Insurance rates

[MakinDoForNow]

That is a lot of speculation.
It would be bold to assume everyone has a garage. I receive my insurance documents at my PO box, so its not unknown to them. Claims can happen anywhere... If I have a theft from the store, get caught up in a tornado, get T-boned, they are not going to google my address (which they already have) to see if I have a garage or why it wasn't there. That seems dilly.

The term "garaged at" means "the county (or zip code/location) that the vehicle primarily resides at". The vehicle is the insured party. If the declared residence of the vehicle is one the vehicle seldom or never visits then the insurance company could refuse settlements or sue for damages from whomever fraudulently claimed where vehicle "garaged' aka "lived". Is the vehicle registered in the same county that it is "garaged" in?

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[Mudduck]

[QUOTE
The term "garaged at" means "the county (or zip code/location) that the vehicle primarily resides at". The vehicle is the insured party. If the declared residence of the vehicle is one the vehicle seldom or never visits then the insurance company could refuse settlements or sue for damages from whomever fraudulently claimed where vehicle "garaged' aka "lived". Is the vehicle registered in the same county that it is "garaged" in?
[/QUOTE]

Always registered in the same County.

 

[OleFordGuy]

I have no idea. According to a google AI search pasted below (note, I don't put a lot of faith in AI at this point nor much else on the internet being much more than opinions)

Yes, auto insurance for a hybrid truck is generally more expensive than for a traditional gas-powered truck, typically costing between 5% and 15% more. While specific rates vary by model and driver, national data from 2026 suggests hybrid owners may pay roughly $20 to $30 more per month than those with comparable gas-only vehicles.

Why Hybrid Trucks Cost More to Insure

• Higher Vehicle Value: Hybrid trucks typically have a higher initial purchase price than gas models—sometimes up to $3,000 more—which increases the insurer's potential payout for a total loss.
• Specialized Repair Costs: Repairs for hybrids often require specialized parts (like battery packs) and technicians with advanced training, leading to higher labor and material costs.
• Theft Risk: Certain hybrid components, such as catalytic converters, are frequently targeted by thieves because they contain higher amounts of precious metals like rhodium and palladium.
• Increased Mileage: Insurers often find that hybrid owners drive more miles to maximize fuel savings, which statistically increases the risk of an accident.
• Pedestrian Risk: Because hybrids are extremely quiet at low speeds, they have historically been linked to a higher rate of low-speed pedestrian accidents.

Potential for Savings
Despite higher base premiums, you can often offset these costs through:

• Green Vehicle Discounts: Many insurers offer a 5% to 10% discount for eco-friendly vehicles.
• Advanced Safety Features: Many newer hybrid trucks come standard with cutting-edge safety technology that can lead to lower liability rates.
• Lower Maintenance: While insurance is higher, hybrids often require less routine maintenance than gas trucks, potentially balancing your overall ownership costs.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

[QUOTE
The term "garaged at" means "the county (or zip code/location) that the vehicle primarily resides at". The vehicle is the insured party. If the declared residence of the vehicle is one the vehicle seldom or never visits then the insurance company could refuse settlements or sue for damages from whomever fraudulently claimed where vehicle "garaged' aka "lived". Is the vehicle registered in the same county that it is "garaged" in?

Always registered in the same County.
[/QUOTE]
Then you are not one who is "garaging/registering" his vehicle in a cheaper to insure area.

 

[Ken154421]

My rates are higher than I would like them to be, but that seems to be the norm right now. My 24 Lariat Hybrid is the newest of the four vehicles on my policy (16 Escape, 17 GMC Acadia, 20 EcoSport, and my Maverick) and it is the cheapest to insure. I also have the highest annual mileage by a lot, just under 25k a year. No accidents and only a couple of windshield claims over the last five years. I did have to shop around a bit to get a decent rate, but having a teenager and a 21 year old on my policy didn't help my rates any. Auto Insurance is cheaper than my electric bill so I'll take that as a win.

 

[Mudduck]

Always registered in the same County.

Then you are not one who is "garaging/registering" his vehicle in a cheaper to insure area.
[/QUOTE]

I always register in the same county I insure... Its not hard to do, yet seemingly difficult to comprehend.

 

[Raymundo76]

Are people with the hybrid option paying more for their insurance that a non hybrid model. My rate seems to be high for a person 75 years and drive less that 7000 miles a year? May be it is just the new norm.

 

[Raymundo76]

when I turned 75 ( with no tickets and only glass claims) my insurance rates went thru the roof.

