Car Insurance Rates by Car: How Make, Model, and Body Style Affect Insurance Rates

Many different factors affect car insurance premiums, including the make and model of your vehicle. Your car’s fuel efficiency, safety features, and market value may also affect your premium. Because rates can vary based on your vehicle type, you should compare quotes to find the best deal on auto insurance.

Here’s what you need to know about car insurance rates by vehicle type in different states and for various driver profiles.

How make and model can affect car insurance rates

Car insurance premiums vary based on the type of car you drive. In addition to the make, model, and body style, factors like safety features and vehicle age can also contribute to the cost of your policy.

For example, SUVs and trucks tend to cost more to insure than sedans because larger vehicles often have more value.^[1] You might also find it less costly to insure a vehicle equipped with safety technology. By decreasing your risk of a serious crash this way, you might qualify for special discounts.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

Enter your ZIP codeGet My Quotes

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Based on 3,806+ reviews

4.8/5

How body style can affect car insurance rates

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance, you should consider choosing a sedan over a larger vehicle. Based on Insurify’s average car insurance premiums data, you’ll generally pay more to insure an SUV than a sedan or compact car.

For instance, the average full-coverage premium for a Volkswagen Beetle is $279 per month, whereas the average full-coverage rate for a BMW M3 is $447. If you chose the Volkswagen over the BMW, you’d save about 46%, or $168 per month, on car insurance.

Beyond the size of your car, the specific make and model of your vehicle also influences your car insurance costs. For instance, the average full-coverage premium for a Tesla Model 3 sedan is $465 per month, only $18 more per month than the average rate for the BMW M3 SUV.

How safety features can affect car insurance rates

Another variable affecting car insurance premiums, safety features provide you with added protection in your vehicle and can result in cheaper coverage. Cars equipped with advanced safety technology — like airbags, anti-lock brakes, and collision avoidance systems — sometimes cost less to insure.^[2]

Car insurance companies also commonly offer special discounts for vehicles with these types of safety features. For example, you can find many auto insurance companies that offer savings for having an anti-theft system in your car.

10 cars with the highest car insurance rates

Some car makes and models cost more to insure than others. Luxury vehicles often have the highest car insurance premiums, whereas standard brands usually result in cheaper rates.

The table below includes car insurance costs by make and model compiled by Insurify. You can see which vehicles have the highest average monthly quotes, organized from most to least expensive full-coverage insurance.

10 cars with the lowest car insurance rates

Consider comparing insurance quotes before you go car shopping if you want to find the cheapest car insurance. Recent rate data from Insurify shows that owners of vehicles from larger auto manufacturers, like Chevrolet and Subaru, are more likely to pay lower insurance premiums.

Below, you can see which cars have the cheapest average monthly car insurance quotes, organized in order of cheapest to most expensive full-coverage rates.

Make and model car insurance rates by driver age

Lots of factors affect car insurance premiums, including your age. Teenagers and young drivers under 25 generally pay the highest rates due to their lack of driving experience and increased accident risk.^[3] You’ll typically see your car insurance rates decrease with age as long as you maintain a clean driving record.

When combined with certain vehicle types, your age can result in higher or lower car insurance rates. For example, the average young driver pays $287 per month to insure a Ford F-Series but $364 for coverage on a Nissan Altima.

In the table below, you can see the average insurance quotes by car for different age groups. The quotes represent the average monthly cost of full coverage and liability-only coverage. For the purposes of the data below, young drivers are younger than 25, middle-aged drivers are between the ages of 25 and 60, and senior drivers are older than 60.

Make and model car insurance rates by driver profile

Your credit history and driving record also significantly affect the cost of your auto insurance policy. Drivers with a history of violations like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs usually pay the highest car insurance rates. Drivers with a clean record often pay lower rates and sometimes qualify for safe driver discounts. Similarly, drivers with good credit tend to earn lower rates than drivers with bad credit.

Every car insurance company will review your driving record when you apply for a policy, so you might not actually save money even if you drive a car that typically receives cheaper insurance rates. Conversely, maintaining a clean record could help you get a lower-than-average rate if your vehicle type typically requires higher average premiums.

By driver credit history

In most states, insurers use credit history as a rating factor when calculating car insurance premiums.^[4] Drivers with good credit usually pay lower rates than drivers with bad credit.

Regardless of the make and model of your vehicle, you can expect to have a more expensive insurance premium if you have a poor credit score. But some car models have cheaper average premiums than others, even for drivers with bad credit.

Recent Insurify data shows that a driver with bad credit pays $397 per month on average to insure a Toyota Camry, whereas the average rate for a Honda Civic is $429. You can see average monthly insurance quotes by car and different credit tiers in the table below.

With a speeding ticket

Getting a speeding ticket may affect your car insurance rate. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, even one speeding ticket could increase your premium quite a bit. Your rate might increase more if you have a sports car rather than a hatchback.

In the following table, you can see the average monthly insurance quotes for liability and full-coverage insurance by car model for drivers with a speeding ticket.

With a DUI

Compared to other traffic violations, driving under the influence (DUI) convictions often have the biggest effect on your car insurance rate, regardless of the type of car you drive. Some car insurance companies won’t even renew your policy if you get convicted of a DUI.

However, your vehicle make and model could affect your car insurance premium after a DUI. For example, Insurify average rate data shows a Honda Accord costs $597 per month to insure after a DUI, whereas a Nissan Altima costs $681 to insure after a DUI.

Here are some average monthly insurance quotes for different vehicle types for drivers with a DUI on their record.

With an accident

If you have an accident, you can expect your insurance rate to go up. At-fault accidents usually have a bigger effect on premiums than accidents caused by another driver, but any crash may increase your rate.

