What are the cheapest cars to insure?
The following cars (all of which are SUVs) might be among the cheapest to insure — they have the lowest frequency of bodily injury claims, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI):
- Subaru Ascent
- Subaru Forester
- Honda Passport
- Hyundai Palisade
- Volkswagen Atlas
- Kia Telluride
Later in this article, we'll break down more of the sedans, SUVs, and trucks with the fewest bodily injury claims based on IIHS-HLDI's data, in case you're looking to lower your car insurance rate by choosing a safe vehicle type and size that meets your needs.
Why are some cars cheaper to insure?
If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, certain cars are often cheaper to insure because they would cost less to repair or replace if they were damaged in an accident. They may also be cheaper to insure because they tend to cause less costly damage to other drivers.
Because they're worth less, some older cars are often cheaper to insure with comprehensive and collision than brand new vehicles, especially if the older car has higher safety ratings. In general, though, manufacturers are adding safety technologies in new cars that make them safer to drive, and potentially cheaper to insure with liability coverage, than older cars.
However, your car's make and model is only one of the many factors that determine your car insurance rate. Your premium will also be determined by your location, age, discounts, driving history, and more.
Cars with the lowest bodily injury claims frequency
The breakdowns of the cheapest sedans, SUVs, and trucks to insure in this article are determined by each model's percentage below the average bodily injury liability loss rate. The lower the percentage, the fewer claims the specific model has been involved in. Note that these car makes and models may have different percentages for other types of claims, such as comprehensive or collision coverage claims.
These percentages are calculated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI) and don't directly reflect insurance rates. The car models listed are intended to be a starting point for someone who's looking for a vehicle that might have less risk and therefore potentially lower rates.
Note: The average insurance rates stated for the specific vehicle classes (sedans, SUVs, and pickups) are based on the cost of a policy with auto liability coverage, medical payments coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive car insurance coverage, and auto collision coverage, as reported in AAA's 2023 edition of "Your Driving Costs."
What are the cheapest sedans to insure?
If you're looking for a sedan that's less expensive to insure, the models below might be a good place to start. These vehicles are ranked by how many fewer bodily injury claims they've been involved in compared to all passenger vehicles and don't reflect the cost to insure them.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI)
How much is insurance for a sedan?
According to AAA, the average annual cost to insure a medium-sized sedan (e.g., Honda Accord) in 2023 was $1,922. Based on AAA's data, your average midsize four-door car may cost more to insure than the average SUV or pickup truck.
Are sedans cheaper to insure than SUVs?
No, sedans aren't cheaper to insure than SUVs, based on AAA's average insurance cost data. In fact, insurance for a midsize sedan may cost an average of $237 more per year than a midsize SUV. And based on IIHS-HLDI's data, sedans tend to have a higher bodily injury claims frequency than SUVs, so they may be considered riskier and therefore more expensive to insure. Learn about buying a sedan vs. an SUV.
What are the cheapest SUVs to insure?
As far as insurance rates for specific SUV models go, the SUVs listed here could be cheaper. However, these models are ranked based on how many fewer bodily injury claims they have than the average passenger vehicle — they don't reflect the average cost to insure them.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI)
How much is car insurance for an SUV?
The average annual cost to insure a midsize SUV (e.g., Ford Explorer) in 2023 was $1,685, according to AAA. For a compact SUV (Honda CR-V), it was $1,681. So while make and model can affect your insurance cost, there's a chance the size of your particular SUV won't make much of a difference.
What are the cheapest trucks to insure?
The pickup truck models below may be some of the cheapest trucks to insure but remember that these are just models that have fewer bodily injury liability claims than the average passenger vehicle. Learn about buying a truck vs. an SUV.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI)
How much is insurance for a pickup truck?
The average annual cost to insure a pickup truck ranged from $1,679 for a midsize pickup (e.g., Honda Ridgeline) to $1,807 for a large/half-ton pickup (e.g., Toyota Tundra) in 2023, according to AAA. You may pay more on average to insure a pickup truck than an SUV, based on AAA's data.
Remember, your vehicle is just one factor among many used to determine your car insurance rate. Your price will ultimately be unique to you using factors like your age, location, driving history, car type and usage, and more.
Getting cheap car insurance for your vehicle's make
If you're considering a car mentioned in this article, check out these resources for tips on getting cheap auto insurance for your new car's particular make:
- Honda car insurance
- Hyundai car insurance
- Kia car insurance
- Nissan car insurance
- Subaru car insurance