 

[MavStangVa]

That is a lot of speculation.
It would be bold to assume everyone has a garage. I receive my insurance documents at my PO box, so its not unknown to them. Claims can happen anywhere... If I have a theft from the store, get caught up in a tornado, get T-boned, they are not going to google my address (which they already have) to see if I have a garage or why it wasn't there. That seems dilly.

Here is why it matters in my area. I know someone who claimed his vehicles were "garaged" in a lower personal property location next door neighbor), also for insurance rates which were lower. He was charged with tax and insurance fraud when they caught him.

Key Aspects of "Garaged" in Virginia:

• Tax Jurisdiction: The locality where a vehicle is garaged is responsible for taxing it.
• Definition: Under Va. Code § 58.1-3511 A, it is where the vehicle is "normally garaged, docked, or parked".
• Exceptions: Casual, temporary presence in a location does not establish a garage jurisdiction.

 

[dochawk]

Your credit score also affects the premium $$

a couple of decades ago, the Texas legislature was poised to ban the use of credit scores when setting rates.

In a moment of rationality that we don't expect from legislatures, they postponed so that a study could be done.

The result was that credit score was a better predictor of claims than driving record!

Not to surprising once you think of it; it's quite plausible that folks with a higher score are also, as a group, more likely to fix it themselves rather than submit the claim.

I'd imagine if you ever had a major claim they'd deny it based on what they'd call fraud.

It wouldn't' just be the insurance company using that word. Also the judge, and. . .

Then you are not one who is "garaging/registering" his vehicle in a cheaper to insure area.

rates can very drastically across a county. They tend to be by zip code, or even finer.

My risk is significantly lower than 2.5 miles to my west in the same zip code. (also the risk of getting shot, burgled, and so forth)

 

[MakinDoForNow]

a couple of decades ago, the Texas legislature was poised to ban the use of credit scores when setting rates.

In a moment of rationality that we don't expect from legislatures, they postponed so that a study could be done.

The result was that credit score was a better predictor of claims than driving record!

Not to surprising once you think of it; it's quite plausible that folks with a higher score are also, as a group, more likely to fix it themselves rather than submit the claim.



It wouldn't' just be the insurance company using that word. Also the judge, and. . .




rates can very drastically across a county. They tend to be by zip code, or even finer.

My risk is significantly lower than 2.5 miles to my west in the same zip code. (also the risk of getting shot, burgled, and so forth)

I lived in a dfw area town once near the line where a smaller one was. The smaller area was considered a "pristine" statistical area sought by home buyers. Houses were about 15% higher priced in the lower crime rate. The larger area town was the area where many retail business owners conducted business or criminals lived who stole, etc in "pristine" area. Most of crime was reported in the zip code the business or criminal lived were located where the court was also located.

 

[Cherokee]

Would be helpful if you told us what your rates are, what your policy looks like, and what part of the country you are in as that all matters.

I pay around $600 per year for my 2025 Lariat AWD Hybrid, 1k deductible, $100 glass deductible

Nice,

$1180 a year for both cars. My second is a 2004 escape. My 24 Eco Mav is $800 per year.
$500 deductible,
NO windshield coverage,,,,
Full new never titled replacement if I total this one in the first five years, cost for that is $60 per year.

 

[Pointyears]

Not to surprising once you think of it; it's quite plausible that folks with a higher score are also, as a group, more likely to fix it themselves rather than submit the claim.

I don't follow that one. If there's a positive correlation between credit score and income I would think it would be the opposite: The higher income people would be more likely to submit a claim because they could more easily absorb the rate increases, and that the opposite would also be true. (Do note these are broad generalizations....)

 

[dochawk]

The higher income people would be more likely to submit a claim

my guess was always that someone who'd avoid the small claim was more likely to go through the reasoning, but . . .

the overwhelming statistical math, though, is that credit score is a good predictor of claims (not necessarily accidents)

 

[KenE]

Remember rates higher until you turned 25 ? There is now an increased cost for person of "advanced middle age". I am over 80 and know it applys to me with State Farm. Not sure at what age the penalty starts. Did take an online defensive driving course and saved 7 or 8 percent on my premium.

My wife & I both turn 80 this year, and our rates are high. Been driving since 1962, Never had a speeding ticket, or a wreck. Just one stolen VW in 1973, insurance paid me $750, $50 more than I paid for VW three years earlier. We're ALL paying for reckless drivers, Claims are amortization a Ross the masses I suppose.

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