How are car insurance rates affected by make and model?
The make and model of your car can affect your car insurance rate based on how often that make is involved in insurance claims, how much it generally costs to repair or replace the vehicle, and the safety features it has. For example, an expensive car model usually has a higher insurance rate for comprehensive and collision coverage. Certain makes and models are also known to cause more damage than other vehicles. The more claims your make and model has and the more it costs to repair, on average, the higher your rate will be. But if your car has great safety ratings, your rate may be lower.
What cars are expensive to insure?
Cars with low safety ratings, high repair/replacement costs, more insurance claims, and a higher likelihood to cause damage to others are more expensive to insure, on average. These cars tend to cost insurers more in claims costs, and insurers price policies accordingly.
Using IIHS-HLDI's insurance losses by make and model, the following 2019-2021 car models may be more expensive to insure than the average car:
Chevrolet Malibu: 98% more bodily injury losses
Nissan Altima: 65% more bodily injury losses
Kia K5: 38% more bodily injury losses
These car makes and models may have higher insurance rates because of their tendency to have more bodily injury liability claims costs when they cause an accident. Additionally, the Malibu, Altima, and K5 have higher than average collision losses (according to IIHS-HLDI), meaning it costs insurers more to repair these cars when they're involved in a collision, regardless of fault. So if you have one of these cars and you have collision car insurance coverage, your rate may be even more likely to be higher.
Cars with higher trim levels can also have higher rates, since trim levels with more features may be more expensive to repair than cars with lower trim levels.
That said, several factors affect your car insurance rate, and your car's make and model is just one. Find out ways to lower your car insurance rate.
Which models are least expensive to insure?
Using the same IIHS-HLDI bodily injury liability loss data, the following car models may be among the least expensive cars to insure when compared to the average:
Subaru Ascent: 57% less bodily injury losses
Subaru Forester: 54% less bodily injury losses
Honda Passport: 49% less bodily injury losses
However, getting one of these vehicles doesn't guarantee you a lower rate. If you have a history of car insurance claims or moving violations, or if you live in an area more prone to car theft and accidents, your rate may be higher. Getting cheap car insurance comes down to more than just the vehicle you buy.
Why are some cars cheaper to insure?
Some cars are cheaper to insure because they tend to be involved in fewer and less expensive claims, and because they have more safety features and higher safety ratings.
Does the model of car matter for insurance?
Yes, your car's model matters to insurance. In fact, a car's make, model, year, and even trim level can be essential information when you're shopping for car insurance and comparing car insurance rates. This is because different models are more prone to costly insurance claims.
Pro tip:
If you have collision and comprehensive coverage, your car's model will affect your rate more. These coverages are for your own vehicle rather than damage you cause to others. So if your car is more expensive to repair or replace and you have comprehensive or collision, your rate may be higher.
Does the model year of a car matter for insurance?
Yes, the year of a car model matters for insurance because manufacturers change car models from year to year. Newer model years may have more safety features, but they're also more expensive, so it can be hard to predict exactly how model year might affect your insurance rate. It can ultimately depend on your particular vehicle and coverages.
Pro tip:
It's a myth that red cars are more expensive to insure. Your car's color won't affect your insurance rate.
Can your car's safety features lower your insurance?
Yes, your car's safety features can lower your insurance, especially if your car has the latest safety features. Explore the IIHS-HLDI top safety picks for the safest models.
Car insurance by make
To find out how insurance for your car's make might compare, explore this car make insurance information:
Looking for more information about auto insurance? Our car insurance resource center has you covered.
Quote car insurance online or give us a call
Learn more about car insurance policies.
