Cheapest Sacramento Toyota Prius Insurance

Did a good deal turn into overpriced Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento? Trust us, there are lots of people in the same boat.

Shockingly, the vast majority of insurance customers have been with the same company for over three years, and almost 40% of drivers have never quoted rates to find lower-cost coverage. Drivers in Sacramento could save an average of almost $469 each year by just comparing rate quotes, but they don’t understand how simple it is to go online and compare rates.

Many insurers vie for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the cheapest price on Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento.

The majority of larger companies allow you to get coverage price quotes directly from their websites. This process is possible for anyone as all you need to do is type in your coverage preferences into a form. Behind the scenes, their rating system requests your driving record and credit report and returns a price quote determined by many factors. The ability to get online price quotes for Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento helps simplify price comparisons, and it’s necessary to compare as many rates as possible in order to get the lowest possible payments on car insurance.

To find out what other companies charge, compare rates from the companies below. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input the coverage information exactly as they are listed on your policy. This ensures you will have an apples-to-apples comparison for the exact same coverage.

The car insurance companies shown below offer quotes in Sacramento, CA. To find the best cheap auto insurance in CA, it’s a good idea that you click on several of them to find the lowest car insurance rates.

You may qualify for discounts for Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento

Auto insurance companies don’t list all their discounts very well, so the list below contains both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious ways to save on auto insurance.

• Policy Bundle Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may earn nearly 15% which can help you find cheap Prius insurance.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags may get savings of 25 to 30%.
• Government Employee Discount – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction depending on your company.
• Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially compared to policyholders that have many claims.
• Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
• Save with More Vehicles Insured – Insuring multiple cars on a single policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the whole policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you aren’t that lucky.

The chart below shows the difference between Toyota Prius car insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The costs are based on a female driver, no accidents, no driving violations, California state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, safe-driver, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and marriage discounts applied.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in California, follow this link.

Toyota Prius insurance rates and statistics

The rate information shown next showcases estimates of insurance premium costs for Toyota Prius models. Being able to understand how insurance policy premiums are figured can benefit drivers when making informed decisions.

Prices based on married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium amounts do not factor in specific garaging location which can affect rates noticeably.

The information below shows how choosing a deductible and can raise or lower Toyota Prius premium costs for each different age category. The data is based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no other discounts are factored in.

Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations

The illustration below shows how traffic citations and at-fault accidents can impact Toyota Prius auto insurance rates for different insured age categories. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.

Difference between full coverage and liability only rates

The illustration below shows the difference between Toyota Prius annual premium costs with full coverage compared to only the California minimum liability coverage. The premium estimates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $250 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

When to stop paying for full coverage

There is no set guideline of when to stop paying for comp and collision coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

For example, let’s say your Toyota Prius replacement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would receive is $6,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying in excess of $600 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some scenarios where removing full coverage is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.

Exclusive or independent car insurance agents

A lot of people prefer to have an agent’s advice and that is recommended in a lot of cases A good thing about getting free rate quotes online is you may find cheap rate quotes and still have a local agent. Buying from and supporting local insurance agents is still important in Sacramento.

By using this short form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who want to provide quotes for your business. You won’t even need to do any legwork because quoted prices will be sent to you. You can get cheaper insurance rates and an insurance agent to talk to. If you wish to compare rates from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.

When looking for a good insurance agency, it helps to know the two different types of agencies and how they are slightly different. Agencies in Sacramento can be described as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not limited to a single company so they have the ability to put coverage through many companies and potentially find a lower price. If premiums increase, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to switch agencies. If you are comparing rate quotes, you will want to get insurance quotes from several independent agencies so that you can do a thorough price comparison.

Below is a short list of independent agents in Sacramento that may be able to provide comparison quotes.

More Sacramento agents

Exclusive Agencies

Agents of this type can only place business with one company and examples are Allstate, AAA, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm. Exclusive agencies are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. They are well trained on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following are exclusive agents in Sacramento that can give you comparison quotes.

More Sacramento agents

Finding the right insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions you might want to ask.

• Are they actively involved in the community?
• Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
• Which family members are covered?
• Which companies do they recommend if they are an independent agency?
• Are they involved in claim handling?
• Is the coverage adequate for your vehicle?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?

Upon receiving reasonable responses to any questions you have and inexpensive Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento quotes, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that is reputable and can properly insure your vehicles. Keep in mind you have the power to terminate coverage any time you want so don’t think you’re contractually obligated to a specific agent for the full term.

You are unique and your car insurance should be too

When it comes to buying your policy for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions might point out if you would benefit from professional advice.

