Is It Worth It To Buy A Hybrid SUV
You may have questions about how a hybrid SUV will affect your car insurance rates. Where can you go for car insurance quotes on a hybrid? Is car insurance different for a hybrid? Are your days of cheap car insurance gone once you get a hybrid SUV? Before making your purchase decision and worrying about the effect on your car insurance, know that there are plenty of pros and cons in choosing a hybrid SUV.
The largest positive is that you are using less fuel and lessening your environmental impact even though you're driving a larger vehicle. While spending another $3,000 or $4,000 on a $35,000 to $40,000 vehicle, you should see 6 or 7 mpg better gas mileage with the hybrid SUV. Driving 20,000 miles a year and buying gas at $2.70 a gallon, it will take you five years to recover the initial cost. As long as you have your car for at least five years, you will see the investment returned and know that you are doing something good for the environment. Right now, hybrids are also an image maker. They send the message that you care about the world around you.
However, there are negatives with such a move. A primary disadvantage is cost. You will pay several thousand dollars more for a hybrid SUV. Further, car weight is affected. The vehicle will be heavier due to the battery packs. The next con to consider is registration, some states charge higher rates for registering a hybrid SUV. Repairs may be more costly and more involved. The complex operating system requires trained mechanics for repairs. Additionally, parts become a concern. Parts for repairs are in demand and, therefore, more expensive. Lastly, consider acceleration. Most hybrid SUVs have slower acceleration than non-hybrids.
What effect will owning a hybrid have on your car insurance? Right now, none. But that may change the next time you call for a car insurance quote. Car insurance rates could be changing if a noted trend continues. An analysis by Quality Planning found that individuals with hybrid vehicles drive 25 percent more than people that don't drive hybrids. More time on the road equals more chances for accidents. The analysis also found that hybrid owners also get more traffic tickets on average than non-hybrid owners. The analysis also found that repairs to hybrids after collisions are, on average, 13 percent higher than non-hybrids. So is cheap car insurance a thing of the past for hybrid SUVs? Cars.com doesn't think so. Commenting on the analysis, officials of the site said, "Before we jump to conclusions, let's keep a few things in mind. Hybrid drivers tend to skew toward upper-middle class urban dwellers. People who live in cities tend to accrue more moving violations, and, they likely have the disposable income to take more long-distance trips in their cars."
