Which Car Make Is Cheaper on Insurance? Full Guide

Figuring out Which Car Make Is Cheaper on Insurance? Full Guide can feel tricky at first. Many things affect your car insurance costs, and it’s not always obvious which car brands will be easier on your wallet.

But don’t worry, it’s simpler than you think! We’ll walk through it step-by-step. First, we’ll explore why some car makes cost less to insure.

Then, we’ll look at what factors insurance companies use. Finally, we’ll share tips on how to find the best rates for your next car.

Understanding Car Insurance Costs By Make

This section helps you see why certain car makes tend to have lower insurance premiums. We will explore the main reasons behind these differences, looking at how the car’s price, safety features, and how often it gets stolen play a role. By understanding these points, you can make smarter choices when picking your next vehicle.

This will help you save money on your insurance bills over time.

Vehicle Value And Repair Costs

The price of a car and how much it costs to fix it are big parts of insurance costs. If a car is more expensive to buy, it usually costs more to replace if it’s stolen or totaled. Also, if a car has special parts or is hard to repair, the body shop will charge more.

This means the insurance company has to pay more if something happens, so they charge you more for insurance.

For example, luxury cars with rare parts can be very expensive to repair. A broken bumper on a common sedan might cost a few hundred dollars to fix. But a damaged fender on a high-end sports car could easily run into thousands of dollars.

Insurance companies look at these repair costs when setting rates. They want to make sure they can cover potential claims without losing money. This is why cars that are cheaper to buy and fix often have lower insurance costs.

Safety Ratings And Features

Cars with good safety ratings and lots of safety features usually cost less to insure. This is because they are less likely to get into accidents or cause serious harm. When a car has features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and many airbags, it helps prevent crashes.

If an accident does happen, these features can reduce the severity of injuries.

Insurance companies reward safer cars by offering lower premiums. They see these vehicles as less of a risk. A car with a top safety pick award from organizations like the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) often comes with discounts.

For instance, a car that automatically brakes to avoid hitting pedestrians is less likely to cause expensive damage or injuries. This directly impacts your insurance rates, making it cheaper to insure.

Theft Rates Of Car Makes

The number of times a specific car model is stolen also affects insurance prices. If a car is frequently stolen, insurance companies have to pay out more claims for stolen vehicles. This makes insuring that particular make and model riskier for them.

So, they will charge higher premiums to cover this increased risk.

Car theft is a significant factor for insurers. Models that are popular with thieves, perhaps due to the value of their parts or ease of resale, will naturally have higher insurance rates. For example, older models that are easy to hotwire might see higher theft rates than newer cars with advanced anti-theft systems.

Insurance companies track these statistics closely. They use this data to adjust their pricing for different car makes and models.

Common Car Makes With Cheaper Insurance

Generally, car makes that are known for being affordable, reliable, and safe tend to have lower insurance costs. These cars are often easier and cheaper to repair, have lower theft rates, and their drivers may also drive more cautiously. Think about brands that have been around for a long time and are very popular.

Brands like Toyota, Honda, Subaru, and Mazda often appear on lists of cheaper-to-insure cars. These vehicles are built with practicality and durability in mind. They use common parts that are readily available and less expensive to source.

This makes repairs quicker and more affordable for repair shops. Also, these cars are not typically targets for theft as much as some other types of vehicles.

Statistics On Car Make Insurance Costs

Insurance costs can differ by thousands of dollars a year based on the car make. For instance, the average cost to insure a sedan from a popular brand might be around $1,500 per year. In contrast, a luxury SUV from a different brand could cost upwards of $2,500 or more annually.

These figures show a clear pattern.

These numbers are estimates and can change based on many things, including where you live and your driving history. However, they highlight the general trend that more affordable car makes are indeed cheaper to insure. This data comes from analyzing thousands of insurance policies across the country.

How To Find Which Car Make Is Cheaper on Insurance

Knowing which car makes are generally cheaper to insure is helpful. But how do you find out for sure before you buy a car? This part will guide you through the exact steps to check insurance costs for any car you are considering.

It is a straightforward process that can save you a lot of money.

Getting Insurance Quotes Before Buying

The best way to know which car make is cheaper on insurance is to get quotes. You should do this before you decide on a car. Insurance companies have tools that let you enter the make, model, and year of a car.

They can then give you an estimated insurance premium.

It is wise to get quotes from several different insurance providers. Prices can vary a lot from one company to another. You will need to provide some personal information, like your age, driving record, and where you live.

But the car’s details are key here. Comparing quotes will help you see which car will be the most budget-friendly to insure.

Using Online Insurance Comparison Tools

Many websites offer free tools to compare insurance quotes from different companies. You enter your information and the car you are interested in. These tools then show you prices from various insurers side-by-side.

This makes it very easy to see which companies offer the lowest rates for that specific car.

These tools are a great resource for shoppers. They save you the time of visiting each insurance company’s website individually. You can quickly see a broad range of prices.

For example, you might find that one tool shows Company A offering $100 less per year for a specific car than Company B. This makes your decision much easier.

What Information You Need For A Quote

To get an accurate insurance quote for a car, you will need specific details. You will need the car’s full make, model, and year. For example, “2022 Toyota Camry LE.” If you know the vehicle identification number (VIN), that can also be helpful.

You will also need to provide information about yourself. This includes your date of birth, address, and driver’s license number. Your driving history, including any accidents or tickets, is very important.

Details about your current insurance policy, if any, might also be requested. Having all this ready will speed up the quote process.

