Best Car Insurance by Vehicle (2024)

Car insurance companies look at many more factors than just your driving history and ZIP code when calculating your rates. Additionally, their sophisticated algorithms analyze the claims and accident histories for the precise make and model of the vehicle you want to insure. To get the best car insurance by vehicle, compare car insurance quotes, car insurance discounts, and coverage for your specific car model.

Car Insurance by Make and Model Comparison

To get an idea of how average insurance rates can change depending on the make and model of a car, it’s important to compare some of the more popular cars. The average insurance rates can vary greatly depending on what car you have.

Determining the Make and Model of a Vehicle

You’ll frequently hear the terms “make” and “model” when looking for car insurance or a new vehicle. The make of your vehicle is the company that makes it, such as Ford or Toyota. The model is the name of your car. For instance, the manufacturer Honda would be the make, and the model would be Accord or Civic.

Read more: Ford Car Insurance Discount

You can frequently determine the model of your car by looking at the attached label on the back of the car if you are unsure. Alternatively, consult the owner’s manual or registration document for your car.

Most Expensive Insurance Rates By Car

Luxury cars can be expected to have higher car insurance rates. For example, the Maserati Quattroporte’s insurance rates frequently exceed $419 per month, making it one of the most expensive cars to insure.

Most Expensive Vehicle Makes to Insure

The Audi R8 is another luxury vehicle that commonly has some of the highest insurance rates. Its average monthly rate is $381 per month, almost three times the national average.

These are some of the most expensive cars to insure. Before purchasing, be sure to research and compare different car insurance quotes to get the best deal when it comes to insuring a luxury car. Read more about insuring the most expensive cars in the world.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates By Car

Your rates are impacted by the year, make, model, and trim of your vehicle. A few well-known models stand out for their high safety ratings and affordable insurance costs, even in an expensive state for car insurance like New York. Read more about car insurance in New York City.

The table below shows the average car insurance rates by the cheapest vehicle models:

Cheapest Vehicle Models to Insure

Read more: Chrysler Car Insurance Discount

The table below shows the average car insurance rates by the cheapest vehicle makes:

Cheapest Vehicle Makes to Insure

Read more: Subaru Car Insurance Discount

The fact that the Subaru Outback and Honda CR-V are among the least expensive cars to insure may not come as a surprise. 

However, your car insurance rate is not influenced by a single element. For instance, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that even though the Honda Accord and Honda Civic also achieved top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), they were among the most stolen vehicles in the nation in 2020. This explains why these vehicles are probably not at the top of our list.

Read more: Best Car Insurance in Your State

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How Car Insurance is Affected By Different Makes and Models

The brand, model, and trim of your vehicle have a direct impact on how much you’ll pay for car insurance because insurers evaluate this information to assess the value, safety features, and potential repair costs of your vehicle. For instance, premiums are higher for pricey luxury car models because they require more expensive replacement parts than more affordable models. Insurance companies evaluate all of the following aspects when calculating their rates:

• Safety scores: Accidents involving safer vehicles are less common and have lower repair costs. This translates to an average decline in claims and more savings for you.
• Vehicle MSRP: Due to custom, foreign, or premium parts, more expensive cars can cost more to fix, which typically results in higher insurance premiums. Additionally, if you require larger coverage maximums to cover claims, your premiums would go up.
• Sportiness: In a sportier vehicle, most drivers are more likely to drive quickly, increasing their risk of being in an accident. Due to the ease of stealing soft tops, convertibles typically have higher theft rates.
• Safety scores: Accidents involving safer vehicles are less common and have lower repair costs. This translates to an average decline in claims and more savings for you.
• Probability of stealing: If a car is more likely to be stolen, there is a higher chance the owner will file an insurance claim to help pay for a replacement vehicle. The Honda Accord and Chevy Impala are two popular targets for thieves. As a result, insurance costs increase.

If you want to save on insurance rates, then you need to consider owning a vehicle that is less risky according to these factors. 

Read more: Honda Car Insurance Discount

Is car insurance affected by a vehicle’s body type?

Your rates can increase or decrease depending on your car’s body type and trim.

