InsWeb's 2010 List of the Least and Most Expensive Vehicles to Insure

The Kia Sedona tops InsWeb's list of the least expensive vehicles to insure for 2010.

Below you'll find InsWeb's complete list of the 25 least and most expensive vehicles to insure for 2010.

To develop the list, InsWeb compared all car insurance rate quotes requested by its customers between January and September of this year for 2010 model-year vehicles. InsWeb compared over 400 models for the study.

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What makes a vehicle more or less expensive to insure? There are a variety of factors, but the most critical are generally the value of the vehicle and the vehicle model’s loss history.

Vehicle Value: A vehicle’s value directly impacts what an insurance company will need to pay out in the event of a total loss. It’s therefore not surprising that most of the vehicles on the most-expensive-to-insure list cost at least $40,000.

Loss History: Loss history reflects a specific model’s record of involvement in insurance claims. A model that has a history of expensive liability and comprehensive claims will cost more to insure.

Because driver behavior has such a strong influence on the incidents that cause claims, a model’s loss history is directly impacted by the individuals who drive it. That’s why the lowest-priced cars available are not necessarily the least expensive cars to insure. Younger drivers often drive inexpensive vehicles, and younger drivers tend to be involved in more insurance claims. Along those same lines, sports cars are generally driven by individuals who want to drive fast, and speed is a factor in many claims.

“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.”

Other factors that affect the cost to insure a vehicle include:

• Repair costs: Some vehicles are simply less expensive to repair than others. Makes/models with easily available and affordable parts are often less expensive to insure.
• Safety features: Vehicles with safety features such as vehicle stability control (VSC) and side curtain airbags tend to be involved in fewer accidents with severe injuries.
• Security features: Vehicles with security features such as vehicle location devices (e.g., LoJack) and audible alarms are less likely to be stolen.

To learn more about how car insurance rates are determined and how you can save money, please visit InsWeb's Auto Insurance Learning Center.

To compare auto insurance quotes, visit InsWeb's auto insurance quote form.

About the Data

To determine median car insurance rates, InsWeb uses a proprietary system that tracks the rates of multiple insurance carriers in each state. Rates are based on actual customer profiles that can include multiple drivers, multiple vehicles and other variables. Models with multiple trim levels were grouped together under one model name. Vehicles with a base price of over $80,000 were excluded.

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