It’s a fact that insurance companies don’t want you quoting rates from other companies. People who perform rate comparisons are inclined to switch auto insurance companies because they stand a good chance of finding a more affordable policy premium. A recent survey found that drivers who regularly compared rates saved as much as $850 each year as compared to drivers who never shopped around for better prices.
If finding budget-friendly rates on Toyota Prius V insurance is your intention, then having some insight into the best way to shop and compare insurance premiums can save money and time.
The most effective way to find the cheapest price for auto insurance rates is to start comparing prices yearly from insurers who can sell car insurance in Scottsdale. You can compare rates by following these steps.
Step 1: Try to learn a little about the different coverages in a policy and the things you can change to keep rates low. Many risk factors that result in higher prices like speeding and a negative credit rating can be rectified by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like GEICO or Allstate, while independent agents can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies. Compare rates
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy premium and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Provide notification to your current agent or company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a down payment along with a signed application to the new company. As soon as coverage is bound, place the new certificate verifying coverage in an easily accessible location.
The key thing to know about shopping around is to make sure you enter identical limits and deductibles on each quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. This guarantees a fair price comparison and the best price selection.
Learn How to Lower Your Insurance Rates
A large part of saving on insurance is knowing a few of the rating criteria that come into play when calculating your insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs. Many things are part of the equation when quoting car insurance. Some are obvious such as your driving history, but other criteria are not as apparent like where you live or how safe your car is.
The itemized list below are some of the most rate-impacting factors used by companies to determine your premiums.
- Pay more of a claim out-of-pocket – Deductibles for physical damage state the amount of money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage protection, aka comp and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are rear-ending another vehicle, animal collisions, and having a roll-over accident. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less money you will pay for insurance.
- A coverage lapse is a bad thing – Going without insurance is a guaranteed way to increase your rates. In addition to paying higher premiums, being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a fine, jail time, or a revoked license.
- Tickets and citations cost more than a fine – Only having one chargeable violation may cause rates to rise by twenty percent. Careful drivers pay less for auto insurance compared to bad drivers. People who have multiple citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to complete a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Credit rating impacts rates – Having a bad credit score is likely to be a major factor in calculating your premium rate. Consumers who have very high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with bad credit. So if your credit history is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your Toyota Prius V if you clean up your credit.
- Incidental coverages push up costs – There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your insurance policy. Coverage for things like rental car reimbursement, high-cost glass coverage, and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when deciding what coverages you need, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so remove them from your policy.
- You might want pay the small insurance claims yourself – If you’re an insured who likes to file claims you shouldn’t be surprised to get either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in Arizona award discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is intended for claims that pose a financial burden.
- Premiums are affected by your address – Having an address in a small town may provide you with better prices if you are looking for the lowest rates. Residents of big cities have to deal with much more traffic and more time behind the wheel. Fewer drivers and short commutes means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
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Toyota Prius V insurance loss data – Auto insurance companies take into consideration insurance loss statistics for every vehicle to help calculate a profitable premium rate. Vehicles that have increased claim numbers or amounts will be charged more to insure.
The table below illustrates the actual insurance loss data for Toyota Prius V vehicles. For each policy coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of make, model or trim level, is considered to be 100. Percentage numbers below 100 suggest a better than average loss history, while values over 100 indicate more frequent claims or larger claims.
Auto Insurance Loss Data for Toyota Prius V Models Specific Toyota Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Toyota Prius V Hybrid 94 86 88 88 94 97 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEData Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years
When comparison shopping, quoting more gives you a better chance of getting the best rates.
The companies in the list below can provide quotes in Scottsdale, AZ. To buy the best cheap auto insurance in Scottsdale, we recommend you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Best reasons to buy auto insurance in Arizona
Despite the high insurance cost for a Toyota Prius V in Scottsdale, buying auto insurance is required in Arizona but also provides important benefits.
