have options when shopping for affordable Toyota Prius V insurance. They can either waste time driving around to compare prices or leverage the internet to make rate comparisons. There is a right way and a wrong way to shop for auto insurance and we’ll show you the absolute fastest way to get price quotes for a new or used Toyota and get the best price possible.
It’s a great practice to compare prices occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates change regularly. If you had the best price on Prius V coverage on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the internet, so I’m going to show you a lot of great tips on how to stop overpaying for insurance.
Free Quotes for Auto Insurance
There are a variety of methods to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is less time-consuming than others. You can spend countless hours discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.
The majority of car insurance companies belong to an insurance system where insurance shoppers submit one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes. This eliminates the need for quote requests to every company. To compare rates using this form now click here to start a free quote.
One minor caviat to using this type of system is buyers cannot specifically choose the providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to compare, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.
It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits you can’t possibly make a fair comparison for your Toyota Prius V.
Cut your premium with discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
- Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Driver Safety – Taking part in a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates on Prius V coverage than drivers with accidents.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Life Insurance – Some companies give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.
To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates, click here to view.
Car Insurance through a local agent
Certain consumers prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you can get the best rates and still choose a local agent.
After completing this simple form, the quote information is instantly submitted to companies who will give you bids for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!
Picking a company should depend on more than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Insurance agent types
When looking for a good insurance agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Agents are classified as either independent or captive. Either one can do a good job, but it’s good to learn how they are different since it may influence buying decisions.
Captive Agents
This type of agents are contracted to one company such as State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only buy from captive agents mostly because of high brand loyalty and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house without you having to go to a different agency.
When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you include at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. They often place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which may provide better rates.
For a full directory of insurance agencies, click here.
Upon getting positive responses to these questions and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your auto insurance policy.
When should I use an insurance agent?
When buying the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
For instance, these questions might point out if your situation may require specific advice.
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- What happens if I owe more than my Toyota Prius V is worth?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required minimum liability coverage?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Toyota Prius V insurance rates can be determined by these details
Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.
Listed below are some of the items that factor into rates.
- Your car’s features help determine rates – Owning a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can help prevent your car from being stolen.
- Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your Prius V policy. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
- Claim-free discounts can add up – Car insurance companies provide discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Older drivers pay less – Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Young drivers are known to get distracted easily when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
- Always keep insurance in force – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a sure-fire way to pay more for auto insurance. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.
Can you really save that much by switching?
Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim that you can save if you switch to them.
But how can every company make almost identical claims?
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when switching.
Consumers who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you absolutely need to quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Quote more, save more
Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, lack of trust in their agent, delays in responding to claim requests or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.
In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can save on Toyota Prius V insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company.
Lower-priced Toyota Prius V insurance can be found online in addition to many insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.