Larger vehicles, like SUVs, generally sustain less damage in an accident.^[5] Cars with crash-avoidance technology like automatic braking can also be safer in a collision. Therefore, you might see a smaller rate increase after an accident if your vehicle has these features.

Below, you can see the average monthly insurance rates by car after an accident.

Make and model insurance rates by state

Your location also affects the cost of your auto insurance policy. Some states have cheaper average premiums than others due to factors like weather risks, population density, the number of uninsured drivers, minimum coverage requirements, and the regularity of accidents and other violations occurring.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

Enter your ZIP codeGet My Quotes

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Based on 3,806+ reviews

4.8/5

Cheapest vehicles to insure by state

In the following table, you can see the cheapest vehicle to insure in every state, as well as the average monthly quote.

Most expensive vehicles to insure by state

Depending on where you live, certain vehicles can be more expensive to insure than others. See which vehicles cost the most to insure in every state.

Cheapest car insurance companies by make and model

Car insurance rates can vary based on the insurance company that underwrites your policy. Some insurers may provide better coverage for certain vehicles and driver profiles. See which insurance companies offer the cheapest coverage based on certain vehicle types.

Bristol West

Bristol West specializes in high-risk auto insurance, so it can work well for drivers with bad credit, a history of at-fault accidents, or a recent DUI conviction. On average, Bristol West policyholders pay monthly premiums of $311.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Dodge Caravan

• Lowest average monthly premium: $190

• Highest average monthly premium: $628

AAA

Known for its comprehensive roadside assistance plans, the American Automobile Association (AAA) also sells auto insurance in most states. The average AAA premium costs $328 per month.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Toyota Highlander

• Lowest average monthly premium: $220

• Highest average monthly premium: $481

Dairyland

Dairyland markets affordable car insurance to high-risk drivers, including drivers who require SR-22 insurance. The average car insurance premium from Dairyland costs $267 per month.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Dodge Caravan

• Lowest average monthly premium: $133

• Highest average monthly premium: $573

Kemper

Another high-risk auto insurance provider, Kemper offers a variety of coverage options and car insurance discounts. Kemper policyholders pay average monthly premiums of $221.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Ford Explorer

• Lowest average monthly premium: $161

• Highest average monthly premium: $355

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual offers a wide variety of endorsements and unique discounts to drivers in all 50 states. According to recent rate data, Liberty Mutual’s average monthly premium costs $243.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Dodge Caravan

• Lowest average monthly premium: $150

• Highest average monthly premium: $504

Nationwide

Nationwide is the 10th-largest car insurance company on the market.^[6] On average, Nationwide customers pay $178 per month for car insurance, making it one of the cheapest auto insurance providers based on recent Insurify data

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Subaru Forester

• Lowest average monthly premium: $125

• Highest average monthly premium: $252

Progressive

Progressive stands out for its long list of discounts and helpful online tools, like the Name Your Price and AutoQuote Explorer tool. The average car insurance premium from Progressive costs $199 per month.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Subaru Forester

• Lowest average monthly premium: $131

• Highest average monthly premium: $304

The General

The General also sells car insurance to high-risk drivers in most states. According to recent rate data, The General’s average monthly premium costs $358.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Dodge Caravan

• Lowest average monthly premium: $192

• Highest average monthly premium: $654

Travelers

Travelers offers the most affordable car insurance of the providers listed here, based on Insurify’s analysis of average monthly rates. Traveler’s average auto insurance premium costs $164 per month.

• Cheapest vehicle to insure: Subaru Outback

• Lowest average monthly premium: $102

• Highest average monthly premium: $271

How much car insurance you may need by make and model

Almost every state legally requires a minimum amount of car insurance. Drivers usually need to carry a minimum amount of personal liability insurance or personal injury protection (PIP), but coverage limits vary by location.

You should also consider several other factors when choosing how much car insurance you need. For example, if you lease or finance your car, some lenders will require you to carry a full-coverage car insurance policy that includes collision and comprehensive insurance. And, if you owe more on the car than its market value, think about purchasing gap insurance to pay the difference between your car’s diminished value and the loan balance if you total your vehicle.

You should also consider the market value of your vehicle. If you opt for a full-coverage policy, make sure to choose policy limits that will cover your vehicle’s full value in the event of covered damage or total loss. If you’re insuring a new vehicle, you might benefit from a policy with replacement cost value (RCV) coverage. This type of policy doesn’t deduct depreciation from your payout when you have a claim.

How to compare car insurance quotes

Comparing quotes is one of the best ways to find the most affordable insurance policy for your personal situation. Follow these steps to compare insurance quotes for your vehicle:

1. Choose your platform. First, you’ll need to decide how you’ll get your quotes. You can either apply for individual quotes on insurer websites or use a quote-comparison platform like Insurify to compare quotes from several companies at once.

2. Select your coverages and deductibles. During the quote process, you’ll be asked to select your coverage options, coverage limits, and deductibles. If you receive quotes from every insurer website, make sure you enter consistent information for the most accurate quotes.

3. Compare quotes. Gather the quote information you received and compare quotes side by side. See which company offers you the lowest rate for the type and amount of coverage you want. Before you choose an insurer, do some research into the company’s ratings for financial strength and customer satisfaction to ensure you choose a reputable insurer.

4. Purchase your policy. The final step is to purchase your car insurance policy. Many insurance companies allow you to buy a policy online without working with an agent. After paying the first month’s premium, your policy will go into effect.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

Enter your ZIP codeGet My Quotes

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Based on 3,806+ reviews

4.8/5

Car insurance rates by car FAQs