Cars with the lowest insurance costs

Insurance companies charge less for cars that are cheap to repair, unlikely to be stolen, and statistically safe in crashes. That means older sedans, minivans, and trucks with good safety ratings cost far less to insure than sports cars, luxury vehicles, or anything frequently targeted by thieves. A Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla will cost you roughly half what you pay to insure a Dodge Charger or BMW 3 Series, even if both cars are the same age.

The single biggest factor is the car's repair cost. When a fender bender on a Honda costs $800 to fix and the same accident on a Mercedes costs $3,500, the insurance company's risk is different. Safety ratings matter too — a car that protects occupants in a crash means fewer injury claims. Theft risk rounds out the picture: if your model shows up on the National Insurance Crime Bureau's most-stolen list, your rate goes up.

Your own driving record, age, location, and how much coverage you buy still matter more than the car itself. But choosing a low-insurance vehicle can save you $500 to $1,500 per year compared to a high-risk model.

Key Takeaways

  • Sedans, minivans, and pickup trucks from mainstream manufacturers typically have the lowest insurance rates because they cost less to repair and are rarely stolen.
  • Sports cars, luxury brands, and high-performance vehicles cost significantly more to insure due to higher repair costs and higher theft rates.
  • A car's safety rating affects your rate — models that perform well in crash tests and have good accident avoidance features cost less to insure.
  • The same model can have different insurance costs depending on the year, engine size, and trim level, so check rates before you buy.

Sedans and compact cars with low insurance costs

The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra are among the cheapest to insure because they are common, affordable to repair, and have strong safety records. Parts are readily available, repair shops know how to work on them, and labor costs stay down. Insurance companies have decades of claims data on these models, so they know exactly what to expect.

Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord sit in the same category — mid-size sedans that are everywhere on the road. Their popularity means competition among repair shops keeps prices low. They are also not theft targets the way luxury sedans are, so theft and comprehensive coverage costs less.

Older model years of these cars cost even less to insure because the replacement value is lower. A 2015 Corolla will have a lower insurance rate than a 2023 Corolla, all else equal, because the car itself is worth less and therefore costs less to replace if totaled.

Minivans and family vehicles

Minivans are among the cheapest vehicles to insure because they are rarely stolen, have excellent safety ratings, and cost little to repair. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are designed for families with children, so manufacturers build them to protect occupants. Insurance companies reward this with lower rates.

Minivans also appeal to a narrow market — they are not status symbols and not targets for theft rings. A stolen minivan is harder to resell than a stolen pickup truck or sports car. This low theft risk directly lowers your comprehensive coverage cost.

The trade-off is that minivans are less fun to drive and hold their value poorly, so you may pay more upfront. But if insurance cost is your main concern, a used minivan will beat almost any other vehicle type.

Pickup trucks and their insurance costs

Full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500 have moderate insurance costs — higher than sedans but lower than sports cars. They are common, parts are cheap, and repair shops are everywhere. However, they cost more to insure than minivans because they are theft targets and because collision damage can be expensive.

Smaller trucks like the Toyota Tacoma or Chevrolet Colorado cost slightly more to insure than full-size trucks because they are less common and parts take longer to source. Older pickup trucks cost less to insure than new ones, partly because the vehicle value is lower and partly because older models lack expensive electronic safety systems that cost thousands to repair.

If you need a truck for work, a used full-size model will cost less to insure than a new one or a smaller truck. Avoid trucks with high-performance engines or luxury trim packages, which push insurance costs up.

Cars to avoid if insurance cost matters

Sports cars like the Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Camaro, and Ford Mustang cost two to three times more to insure than a comparable sedan. Insurance companies see them as high-risk because drivers of sports cars file more claims, and repairs are expensive. A single fender bender on a Mustang can cost $5,000 to fix.

Luxury brands — BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus — have high insurance costs because parts are expensive, repair shops charge premium labor rates, and the vehicles themselves are theft targets. A minor accident on a BMW 3 Series can easily exceed $10,000 in repairs. Luxury SUVs are even worse because they combine high repair costs with high theft risk.

High-performance or turbocharged versions of mainstream cars also cost more to insure. A turbocharged Subaru WRX costs significantly more than a standard Subaru Outback, even though they are the same brand. The performance engine and modified suspension push repair costs up.

Vehicles on the National Insurance Crime Bureau's most-stolen list — including certain Dodge Chargers, Honda Civics (older models), and Ford F-150s — have higher comprehensive coverage costs because theft risk is real. Check the NICB list before you buy if insurance cost is a concern.

How to check insurance costs before buying a car

Call your insurance company or use their online quote tool and enter the specific make, model, year, and trim level of the car you are considering. Insurance rates vary by trim because different versions have different safety features, engine sizes, and repair costs. A base-model Honda Civic will quote lower than a Civic Si, even though they are the same model.

Get quotes from at least two insurance companies, because rates vary widely. One company may charge $150 per month for a car that another charges $200 per month for. The difference compounds over years of ownership.

If you are shopping for a car, run insurance quotes on your top three choices before you negotiate price. A car that is $2,000 cheaper to buy but $1,500 per year more expensive to insure is not actually the better deal. Factor insurance into the total cost of ownership.

Safety ratings and insurance discounts

Cars with high crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) cost less to insure because they protect occupants better. Insurance companies know that occupants of safer cars file fewer injury claims, so they charge less.

Some cars also may have access to for safety feature discounts — automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist can lower your rate by 5 to 15 percent depending on your insurance company. Newer cars are more likely to have these features, which can offset some of the higher cost of insuring a newer vehicle.

Check your insurance company's discount list before you buy. If you are choosing between two cars with similar prices, the one with more safety features may end up costing less to insure over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do hybrid and electric cars cost more to insure?

Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius cost about the same or slightly less to insure than their gas-only counterparts because repair costs are comparable and they are not theft targets. Electric vehicles are newer, so repair costs are higher and fewer shops can work on them, which pushes insurance rates up. As electric vehicles become more common, rates should come down.

Does the color of the car affect insurance cost?

No. Insurance companies do not charge different rates based on paint color, despite the myth that red cars cost more. The only thing that matters is the make, model, year, trim level, and how the car is used.

Will buying a used car instead of new save me money on insurance?

Yes, usually significantly. A used car is worth less, so collision and comprehensive coverage costs less. However, an older car may lack modern safety features, which can offset some of the savings. Get quotes on both the used and new version before you decide.

Can I lower my insurance cost by choosing a different trim level of the same car?

Yes. A base-model sedan costs less to insure than a fully loaded version of the same model because it has a lower value and may lack expensive safety technology. Compare insurance quotes for each trim level you are considering.

Do insurance companies charge more for cars with manual transmissions?

No. Transmission type does not affect your rate. Engine size and performance do — a turbocharged engine or high-horsepower version of a car will cost more to insure than a standard engine in the same model.