The make and model of your vehicle are two of the primary factors determining your car insurance rate. While some makes cost an average of $124 per month to insure, others will run you upwards of $900 per month—yikes.

Before purchasing or leasing a new vehicle, carefully consider the average cost of car insurance for each make—the rates may surprise you.

Data shown was sourced from CarEdge and shows the average monthly premium across all models for the respective make.

Most and Least Expensive Car Makes to Insure

Based on the data shown above, the ten most and least expensive cars to insure are as follows.

Most Expensive Makes to Insure

It’s no surprise the ten most expensive makes to insure are all luxury vehicles. Luxury vehicles have higher repair costs, meaning insurance companies have more to cover should you wind up in an accident. This will hike up your premiums.

According to one collision repair company, the five most expensive models to repair are:

1. Tesla Model S ($9,800 average repair cost)
2. Porsche 911 ($7,200 average repair cost)
3. BMW X7 ($6,800 average repair cost)
4. Mercedes Benz S-Class ($6,500 average repair cost)
5. Land Rover Range Rover ($6,200 average repair cost)

Least Expensive Makes to Insure

The least expensive makes to insure are safe, affordable vehicles with standard repair costs. Several of the makes—like Honda, Mazda, and Subaru—earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings in 2023, making them some of the safest vehicles on the market.

What Makes Certain Car Brands Cheaper to Insure

Car insurance companies base your rate on an assessment of risk. The riskier your application profile, the higher your premiums will be. While there are individual factors to consider, like your driving record, several aspects of the vehicle itself impact your insurance rate.

Vehicle Size and Weight

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), larger, heavier vehicles generally offer more protection than smaller, lighter vehicles. This is because larger, heavier vehicles offer more structure to absorb the impact of a crash. This lessens the crash forces drivers and passengers experience, while also providing a physical layer of protection that’s less likely to crumple upon impact. Some insurance companies charge less to insure large vehicles because of this.

However, some insurance companies feel the opposite. They charge more to insure bigger, heavier vehicles due to their ability to cause more damage in an accident. For example, if both a Dodge Ram and a Mini Cooper caused a rear-end collision, the Dodge Ram will likely cause more damage.

With this in mind, it’s best to compare rates across multiple insurance companies to find the best rate.

Repair Costs

Insurance companies consider the potential cost to repair your vehicle after an accident when setting your rate. The more expensive to repair, the more expensive your insurance will be. Generally speaking, imported luxury vehicles are most expensive to repair.

Crash Testing and Overall Safety

Many newer cars have safety features like blind spot detection, lane departure warnings, and backup cameras. These features help prevent accidents, making them some of the safest vehicles on the road. Cars with more safety features will see lower insurance premiums due to the lower accident risk. In the same vein, vehicles with strong crash testing performance tend to be cheaper to insure.

Theft Rates

Certain vehicles have higher theft rates, which causes a potential loss for insurance companies. To offset the potential loss, insurance companies charge higher premiums to insure these vehicles.

According to a National Insurance Crime Bureau study, the vehicles with the highest annual theft rates are:

1. Chevrolet Pickup (49,903 thefts)
2. Ford Pickup (48,175 thefts)
3. Honda Civic (27,113 thefts)
4. Honda Accord (27,089 thefts)
5. Hyundai Sonata (21,707 thefts)
6. Hyundai Elantra (19,602 thefts)
7. Kia Optima (18,221 thefts)
8. Toyota Camry (17,094 thefts)
9. GMC Pickup (16,622 thefts)
10. Honda CR-V (13,832 thefts)

Engine Power and Performance Vehicles

High-performance vehicles have more powerful engines. This allows them to drive faster, which can lead to unsafe driving behaviors, like speeding, if driven irresponsibly. Insurance companies may charge more for high-performance vehicles given the increased risk of accidents and unsafe driving behavior.

Common Myth: Does Color Drive Up Insurance Prices?

While it’s a common belief that red and white cars cost more to insure, this isn’t true. This belief comes from the fact that white vehicles get pulled over the most, with red vehicles coming in as a close second. However, when you look at the data, these two vehicle colors are simply more common. For example, white vehicles make up 25% of the local population—no wonder they’re pulled over more.

According to the IIHS, there is little correlation between vehicle color and insurance premium. The cost of your auto insurance policy depends far more on your driving record, the make and model of your car, and the cost to repair it.

Other Factors Impacting Your Rates

Individual factors, like where you live, your driving record, and your age impact car insurance premiums. These factors are often challenging to address—you can’t simply pack up and move to a new city to save a few bucks on car insurance. This is why it’s crucial to consider the car you drive, as the make and model have a massive impact on your car insurance rates.

Final Thoughts

Vehicle-related factors include the make, model, and safety of your vehicle. If you own a luxury vehicle, one with high repair costs, or a vehicle known to be unsafe on the road, you’ll see higher premiums. On the other hand, if you drive a new vehicle with various safety features and lower repair costs, you’ll see lower premiums.

You can lower your car insurance premiums by carefully considering which vehicle you drive. Keep in mind—once you have the vehicle in your possession, it isn’t a quick fix to get rid of it. If you purchase a vehicle and realize it’s expensive to insure, it may be challenging to lower your premium significantly if the vehicle itself is driving up the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Insurance Per Year?

The average American spends around $2,118 per year on car insurance.

Is $200 a Lot for Car Insurance?

The average American pays around $176.50 per month for auto insurance. Based on that, we’d say $200 per month is on the high end. However, what's considered fair depends on the make and model of your vehicle.

Paying $200 per month to insure a Ferrari would be a sweet deal. But $200 per month to insure a Mazda? Not so much.

At What Age is Car Insurance Most Expensive?

Car insurance is most expensive for new drivers, age 16 to 24. At around age 25, insurance prices begin to level out then increase again around age 70. This is because both young and elderly drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents.

Which Cars Are the Most to Insure?

Generally speaking, new, luxury vehicles are the most expensive to insure.