Best Car Insurance Quotes by Vehicle (2023)

Insurance prices by car can vary wildly depending on the make and model you drive. Luxury car brands have higher rates because they cost more to repair, and sports cars with over 400 horsepower will cost more to insure than a standard sedan or SUV with a four-cylinder engine.

The cars with the highest insurance rates are usually two-door luxury sports cars with six or eight-cylinder engines, such as the Porsche 911 or Audi S8. 

You’re more likely to find cheap car insurance if you drive a bigger vehicle, like a four-door sedan, crossover, or SUV. Vehicles like these perform better in safety tests and are less likely to be destroyed in an accident or collision. 

Compare insurance rates by car make, model, body style, and trim to get the best car insurance quotes by vehicle. Our expert guide ranks cars by insurance cost so you can find the most affordable coverage. 

Keep reading to learn which type of car is the cheapest to insure and how you can lower the car insurance rates for specific makes and models.

What’s my car’s make and model?

Make and model refer to the brand and type of vehicle you drive. For example, a car’s “make” is the manufacturer, such as Toyota, Hyundai, or Mercedes-Benz. The “model” is the specific version of the vehicle the manufacturer released, so you may drive a Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Sonata, or a Mercedes E-Class — this is the make and model of your car. 

The “model year” refers to the year that a specific vehicle came out, which can greatly affect your car insurance rates. Vehicles with older model years will have much lower rates than brand-new models, even from the same manufacturer, so you’ll pay more in car insurance for a 2020 Toyota Corolla than you would for a 2015 model. 

Does body type affect my car insurance quotes?

The body type of your vehicle will impact your insurance quotes, especially if you drive a smaller car, like a two-door coupe or soft-top convertible. 

The most common types of body styles are:

• Convertible
• Coupe
• Sedan
• Van/SUV
• Hatchback
• Crossover
• Truck

Body styles that are common and easy to repair will have lower insurance rates than a vehicle body that needs skilled technicians to fix. 

Typically, larger vehicles such as trucks, vans, and SUVs have higher safety ratings, which means lower insurance quotes. However, certain sedans will also have affordable insurance rates, particularly those with four doors and high safety ratings. 

However, two-door coupes and convertible body styles often have the highest car insurance rates. This body style sacrifices passenger and cargo space for aesthetics and speed, leading to more high-risk behavior behind the wheel, which increases your insurance quotes. 

How does trim affect my car insurance quotes?

Along with make and model, a vehicle’s trim could raise your car insurance rates. Trim is a more concise way to refer to a vehicle’s specs, including horsepower, type of interior, cruise control or autopilot capabilities, and more. 

Standard, mid-range, and high-end are the basic trim styles you will come across when shopping for a new or used car. Any vehicle trim beyond “standard” or “standard extra” will have higher car insurance rates. 

Different manufacturers may abbreviate trim styles or refer to them in different terms. The most common vehicle trim abbreviations are:

• S: Standard, or basic, trim level
• EX, SXT: Mid-range trim level, sometimes referred to as “standard extra”
• L, LX, LE: Luxury trim level, which may include standard extras along with more high-end elements, like leather interiors, LED headlights, and adaptive cruise control
• SE, SX: Sport trim with increased horsepower and high-performance add-ons
• SRT, GT: Street-racing trim or “Grand Turismo,” typically comes with a bigger engine than SE or SX models

You may also see manufacturers or insurance companies use “Platinum” or “Limited” to describe a car’s trim. This typically represents a luxury package or top-of-the-line model, which will cost more to insure.

As electric vehicles continue to gain popularity, you may also see “EV” or “hybrid” used to refer to a model trim when multiple versions of the same vehicle are released. For instance, Ford sells hybrid and all-electric versions of the F-150, and you might pay higher rates for an electric truck over the standard fuel option.

Similarly, your insurance rates will go up if you add or modify your vehicle in any way to improve its performance or style. In that case, compare insurance quotes from the best car insurance companies that cover modified cars to get the lowest rates possible.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes by Vehicle

Now that you know more about a car’s body style and trim, comparing car insurance rates by vehicle type will help you find the most affordable policy for the kind of car you drive.