Sample Scenario 1 Checking Insurance For Two Cars

Let’s say you are trying to decide between a Honda Civic and a Ford Mustang. You want to know which car make is cheaper on insurance. You decide to get quotes.

1. You visit an insurance comparison website. You enter your personal details.
2. For the first car, you select “2023 Honda Civic EX.” The site shows you a range of prices from different companies. The lowest quote is $1,200 per year.
3. Then, you change the car to “2023 Ford Mustang GT.” The lowest quote for this car is $1,800 per year.
4. Based on these quotes, the Honda Civic would be significantly cheaper to insure. This helps you make your car buying decision.

This simple process shows how a car’s make directly impacts your insurance costs. The Civic is a more common, less sporty car, leading to lower risk and lower premiums.

Factors Affecting Insurance Rates Beyond Car Make

While the make of your car is a major factor, it is not the only thing that insurance companies look at. Many other personal and situational factors influence how much you will pay for car insurance. Understanding these can help you further reduce your premiums.

Your Driving Record

Your history as a driver is one of the most important factors. If you have a clean driving record with no accidents or traffic violations, you will likely get much lower insurance rates. Insurers see you as a low-risk driver.

Conversely, if you have a history of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or a DUI, your insurance premiums will be significantly higher. Some companies may even refuse to insure you. Insurers use this data to predict how likely you are to file a claim in the future.

A safe driver is always a better bet for them.

Your Age And Experience

Younger, less experienced drivers typically pay more for car insurance than older, more experienced drivers. This is because statistics show that younger drivers are involved in more accidents. The risk is higher for insurance companies.

For example, a 16-year-old driver might pay several thousand dollars more per year than a 40-year-old driver for the same car and coverage. As drivers gain experience and prove they can drive safely over many years, their insurance rates tend to decrease. This is a consistent pattern across the industry.

Where You Live

The area where you live has a big impact on your car insurance costs. This is often referred to as your insurance rating territory. Areas with higher rates of car theft, vandalism, or accidents tend to have higher insurance premiums.

Urban areas often have higher rates than rural areas because of increased traffic and higher crime rates. Even neighborhoods within the same city can have different insurance costs. Insurers analyze local statistics to determine the risk associated with each area.

So, living in a safer neighborhood can lead to lower insurance bills.

Your Coverage Choices

The type and amount of car insurance coverage you choose will directly affect your premium. Basic liability coverage is the cheapest, but it only covers damage and injuries you cause to others.

Adding comprehensive and collision coverage, which protect your own car, will increase your premium. Higher deductibles (the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in) usually mean lower premiums, and vice versa. Choosing higher coverage limits also increases the cost.

It’s a balance between protection and price.

Driver Discount Opportunities

Most insurance companies offer various discounts to help lower your premiums. These can include discounts for good students, low mileage, defensive driving courses, and being a long-time customer. Bundling your auto insurance with home or renter’s insurance can also lead to savings.

For example, if you complete an approved defensive driving course, you might get a discount of 5-10% on your insurance premium. Some companies also offer telematics programs, where a device in your car tracks your driving habits. If you are a safe driver, you can earn a discount.

Always ask your insurance provider about all the discounts you might qualify for.

Cheapest Car Makes To Insure Conclusion

You’ve learned that car insurance costs depend on many things, with the car’s make being a big one. Generally, affordable, safe, and reliable cars from brands like Toyota and Honda are cheaper to insure. By getting quotes before buying and considering all the factors, you can make smart choices to lower your car insurance bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Are SUVs generally more expensive to insure than sedans?

Answer: Often, yes. SUVs can be more expensive to insure than sedans. This is because they tend to be larger, heavier, and can be more expensive to repair.

Their higher center of gravity can also sometimes lead to more rollovers in accidents, which are costly to cover. However, this can vary greatly by the specific SUV model and its safety features.

Question: Does a manual transmission car cost less to insure than an automatic?

Answer: In some cases, yes. Cars with manual transmissions can sometimes be cheaper to insure than those with automatic transmissions. This is because they are often seen as less likely to be stolen, and drivers who choose manual transmissions may be perceived as more engaged with their driving.

However, this difference is usually small and depends on the car model and the insurance company.

Question: Will a brand new car cost more to insure than a used one?

Answer: Generally, yes. A brand new car will almost always cost more to insure than a comparable used car. This is because new cars have a higher replacement value.

Insurance companies need to account for the higher cost of replacing a brand new vehicle if it is stolen or totaled. Also, new cars might have more advanced technology that is more expensive to repair.

Question: Are electric cars more expensive to insure than gasoline cars?

Answer: It depends, but often yes. Electric cars can be more expensive to insure. This is due to the high cost of their battery packs, which are very expensive to replace if damaged.

Also, specialized repair knowledge is often needed for electric vehicles, which can increase repair costs. However, some electric cars have excellent safety ratings which can help lower premiums.

Question: How much difference can the car make really make in insurance costs?

Answer: The difference can be quite significant, often hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. For example, insuring a high-performance sports car will likely cost much more than insuring a small, fuel-efficient compact car from a budget-friendly brand. This is because the sports car is more expensive to buy, more expensive to repair, and often attracts higher risk drivers, all of which drive up the insurance premium.

Summary

We explored which car makes are cheaper on insurance. Affordable brands like Toyota and Honda often cost less to insure. This is due to lower repair costs, better safety, and fewer theft incidents.

Remember to always get quotes before you buy. Checking with multiple insurers and understanding factors like your driving record will help you find the best rates.