5 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Hybrid Car

​In 2001, you only had two models to choose from for your hybrid car. By 2010, you had 27 models, and by 2015 you had 55 models. As time passes, there are more and more models and brands of hybrid cars in the United States. It’s a developing technology, and choosing the right hybrid car needs a lot of thinking. Here are some tips when choosing one.

Know Why You’re Buying
If you're buying a hybrid, that should make your decision easier. If you want to save money, then it's not a clear option. Savings are not always easy to determine because hybrids usually cost more than your traditional gasoline-powered cars. With your hybrid vehicle, it would sometimes take up to 7 years to pay back everything in terms of fuel costs. However, one good reason for buying a hybrid car is to reduce emissions and for cutting-edge technology.

Educate Yourself
Hybrid vehicles usually have more than one source of power. Often, it's a gasoline-powered engine and a motor run by electricity. However, there are many types of hybrids, such as series, parallel, and mixed hybrids. There are also full hybrids and mild hybrids, which depend on the size of the electric motor. The most recent plug-in hybrid models would have a rechargeable battery.

Consider Alternatives
Go check out some gasoline-only vehicles that are as efficient as hybrids when it comes to fuel efficiency. Also, watch out for all-electric cars that can do away with gasoline engines totally. These models usually run on a single battery with only one charging. At the same time, learn to change driving habits to save fuel. You can do this to any vehicle. Also, if your real goal is reducing emissions, you can always take public transportation.

Match Your Driving Style
Hybrid vehicles can give you the biggest savings as you're inching your way slowly in a massive traffic jam. That's because hybrids use the electric motor when it comes to low speeds. However, at higher speeds, hybrid vehicles depend more on their gasoline-powered engines.

Look Into Incentives
The US federal government usually offers tax credits and other incentives for the purchase of plug-in hybrid. That can be from $5000 to $7500, depending on the size of the battery. There are also various state incentives. Insurance companies may also have as much as a 10 percent discount on premiums.

Some Final Words
If you have a hybrid car, check out with your insurer on how much incentive you’ll receive for it. You might also have some additional federal and state incentives. However, whether you have a gas-powered car or a hybrid car, you need to get an auto insurance policy for it. 

At All Things Insurance, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (763) 645-5450. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.