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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg Prius’ owners have ~ 50% lower claims vs. similar sized vehicles here in the US. I suspect the same in Japan and would have expected much lower premiums? (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=209594)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/2010_Prius-III_Blue_with_17_Wheels_-_Headline.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - May 22, 2009

2010 Japanese Toyota Prius-III L-Trim starts at $21,537 USD and achieves 77 mpgUS on the JC08.

Tokyo, Japan -- AIOI insurance said that it will lower premiums for comprehensive and collision car insurance by 15 percent for owner of the all-new third generation Toyota Prius that was released on Monday. The discount translates to around $37.33 USD a year for people who are 35 years or older and hold a gold driver's license. Gold licenses in Japan are issued to drivers who have not been booked for any traffic violations for at least five years.

Aioi Insurance has been offering discounts on comprehensive and collision car insurance for vehicles that have been confirmed to sustain less damage during a collision and thus cost less to repair.

The discount makes this car insurance highly competitive with similar policies offered by direct-sales insurers who sell policies via the Internet and over the phone.

One hidden story here is how cheap insurance is in Japan.

Cutting a rate by 15% and saving $37.33 means the annual rate is about $250.

Car insurance is insanely cheap in Japan when you compare it to the $2700 I pay currently and $4200 I paid when I first moved to Ontario a few years back. Even though, I would qualify for a gold license in Japan.

Even more galling --- get a second econo-car as a grocery-gitter in an effort to save on gas, and the insurance on THAT vehicle is almost the same (ie little or no discount for an extra vehicle, even if it's a case of 2 cars, only one driver). So if you "need" a larger or heavier vehicle (for hauling boats, or for business) then, at least locally, you get penalized double for having an alternate small grocery-gitter, a motorcycle or even an NEV.

Saving having to pay something like $2000 in insurance on a second vehicle, means you can afford a lot of gas for the FSP. How's that for a dumb reverse incentive? Talk about untintended consequences ...