Get Lower Insurance Rates with a Hybrid Car
In nature, a hybrid is the offspring of two animals or plants of different races or species. Together, they create a whole new thing. Hybrid cars are something of a similar beast, with two very different components merging together to make a new kind of car. The real benefit of the hybrid car, many would say, is it not entirely its unique nature, but the fact that is it more "green", or eco-friendly. It has low operating costs because it requires less gasoline. This means, of course, it produces less pollution, which is also a very good quality.
What exactly makes a hybrid a hybrid? Basically, it has two power sources that work in tandem. One is a built-in rechargeable energy storage system, or RESS. The other is fueled, like a regular old internal combustion engine. Simply put, it is a petroleum-electric vehicle, using both gasoline and a powerful electric battery to give the car propulsion. Technology has progressed to the point where hybrid batteries can be recharged through the recapturing of kinetic energy via regenerative braking, or be refueled with hydrogen gas. Many big-name auto companies have taken up the production of hybrids, including Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Lexus, Toyota, Honda, and Renault.
There are a lot of wonderful things about hybrid cars, but there is perhaps one big point that stands out. Not only do they save money in gasoline, but there are many places and organizations that offer tax incentives and discounts to owners of hybrids, particular in the area of auto insurance. Owning a hybrid may actually save a driver money.
As hybrid cars gain in popularity, car insurance companies have offered substantial discounts to hybrid drivers on their car insurance premiums. These savings can be high, in some cases up to 10%. In the eyes of the insurance provider, the driver of a hybrid is simply less of a risk. They are considered to be in the “preferred insured category” where the drivers are considered to be more considerate and responsible. Responsible means fewer accidents, fewer insurance claims filed – in other words, a lower risk for the auto insurance company. And of course, a lower risk for the insurance company means lower premiums for the policy holder in Hawthorne, CA. The bulk of hybrid owners are married people between the ages of 41 and 60, who are generally past the age of irresponsibility and financial instability.
Hybrid cars have been around for a while now, with their popularity rising every year. In fact, experts estimate that while hybrids are only 1% of cars on the road today, they may be nearly 15% of cars in the U.S. within the next decade.