The words “economical” and “insurance” really should not be used together, in particular when looking for the cheapest auto insurance for hybrid vehicles. To save some money, let’s teach you a few of the factors that determine insurance premiums, and figure out some ways to lower the price of your next policy.
For hybrids, one of the largest factors that are used to help calculate the cost of insurance is where you keep your vehicle in Houston. Areas with more people or more claims tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The next table shows the most expensive places in Texas for hybrid vehicles to buy auto insurance in. Houston is ranked #3 with an annual cost of $1,909 for the average insurance policy, which is about $159 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $1,936 |
| 2 | Brownsville | $1,927 |
| 3 | Houston | $1,909 |
| 4 | Laredo | $1,907 |
| 5 | Dallas | $1,893 |
| 6 | Garland | $1,796 |
| 7 | Amarillo | $1,786 |
| 8 | Mesquite | $1,753 |
| 9 | Pasadena | $1,740 |
| 10 | Grand Prairie | $1,740 |
| 11 | San Antonio | $1,739 |
| 12 | Irving | $1,736 |
| 13 | Beaumont | $1,720 |
| 14 | Lubbock | $1,716 |
| 15 | Carrollton | $1,664 |
| 16 | Arlington | $1,642 |
| 17 | El Paso | $1,632 |
| 18 | Fort Worth | $1,621 |
| 19 | Austin | $1,610 |
| 20 | Corpus Christi | $1,588 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Rate quotes are estimated as specific Houston garaging address can lower or raise prices greatly.
The car, truck, or SUV you are seeking coverage for is a large factor when comparison shopping for low-priced car insurance for hybrid vehicles. Vehicles with lower performance, a plethora of safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost much less to insure than adrenaline junky models.
The table below features car insurance costs for a selection of the most economical automobiles to insure.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,203 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,333 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $1,395 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $1,408 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LT 2WD | $1,423 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $1,450 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $1,458 |
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,477 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,512 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $1,517 |
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $1,525 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab 4WD | $1,534 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $1,525 |
| Start a Quote Go | |
Premium data assumes single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Texas minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in Houston, TX location which can influence auto insurance rates greatly.
Based on these rates, cars like the Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Impala, Volkswagen Jetta, and Chevrolet Equinox are most likely to be the less-costly vehicles to insure for hybrids.
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible can impact insurance costs when researching cheap insurance for hybrid vehicles. The data is based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could reduce rates by $358 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $540 by using a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the 20-year-old example, could possibly save as much as $1,206 every year by using a higher deductible. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it will be required to have additional funds in a savings account to allow you to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense that comes with higher deductibles.
Does full coverage make sense?
Buying cheaper insurance is probably important to most people, and one common way to buy cheaper insurance for hybrid vehicles is to only buy liability coverage. The illustration below shows the difference between insurance rates with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The rates are based on no claims or violations, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
If all age groups are averaged, physical damage coverage costs an extra $1,730 per year more than just buying liability insurance. That is a large expense which might make you wonder if buying full coverage is a waste of money. There is no definitive guideline to stop paying for physical damage insurance, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s replacement cost is $9,500 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,500 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $850 annually for full coverage, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.
There are some scenarios where buying only liability insurance is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should keep full coverage.
Shop around and save
Houston insurance rates are influenced by many factors which can substantially change the cost of a policy. Simply having a birthday, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a speeding ticket can cause premium changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than competitors.
Not only that, but insurers change rates as often as every three months in order to maintain liquidity for claims. Higher than normal claim frequency or severity can result in price increases, while lower claims may produce cheaper Houston car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the bar chart below shows which company has the cheapest car insurance in Houston, TX for a 30-year-old male driver with a good driving record, no prior claims, and a high credit rating. When quoting prices based on his current risk profile, Travelers has the lowest car insurance rates in Houston at $1,310 a year. This is $594 less than the average rate paid by Texas drivers of $1,904. USAA, Texas Farm Bureau, Germania Mutual, and Esurance are the remaining best Houston, TX auto insurance companies.
The next chart shows rates after we give the driver in the first example some claims, slightly worse credit, and a couple of points charged on his driving record. Since each auto insurance company has their own guidelines to determine rates, comparing rates could result in a different ranking of the cheapest companies as shown below.
State Farm now has the lowest price in Houston with Mercury, Safe Auto, Nationwide, and USAA completing the list. This example proves why consumers need to take the time to compare many different companies when trying to get cheap insurance quotes for hybrid vehicles.
Prices are influenced by many things and change dramatically, so the lowest-price company the last time you compared rates may now be one of the more expensive options.
The auto insurance agents in Houston shown below are a good start to help you make a decision which auto insurance policy would work best for you, as some people have coverage questions and would like to get some guidance when comparing insurance rates for hybrids. It can be challenging to find the best rates on your own, so insurance agents can give you peace of mind knowing your coverage gives you adequate coverage if you have an accident or claim. To find an auto insurance agency in your neighborhood, click the button at the bottom of the list or click here to compare prices now.
- Brandon Herndon – State Farm Insurance Agent
10103 Fondren Rd #150 – Houston, TX 77096 – (832) 431-4222 - Armando Valdez – State Farm Insurance Agent
12941 North Fwy #608 – Houston, TX 77060 – (281) 537-7890 - Hispanos Insurance Agency
8624 Long Point Rd – Houston, TX 77055 – (713) 827-1277 - Anna Santa Ana – State Farm Insurance Agent
7710 Cherry Park Dr d – Houston, TX 77095 – (281) 550-0333
View more Houston, TX insurance agents
Tips for buying low-cost auto insurance for hybrid vehicles
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some of the recommended money-saving solutions that can help drivers locate more affordable auto insurance.
- Claim-free drivers earn discounts
- Increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles
- Having at-fault accidents will increase rates
- Do not get traffic citations
- Increase your credit score
- Buying home and auto insurance together can earn discounts
- Compare price quotes at least once a year
The last item on the list is incredibly critical, as was stressed in the prior information. Prices charged by auto insurers can change considerably in a year, so don’t hesitate to change insurance companies if a better rate can be found.
Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that dedication is costing a wad of cash every year. It takes less than five minutes to compare rates to find cheaper insurance for hybrid vehicles in Houston.