Save on Toyota Prius Insurance in San Francisco

We don’t have to point out that fact that car insurance companies want to keep you from shopping around. People who get comparison quotes once a year will most likely switch insurance companies because the odds are good of finding coverage at a more affordable price. A recent survey found that drivers who regularly compared rates saved approximately $3,500 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.

If saving the most money on Toyota Prius insurance is your objective, then having some knowledge of how to get free comparison quotes and analyze insurance can make it easier to find better rates.

The preferred way to find low-cost prices for Toyota Prius insurance in San Francisco is to compare quotes once a year from companies who sell auto insurance in California. Drivers can shop around by completing these steps.

1. Try to comprehend policy coverages and the steps you can take to drop your rates. Many rating criteria that result in higher rates such as speeding tickets, accidents and your credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
2. Get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide rate quotes from multiple companies. View companies
3. Compare the price quotes to your current policy premium to see if a cheaper rate is available in San Francisco. If you find a better price, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
4. Give notification to your agent or company of your decision to cancel the current policy. Submit any necessary down payment along with the completed application for the new coverage. Immediately put the new certificate of insurance in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.

A key point to remember is to compare similar coverage information on each quote and and to look at as many different companies as possible. Doing this helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.

Four Tips to Get Lower-cost San Francisco Insurance Premiums

Lots of things are taken into consideration when you get your auto insurance bill. Some are pretty understandable like an MVR report, but other factors are more obscure such as your marital status and annual miles driven.

The following are some of the major factors that factor into your rates.

Increase deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers your vehicle from damage. Examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, flood damage, and damage caused by flying debris. Deductibles for physical damage define how much you are required to spend if the claim is covered. The larger the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

Long commutes cost more – The more you drive your Toyota every year the more it will cost to insure it. A lot of companies calculate rates partially by how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that sit idle most of the time can get a lower rate than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle. An improperly rated Prius may be costing you higher rates.

Your location is a factor – Choosing to live in a small town can save you money when trying to find low car insurance rates. People in densely populated areas have more road rage incidents and more time behind the wheel. Fewer people means less chance of accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.

Claim-free discounts can add up – Car insurance companies in California award most affordable rates to people who only file infrequent claims. If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.

Insurance loss probability for a Toyota Prius – Insurers analyze claim trends for every vehicle when they set coverage costs for each model. Vehicles that historically have a trend towards higher claims will have a higher premium rate.

The table below demonstrates the historical loss data for Toyota Prius vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim probability for all vehicles, as an average, equals 100. Values that are below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values over 100 show a trend for more claims or tendency to have higher losses.

Finding a lower price on Toyota Prius insurance can be quick and easy. You just need to spend a little time to compare rates from some recommended companies.

Comparison shopping quotes online is easy and it makes it a waste of time to spend time driving to and from local San Francisco insurance agencies. Buying insurance online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you want the advice and guidance of an agent trained in personal lines coverage. Drivers can price shop online but buy from a local insurance agent.

The companies shown below have been selected to offer comparison quotes in San Francisco, CA. If multiple companies are listed, it’s a good idea that you compare several of them to get the best price comparison.

Rates and statistics

The price information displayed below outlines estimates of insurance premium costs for Toyota Prius models. Understanding how insurance premiums are calculated can assist in making smart choices when purchasing an auto insurance policy.

Prices based on single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Prices do not factor in San Francisco location which can lower or raise price quotes considerably.

Auto insurance deductibles

One common question asked by San Francisco drivers is which comprehensive and collision deductibles to buy. The comparison tables below summarize the rate differences when you select higher and lower physical damage coverage deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 physical damage deductible and the second set of rates uses a $500 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and California minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in specific San Francisco garaging location which can affect premium rates considerably.

Based on the data above, we can derive that using a $100 deductible costs approximately $31 more each month or $372 annually than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have more than 13 months between claim filings, you would save more money if you choose a higher deductible.

Impact of violations and accidents on rates in San Francisco

The illustration below shows how violations and accidents can influence Toyota Prius annual premium costs for different age groups. The rate quotes are based on a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Comparison of auto insurance rates by age and gender

The illustration below shows the difference between Toyota Prius car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The data is based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.