• Can my babysitter drive my car?
• Do I have newly-acquired coverage?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount?
• Am I covered while delivering pizza?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in California?
• Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
• What is roadside assistance coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Find Toyota Prius Insurance at a Discount

One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the factors that help determine your premiums. If you have a feel for what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this allows you to make educated decisions that could help you find better car insurance rates. Many different elements are part of the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but some are less apparent like where you live or your vehicle rating.

Liability coverage limits on your policy – Your car insurance policy’s liability coverage will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. It is affordable coverage compared to other policy coverages, so do not cut corners here.

Rates increase with policy add-ons – There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying car insurance. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness, and term life insurance could be just wasting money. They may seem like a good idea when discussing your needs, but your needs may have changed so think about removing them and cutting costs.

Lower premiums with theft deterrents – Choosing a vehicle with advanced anti-theft systems can save you some money. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent auto theft.

Your employer can affect premiums – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers such as doctors, social workers, and miners tend to pay higher rates than the rest of us in part from stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, professions such as professors, students and performers have the lowest average rates.

Youthful drivers cost more – Teenage drivers in California are statistically shown to be inattentive when at the wheel of a vehicle therefore car insurance rates are much higher. Having to add a teenage driver onto your car insurance can break the bank. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, cause fewer claims and accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.

The next chart assumes a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.

Lower mileage equals lower premium – Driving a lot of miles in a year the more you’ll pay to insure it. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Autos that are left in the garage receive better premium rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your vehicle rating is showing the correct driver usage, because it can save money. An improperly rated Prius can cost quite a bit.

Higher prices for car insurance lapses – Having a gap between insurance policy dates is a fast way to bump up your car insurance costs. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may result in a revoked license or a big fine. You could then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the California motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Save money with higher deductibles – Comp and collision deductibles are the amount of money you are required to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are a windshield broken by a bird, damage caused by hail, and damage caused by road hazards. The larger the amount you choose to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

Insurance loss data for a Toyota Prius – Insurance companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle to determine a rate that will be profitable for them. Models that the data shows to have higher frequency or amount of claims will have increased rates.

The next table shows the compiled insurance loss statistics for Toyota Prius vehicles. For each coverage type, the statistical loss for all vehicles compiled together is set at 100. Percentage numbers below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values that are above 100 indicate higher probability of having a loss or statistically larger claims.

Best reasons to buy car insurance in California

Despite the high cost, buying car insurance is mandatory in California but it also protects more than you think.

• Almost all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability protection in order to get the vehicle licensed. In California these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
• If your Toyota has a lienholder, more than likely the lender will require you to have physical damage coverage to guarantee payment of the loan. If you do not keep the policy in force, the bank may insure your Toyota at a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
• Car insurance preserves both your Toyota and your personal assets. It will also provide coverage for hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If you have damage to your Toyota as the result of the weather or an accident, your policy will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of having car insurance outweigh the cost, especially for larger claims. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver is overpaying more than $869 every year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.

Frequent quotes can save

Cheap Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento can be found on the web as well as from insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not have internet price quotes and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies.

You just learned some good ideas how to find affordable Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even be surprised to find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

How to find the cheapest rates for Toyota Prius insurance in Sacramento

The best way to find affordable auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices regularly from insurers who can sell car insurance in Sacramento. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.

Step 1: Spend some time learning about how your policy works and the measures you can control to keep rates in check. Many things that drive up the price like multiple speeding tickets and bad credit can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.

Step 2: Quote rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can provide rates from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can give you price quotes for many different companies.

Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your existing coverage and determine if cheaper Prius coverage is available in Sacramento. If you find a lower rate quote and buy the policy, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.

Step 4: Provide proper notification to your current company of your intention to cancel your current coverage and submit payment and a signed application for your new policy. Immediately upon receiving it, keep the new certificate verifying coverage along with the vehicle’s registration papers.

One key aspect when comparing rates is to try to compare identical coverage information on each quote request and and to get prices from every company you can. This enables the most accurate price comparison and the best price quote selection.

Additional insurance information is located below:

• Event Data Recorders FAQ (iihs.org)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Toyota Highlander in Sacramento? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 70 in Sacramento? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for 4×4 Vehicles in Sacramento? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Sacramento Auto Insurance for Teachers? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap Sacramento Auto Insurance Rates for a Learners Permit? (FAQ)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• How to shop for a safer car (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Side airbags reduce rollover fatalities (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Five Mistakes to Avoid (Insurance Information Institute)