Below you’ll find the average full coverage insurance rates by vehicle make:

On average, MINI Cooper, Subaru, Honda, Mazda, and Mitsubishi have the cheapest monthly rates at around $135. On the other hand, the most expensive insurance quotes by vehicle will be for Jaguar, Porsche, and Tesla, with average rates of over $200 per month.

We recommend comparing rates from multiple companies to get the best car insurance quotes by vehicle. We were able to compare average insurance costs by car, but your rates will vary based on your age, driving record, and where you live. 

The body style and trim level of the particular model you drive will also impact how much you pay for car insurance. Scroll through the sections below to compare insurance rates by model and determine which are the most expensive vs. the cheapest cars to insure.

What car has the highest insurance rates?

Audi has some of the most expensive car insurance rates on the market. Some models, typically considered sports cars, cost more than $250 per month to insure. 

These are the makes and models with the most expensive insurance rates, costing over $200 per month:

Increased insurance costs are related to the risk associated with these vehicles due to their high speed and expensive repair costs. 

For instance, the Audi S8 has an eight-cylinder engine reaching 60 mph in three seconds. Comparatively, the Tesla Model X electric engine reaches 60 mph in just under four seconds.

Which makes and models are cheaper to insure?

Compared to the sports and luxury models listed above, the cheapest vehicles to insure are Toyota, Honda, and Ford SUV, crossover, and hatchback models.

These are the makes and models with the cheapest insurance rates, costing less than $130 monthly to insure:

While most convertibles have very high insurance rates, MINI Coopers are the exception to this rule, as the hard-top and soft-top convertible models have some of the lowest rates in the country. Compare MINI Cooper car insurance quotes to learn more.

Why Make and Model Affect Car Insurance Quotes

Car insurance quotes vary by make and model based on numerous different factors, including the design and parts used in the vehicle.

Since insurance costs depend on the particular body style and trim level, rates can fluctuate greatly even among the same model or class of vehicle. For instance, you’ll get different Porsche 911 insurance quotes depending on which style you drive. Compare Porsche 911 GT3 car insurance rates vs. Porsche 911 Turbo car insurance quotes to learn more.

Below we discuss the most common elements that affect car insurance quotes by vehicle make and model.

Vehicle MSRP

The more your vehicle costs, the higher your car insurance quotes will be. For example, brand-new sedans from luxury brands like Audi and Mercedes-Benz retail for around $65,000, with some models costing over $100,000.

A more expensive MSRP means repairs and replacement parts come at higher prices, so your insurer will charge more per month to cover this increased cost. You can save money on car insurance by buying an older model or a standard trim.

Vehicle Age

Driving an older car can help you save money on car insurance. Cars lose value the longer you have one, so your insurance rates will drop the more you drive your vehicle.

Older vehicles also have cheaper replacement parts and will not cost insurance companies as much if you file a claim. For this same reason, you can reduce coverage on older vehicles since you’re more likely to afford repairs out-of-pocket without having to file a claim. 

Repair Costs

The cost to repair a vehicle after a claim has a lot to do with that car’s age and MSRP price. However, the types of repairs and expertise needed will also impact your rates. 

Consider the Tesla Models S and X. Both models feature an all-electric engine and unique in-car technology that requires skilled technicians to repair. This is a big reason why Tesla insurance costs are among the most expensive. 

On the other hand, Ford, Jeep, and MINI Cooper have some of the cheapest models to insure because replacement parts are easy to find, streamlining the repair process and keeping costs low for manufacturers, drivers, and insurance companies.

Sportiness and Size

Smaller sports cars come with the highest car insurance rates because most drivers are more likely to speed or drive recklessly. Smaller cars also perform poorly in safety tests since they’re easier to destroy in a collision than a truck or SUV. 

Horsepower and Engine Size

The horsepower of your vehicle’s engine will affect car insurance quotes because it relates to how quickly the car can accelerate. Vehicles with more horsepower often have higher rates due to the increased risk of speeding and reckless driving.

Most standard models come with four-cylinder (V4) engines, which have between 200 and 300 horsepower. Sports and luxury models may have six (V6) or eight-cylinder (V8) engines with an increased horsepower of 400 or more. 

Insurance companies raise rates on vehicles with over 400 horsepower, which explains why Audi S8 and Audi S7 insurance rates are more expensive than other models.

