Canadians are hot under the collar; hot for hybrids that is. But is it any wonder? What with the price of fuel skyrocketing, hybrids are appealing to more Canadian drivers now then ever before.

kanetix.ca recently took a closer look at the hybrids that generated the most online car insurance quotes for all of 2007, and found that last year's most popular were the:

• 1. Toyota Prius
• 2. Honda Civic Hybrid
• 3. Toyota Camry Hybrid
• 4. Ford Escape Hybrid
• 5. Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited
• 6. Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
• 7. Honda Accord Hybrid (tie)
• 8. Lexus RX400h (tie)
• 9. Nissan Altima Hybrid
• 10. Honda Insight

There's practically something for almost everyone and the options grow every year.

Perhaps it's the greater selection of hybrids and the combination of rising gas prices that explains the 65% increase in the number of hybrid car insurance quotes in 2007 over 2006, through kanetix.ca.

Or, perhaps it is in part, the short-lived ecoAuto Rebate program. Announced in March 2007, the program is now slated to end on December 31^st of 2008. Originally intended to encourage the purchase of eco-friendly vehicles, reports have the program paying out rebates of more than $30 million dollars. Given the rebate maximum per vehicle is $2,000 that's a lot of fuel-efficient, often hybrid, new vehicles on the road.

Hybrid car insurance

After comparing online quotes at kanetix.ca for the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the Saturn Vue Hybrid, it appears there is no one particular trend when it comes to hybrid auto insurance rates. While there were times, when compared to their gas-powered alter-egos, hybrid car insurance rates were lower, there were also times when they were higher and even sometimes the exact same.The fact is the kanetix.ca review of hybrid car insurance quotes even saw instances where a hybrid cost more to insure then their non-hybrid version with one company while with another company, it cost less.

What's this mean if you're in the market to buy a hybrid? Shop around for your car insurance coverage. Rates are not the same across insurance companies, and if you get a new hybrid your current insurer might not be the most affordable option for coverage. Don't pay more than you have to; compare auto insurance quotes through kanetix.ca.