SUVs, sports cars, and convertibles typically have higher insurance costs. Convertibles with soft tops are simpler to break into. They risk getting into an accident because it’s too tempting to avoid driving quickly in a sports car.

Your car’s MSRP will increase if you select an upgraded trim with a few extra features. The addition of heated seats or a high-end sound system would normally not result in a major rise in insurance costs, but insuring a vehicle with enhancements costing several thousand dollars could result in significantly higher rates.

Vehicle Body Types Explained

• Sedan: A sedan is a four–door vehicle with a large trunk and an enclosed passenger compartment. Sedans are typically powered by gasoline engines, although some hybrid and electric models are available.
• Coupe: A coupe is a two–door vehicle with a sloping roofline and a shorter wheelbase than a sedan. Coupes typically have a sportier design than sedans, and some models have a rear–mounted engine.
• Sports cars: Sports cars are designed for speed and performance, with lightweight bodies and powerful engines. Sports cars are typically two–door vehicles, but some four–door models are available.
• Wagons: Wagons are similar to sedans, with four doors and a large trunk. However, wagons also have a longer wheelbase and a higher roofline, providing more interior space and improved cargo capacity.
• Hatchbacks: Hatchbacks are similar to wagons, but they have a shorter roofline and a hatchback door that opens up to the rear cargo area.
• Convertible: A convertible is a two–door vehicle with a removable roof panel, allowing the driver and passengers to enjoy an open–air experience.
• SUV: An SUV is a four–door vehicle with a higher ride height and a more rugged design than a sedan or wagon. Some SUVs also have four–wheel drive and off–roading capabilities.
• Minivans: Minivans are larger than SUVs and have a higher roofline, providing more interior space and cargo capacity. They are typically powered by gasoline engines, but some hybrid models are available.
• Pickup trucks: Pickup trucks have a large cargo bed and a higher ride height than sedans or wagons. They are typically used for heavy–duty tasks, such as hauling and towing.

Which makes and models have the lowest insurance costs?

Read more: How much is car insurance?

Your insurance rates will typically be lower the less expensive the car is. Because they are less expensive to repair and typically have safer crash ratings, safer cars provide less of a risk to an insurer. When it comes to insurance costs, Japanese car makers like Honda, Toyota, and Subaru frequently top the list, while luxury and sports cars built by BMW and Buick are on the more expensive side.

Read more: Buick Car Insurance Discount 

How does the trim on my car affect insurance?

Your car’s make and model will have the most impact on your insurance costs, but even the trim level will have an impact. Your car’s trim level depends on the model. For instance, the Mini Cooper S and JCW are more expensive and have higher-end specifications than the Mini Cooper in their base trim. This higher grade level also comes with sports seats and greater horsepower.

Your insurance costs could go up if you equip your new vehicle with extra gadgets. Repair costs for vehicles with advanced safety features are more, and if you choose a vehicle with a stronger engine, your insurer may believe you have a higher propensity for speeding and collisions.

Upgrades are frequently included in various trim levels by car makers. For instance, the Toyota Camry has five trim levels: LE, SE, XLE, XSE, and TRD, each of which has more amenities and a higher starting price. 

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Cars to Avoid When Aiming for Cheap Car Insurance

These kinds of vehicles frequently result in higher car insurance costs:

• Sports cars: Insurance companies define sports cars as high-performance vehicles designed for speed, and their drivers also tend to be younger and more accident-prone, which raises the cost of insurance. This translates to sports cars have some of the highest car insurance premiums.
• Luxury vehicles: High-end luxury vehicles are often more expensive to insure because they can be expensive to repair and more expensive to replace if they are totaled.
• Electric vehicles: Due to their higher purchase prices and higher repair expenses — replacing an EV battery alone can cost thousands of dollars — electric vehicles can be more expensive to insure.

If you’re aiming to save on car insurance, then it may be worth avoiding luxury vehicles and investing in something designed for the average consumer.

The Bottom Line on Car Insurance by Vehicle

It might be challenging to compare insurance rates by car, but doing so can help you focus your search. Comparison-shop to discover the best car insurance by vehicle because rates can vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle you drive.

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