Insurers often consider any vehicle with over 700 horsepower to be a supercar. Hypercars are another class of vehicle make that exceed 800 horsepower. These vehicles exceed traditional sports cars’ speed and finesse and can easily reach 200 mph in just a few seconds.

Ferrari and McLaren are popular supercar brands, but some insurers may also consider the Tesla Model S in this class due to its 600-1,000+ horsepower range. 

For instance, the Model S Plaid touts a 1,020 horsepower all-electric engine and easily reaches 60 mph in under three seconds. Compare Tesla car insurance quotes before you buy a policy to see which insurance company can give you the best rates.

Theft Rate 

How often your vehicle’s make and model is stolen will impact your insurance costs. Cars stolen more often will have higher rates. Likewise, you’ll pay higher rates if you live in a city or neighborhood with a high number of car thefts.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Ford and Chevy pick-up trucks are stolen more than any other vehicle make and model. Fortunately, older models from the early 2000s are stolen more often than new models, which means it may not affect your car insurance rates too much since old cars cost less to replace. 

However, the Honda Civic is stolen more than other sedans and has higher rates than other Honda models. Honda Civic car insurance quotes average $154 per month, while other Honda drivers pay closer to $135 monthly.

You can lower your car insurance rates by parking your car in a garage or installing additional anti-theft devices. Certain companies will also offer discounts for etching the VIN into the window glass to deter thieves, so shop around with multiple insurers to find the right price for your policy.

Safety Ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates vehicle safety every year, testing different makes and models for front-end collision performance, driver and passenger-side collision performance, headlight performance, head restraint performance, and roof strength.

Vehicles that perform well earn “Top Safety Pick” or “Top Safety Pick+” ratings. These makes and models typically have lower insurance rates due to their safety performance, including multiple Honda, Mazda, and Subaru models.

The IIHS also tests luxury vehicles and sports cars, and you can pay less for coverage on high-end models if they perform well in the safety tests. For example, Audi earns more top safety ratings than many other luxury car brands, which is why some models are more affordable to insure than other makes of the same class.

What other factors impact my car insurance rates?

Along with the kind of car you drive, your age, driving record, and policy type are among the top 12 factors that affect car insurance rates. 

Young drivers pay the most for insurance based on their inexperience, but drivers with accidents on their records will also have higher rates regardless of the kind of car they drive.

For example, the Toyota C-HR has some of the lowest average monthly car insurance rates. But Toyota C-HR insurance quotes jump to $233 per month for high-risk drivers with accidents and $399 monthly for teen drivers.

The cheapest cars to insure for teens are Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Mitsubishi, all with monthly rates between $400 and $450. Read our guide on the best car insurance for new drivers to learn more.

Some of the most expensive makes for teen drivers are Porsche, Audi, Tesla, and BMW, with monthly rates over $600 for some models. 

Many of these models are considered sports cars or luxury vehicles by insurance companies, such as the Porsche 911 and Audi S8. We recommend carrying more insurance coverage at higher limits if you drive a luxury car. 

Minimum liability insurance will not pay for any repairs to your vehicle, so you’ll likely want to carry full coverage car insurance in case of theft or a collision with another driver who only carries the state’s minimum insurance. Full coverage is more expensive but will protect your investment if your luxury car is damaged or totaled in a covered claim.

If you want to find the most affordable car insurance based on your make, model, and driving record, use our free comparison tool below. We will find insurance quotes from local companies so you can compare rates and policy options to find the most affordable coverage.

How to Get the Best Car Insurance Quotes by Vehicle

Compare car insurance rates by vehicle to get the best quotes. Luxury vehicles made by Audi, Jaguar, Porsche, and BMW will have higher rates than mid-range cars like Honda or Subaru. However, you can still get cheap car insurance by shopping around with multiple companies. 

Most insurance companies consider your age, driving record, and vehicle type when determining rates. For example, younger drivers are better off driving a Honda Fit or Toyota C-HR to save money on car insurance, as sports or luxury cars can raise rates by $100 a month or more. 

Get the best car insurance quotes by vehicle with our free comparison tool below. Enter your ZIP code to get free car insurance quotes from local companies for the exact make and model you drive.