First, the majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a minimum amount of liability coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Arizona these limits are 15/30/10 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a lien on your vehicle, almost all lenders will require you to have comprehensive coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank will be required to insure your Toyota at a much higher rate and require you to fork over for the expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects both your Toyota Prius V and your assets. It will also cover most medical and hospital costs incurred in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you cause an accident and are sued. If your car is damaged in a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly for liability claims. As of last year, the average driver in Arizona overpays more than $700 annually so it’s important to compare rates at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Discounts mean cheaper rates for Toyota Prius V insurance in Scottsdale
Companies do not advertise all discounts very well, so the list below contains some of the best known and the more hidden credits available to bring down your rates.
- Switch and Save Discount – Some larger companies provide a discount for renewing your policy prior to your current Prius V insurance policy expiring. It could save around 10% when you buy Scottsdale car insurance online.
- Responsible Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than their less cautious counterparts.
- Discount for Multiple Policies – If you can combine your auto and homeowners policy with the same insurance company they may give you a discount of at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Smart Student Discounts – Maintaining excellent grades could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. Most companies allow this discount well after school through age 25.
- Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Memberships – Affiliation with certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when getting a Scottsdale car insurance quote.
While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though you would think you can get free auto insurance, you aren’t that lucky.
Some companies that possibly offer many of the previously listed discounts possibly include:
It’s a good idea to ask every insurance company to give you their best rates. All car insurance discounts might not apply in Scottsdale. To view insurers that offer many of these discounts in Arizona, click this link.
Compare rates but work with a neighborhood Scottsdale auto insurance agent
Many people still prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is the fact that drivers can get cheap car insurance rates and still have a local agent. Buying insurance from local agents is still important in Scottsdale.
After filling out this short form, your information is transmitted to companies in Scottsdale that can give you free Scottsdale car insurance quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t even need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. It’s the lowest rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you need to get a rate quote for a specific company, you would need to visit that company’s website and give them your coverage information.
When searching for a local Scottsdale insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agencies and how they function. Car insurance agents in Scottsdale are either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies often have many company appointments and that is an advantage because they can write policies with an assortment of companies and find the cheapest rate. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, you will want to contact independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which may have better rates.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Scottsdale that may be able to give you competitive price quotes.
- Bennett and Porter Insurance | Wealth Management
3200 N Hayden Rd #310 – Scottsdale, AZ 85251 – (480) 212-1150 – View Map - Jeremy Mueller Insurance Inc
8700 E Pinnacle Peak Rd # 110 – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 515-5223 – View Map - Hartford Insurance Agent
17470 N Pacesetter Way – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 657-2800 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Agents of this type can only write with one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farm Bureau. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so you might not find the best rates. Exclusive agencies are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price. Some consumers prefer to use the same agent partially due to loyalty to the company instead of buying on price only.
Listed below is a list of exclusive agents in Scottsdale that can give you comparison quotes.
- Craig Smith – Farmers Insurance – Scottsdale
9332 E Raintree Dr #140 – Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 657-7906 – View Map - Joe Dufek – State Farm Insurance Agent
5425 E Bell Rd #108 – Scottsdale, AZ 85254 – (602) 493-5300 – View Map - Jim Wurbel – State Farm Insurance Agent
10789 N 90th St Ste 101 – Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 860-1090 – View Map
Choosing the best car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price quote. Get answers to these questions too.
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
- Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
Lower rates by being persistent
As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.
We just presented a lot of tips how to lower your Toyota Prius V insurance car insurance rates in Scottsdale. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding cheaper Scottsdale car insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company.
Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, not issuing a premium refund, lack of trust in their agent and even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is less work than it seems.
Additional detailed information can be found in the articles below:
- Safety Tips for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for Safe Drivers in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Accord in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Lyft Drivers in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Scottsdale Car Insurance for Single Moms? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Scottsdale? (FAQ)
- How to Avoid Staged Accidents (State Farm)
- Vehicle Size and Weight FAQ (iihs.org)