2018 Toyota Prius Insurance Rates – 6 Tricks for Best Quotes

Want cheaper auto insurance rates for your Toyota Prius? If you are a novice to online auto insurance shopping, it’s easy to be confused thanks to the vast number of local and online companies that all promise to save you money.

If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Pricing the best coverage can be fairly easy. But car owners do need to understand the way insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Buy car insurance online

To find low cost rates, there are a couple of ways to compare quotes from companies that offer car insurance in your state. The best way to find competitive 2018 Toyota Prius insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.

One of the fastest ways to get quotes is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for each price estimate. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes instantly. This is by far the quickest method.

A less efficient way to find better pricing requires a trip to the website of each company and fill out a new quote form. For instance, let’s say you want to see prices from Farmers, Esurance and State Farm. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, which can get rather old. For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

Even if you have time, the least recommended method to comparison shop is to drive around to local insurance agencies. The ability to get quotes online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional guidance that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to find lower rates online and still use a local agent.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage limits with each company. If you have different coverage information it will be nearly impossible to truly determine the lowest rate. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may result in large price differences. And when price shopping your coverage, getting more free quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best price. Not every company allows you to get online price quotes, so it’s necessary to compare prices on coverage from those companies, too.

Tailor your auto insurance coverage to you

When choosing the right insurance coverage, there is no cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different.

For instance, these questions can help discover if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

• Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
• Do I pay less for low miles?
• Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• What happens if I owe more than my 2018 Toyota Prius is worth?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Insurance coverage considerations

Having a good grasp of insurance can help you determine appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits, their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

Medical costs insurance

Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like EMT expenses, X-ray expenses and surgery. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as falling objects, hail damage, theft, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and rock chips in glass. The most a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for liability

Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability insurance covers things such as court costs, repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering, attorney fees and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.

Auto collision coverage

This will pay to fix damage to your Prius caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against claims like crashing into a ditch, colliding with another moving vehicle, damaging your car on a curb and sideswiping another vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.