How much more does full coverage cost?

The diagram below compares Toyota Prius auto insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage. The premium estimates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.

When to switch to liability coverage only

There is no set rule that works best for making the decision to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Toyota Prius replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, you would only receive $7,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $700 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

There are some situations where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.

Buying the right vehicle insurance in California is an important decision

Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Toyota Prius in San Francisco, insuring your vehicle may be required and benefits you in several ways.

• The majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy a specific level of liability in order to drive the car legally. 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 you have a loan on your Toyota Prius, most lenders will make it a condition of the loan that you buy full coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you default on your policy, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Toyota for a much higher rate and require you to reimburse them much more than you were paying before.
• Auto insurance preserves not only your Toyota but also your assets. Insurance will also pay for many types of medical costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your Toyota gets damaged, your policy will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.

The benefits of insuring your car greatly outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. The average driver in California is overpaying over $820 a year so compare rate quotes at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.

Score discounts to get cheaper San Francisco car insurance quotes

Some insurers do not list all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden discounts that you can inquire about if you buy San Francisco auto insurance online. If you are not receiving all the discounts available, you are just wasting money.

• Home Ownership Discount – Owning your own home or condo may earn you a small savings since owning and maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
• Membership in Organizations – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on car insurance.
• Discounts for Government Workers – Active or former government employment may qualify for a discount when you quote San Francisco auto insurance with a few car insurance companies.
• Early Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
• Renewal Discounts – Some insurance companies give discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. Ten percent is about the average savings.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Theft Prevention System – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10% off your San Francisco auto insurance quote.
• Multiple Cars – Buying a policy with multiple cars on a single policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Select car insurance companies reward you with better car insurance rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
• E-sign Discounts – Certain insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.

We need to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

The example below visualizes the comparison of Toyota Prius insurance costs with and without discounts. The rate quotes are based on a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, California state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, marriage, multi-car, and multi-policy discounts applied.

Large car insurance companies and a selection of discounts are shown below.

• Mercury Insurance may have discounts that include accident-free, multi-policy, professional/association, good driver, and low natural disaster claims.
• Farmers Insurance offers discounts including electronic funds transfer, good student, early shopping, distant student, youthful driver, and business and professional.
• Farm Bureau may include discounts for renewal discount, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, youthful driver, and good student.
• State Farm has savings for accident-free, safe vehicle, multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, and defensive driving training.
• Allstate offers discounts for FullPay discount, premier discount, early signing, multi-policy, utility vehicle, and defensive driver.
• GEICO offers premium reductions for air bags, military active duty, five-year accident-free, driver training, daytime running lights, emergency military deployment, and anti-lock brakes.

If you are trying to find inexpensive San Francisco auto insurance quotes, ask all companies you are considering to give you their best rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be offered on policies in San Francisco. To locate providers offering car insurance discounts in San Francisco, click here.

Local San Francisco insurance agents and insurance

A lot of people still like to sit down and talk to an agent and that can be a great decision Good insurance agents are trained risk managers and help in the event of a claim. A nice benefit of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still have a local agent. Putting coverage with neighborhood agents is still important in San Francisco.

For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, the quote information gets sent to insurance agents in San Francisco who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. If for some reason you want to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, feel free to go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

Picking the best insurance company is decision based upon more than just the price. Any agent in San Francisco should have no problem answering these questions:

• Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
• Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
• What company holds the largest book of business for them?
• How will an accident affect your rates?
• Is the agent properly licensed in California?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?

A conclusion for your auto insurance search

You just read a lot of techniques to reduce Toyota Prius insurance premium rates online in San Francisco. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding low cost San Francisco auto insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest premium rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These companies may have significantly lower prices on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.

Cheap Toyota Prius insurance in San Francisco is definitely available both online as well as from insurance agents, so you need to quote San Francisco auto insurance with both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies only sell through local independent agents.

To learn more, take a look at the following helpful articles:

• How to Avoid Common Accidents (State Farm)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for Single Moms in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has Cheap San Francisco Auto Insurance Rates for Low Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers Over Age 50 in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Honda Accord in San Francisco? (FAQ)
• Collision Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
• Rental Reimbursement Coverage (Allstate)