For drivers considering a new or used vehicle purchase, price is an important consideration. However, many drivers fail to factor in what a vehicle could potentially cost them in terms of insurance prices. Anyone who has purchased a sports car will likely testify to the fact that coverage is typically more expensive for higher priced vehicles.
InsWeb, a company that provides insurance quotes from a variety of sources, recently released its list of the most and least expensive models to insure for the 2010 model year. The company compared actual quotes provided to customers over a nine-month period between January and September of 2010. The list was limited to vehicles under $80,000, with the conceit that high-end luxury vehicles or supercars would be among the priciest vehicles to insure.
Yet the rates quoted to drivers don't always correspond to the price of the vehicle. This is often a starting point – a pricier vehicle contains more expensive equipment to be replaced – but it is by no means reflective of the final figure. In fact, "loss history" plays a much greater role in determining insurance premiums.
Loss history is essentially the rate of accidents and damage suffered by a model throughout its history. While this reflects the model, the type of driver also comes into play. Muscle cars like the Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro can be expensive, but so can top-of-the-line pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. The difference is that the Mustang is much more likely to be driven by an aggressive driver who likes to go fast, leading to a higher accident rate.
The most expensive vehicle to insure was the Acura ZDX, according to the company. That model was closely followed by the Audi TT, Audi A5, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Corvette. Other popular models making the high-priced insurance list include the BMW Z4, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan 370z and the afoermentioned Mustang and Camaro.
On the other hand, the Kia Sedona minivan was named the least expensive car, with the Mazda5, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mercury Mariner rounding out the top 5. The Ford Explorer, Toyota Tacoma and Honda Element were among the other models cited for their cheap insurance rates.
"It's no coincidence that the majority of the most expensive vehicles to insure are performance vehicles," said Brad Cooper, Senior Vice President of Operations at InsWeb. "It’s very possible that the types of drivers that purchase these vehicles are more aggressive by nature, which could lead to a higher likelihood of claims on these vehicles. On the other end of the spectrum, most of the vehicles on the least expensive to insure list are minivans, wagons and small SUVs. Those vehicle types are often preferred by individuals with families—perhaps the least likely drivers to engage in risky driving behavior."
Buyers interested in purchasing a vehicle should consider the affect that their purchase could have on their insurance. Those interested in a high-performance car should probably not call off their purchase, but may want to shop the used car market in order to get the best deal and save money.
