While a lot of factors can influence your monthly or annual cost of car insurance, your car’s make and model is one of the bigger ones. A more expensive vehicle from a luxury make, or a flagship sports car at the top of an automaker’s lineup, will nearly always cost more than a car closer to the budget-friendly side of the market. If you need a little guidance while trying to find affordable car insurance, here are some comparisons of insurance rates by car models and makes.
How Does a Car’s Model Affect Insurance Rates?
Vehicles can be divided into not only models sold by different automakers, but also trim levels, basically more specific varieties of a model that include certain bonus features or enhanced specifications. There are also optional equipment packages that might increase the value of the vehicle. These different models usually cost more, have higher top speeds, or have other factors that make them riskier to insure, hence higher premiums. Your car, truck, or SUV’s vehicle identification number, or VIN, can help ensure you are getting an accurate quote.
One example of an automaker with lower insurance rates for their vehicles is Subaru, Consumer Reports’ highest-rated automaker. For instance, their Forester compact SUV has an average minimum car insurance cost of only $459 per year. Some of Honda’s car insurance prices are particularly good, like the Odyssey minivan only costing an average of $471 per year for the same coverage amount. Many of Ford’s vehicles are below or just around $500 per year, including the F-150, and the Mustang is surprisingly affordable. Some Audi and BMW models are at or near the $500-per-year range, as well.
It’s important to keep in mind that auto insurance rates vary by many other factors, particularly location and your driving record. The numbers given are only averages for monthly insurance costs across the country.
Car Models With Low Insurance Rates
Out of all the automakers with low insurance costs, which models tend to have the cheapest basic car insurance? Let’s compare the two lowest annual average rate options from three major automakers:
- Honda Odyssey: $471
- Honda Pilot: $486
- Toyota Sienna: $474
- Toyota Tacoma: $486
- Dodge Grand Caravan: $503
- Dodge Journey: $522
Perhaps because of their stability and tendency to be used by families, larger minivans and SUVs tend to have pretty good insurance rates. Most larger vehicles have a better chance of costing less to insure, if they’re not a luxury brand. These trends will vary, so some smaller cars or SUVs could still have better-than-average insurance costs.
Lowest Minimum Liability Insurance Rates by Car Model
If you want a list of the most affordable cars to get minimum liability car insurance coverage, here are some of the least expensive average annual rates:
- Honda Odyssey: $471
- Toyota Sienna: $474
- Audi Q5: $480
- Lexus ES: $482
- Chrysler Pacifica: $485
The Honda Pilot and Toyota Tacoma are tied for sixth place at $486 per year. Considering nearly all cars normally cost $1,000 or more per year on average, half of that or less is an excellent deal. Please keep in mind, however, that minimum state-required liability insurance and/or property damage insurance might be too low to protect you financially. If an accident does happen, you’ll want to be prepared so that your finances and routine are affected as little as possible.
Lowest Full Coverage Insurance Rates by Car Model
Getting full coverage insurance requires more calculations, and different models become more or less expensive to insure at full coverage versus minimum coverage. It also depends on how you define full car insurance coverage, but it always means something more thorough than standard liability minimums required by the state. Full coverage is a great idea to protect a valuable car, but it will cost more. Here are some of the lowest average annual rates with full coverage.
- Jeep Wrangler: $1,358
- Honda CR-V: $1,369
- Subaru Forester: $1,419
- Ford Escape: $1,430
- Ford F-150: $1,442
- Chevrolet Traverse: $1,444
- Honda Odyssey: $1,454
- Chrysler Pacifica: $1,463
- Chevrolet Equinox: $1,467
- Honda Pilot: $1,469
- Toyota RAV4: $1,510
- Toyota Highlander: $1,511
- Honda Ridgeline: $1,520
As a side note, Maserati is one of the most expensive automakers for full coverage, in general. Their Granturismo model has a very strong minimum coverage cost of $489 per year, while full coverage costs $4,800. Models by super-luxury automakers will tend to cost more because these vehicles are very expensive and usually used for high-speed driving.
What Trucks Have the Lowest Insurance Rates?
If you just look at trucks, the Toyota Tacoma is particularly impressive at $486 per year on average for standard minimum liability car insurance. Looking at full coverage, the Ford F-150 is a real contender at $1,442 per year, but the Ridgeline isn’t far behind at $1,520 for full coverage and $493 for minimum insurance.
What Small Cars Have the Lowest Insurance Rates?
Among smaller cars suited to one driver and a couple of friends, the Ford Focus has an average minimum coverage insurance cost of $535 per year, and the annual cost for full insurance is $1,633 on average. The Chevrolet Cruze costs $527 per year for minimum liability or $1,642 per year for full coverage. The Honda Civic has an average minimum coverage cost of $509 per year, while the average annual cost of full coverage is $1,733, close to the Hyundai Elantra’s cost of $1,720 per year.
Overall, insurance rates are affected by your driving record, your state minimum insurance coverage amounts, what kind of area you live in, the provider you choose, and demographic details like your age, gender, and marital status. Although it might seem complicated, you can find affordable car insurance, even if you’re a first-time car buyer. Remember to get quotes from multiple car insurance providers in your area. As you compare premiums and terms, it’s only a matter of time until you find a deal too good to ignore.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
