Which Cars Cost the Least to Insure

The cheapest cars to insure are usually older, smaller sedans with high safety ratings and low repair costs

Insurance companies charge based on what it costs them to fix or replace your car, how often drivers of that model file claims, and how much damage the car typically sustains in a crash. A Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla from a recent model year will almost always cost less to insure than a sports car, a luxury vehicle, or a truck. The single biggest factor is repair cost — if parts are cheap and widely available, your premium stays low. The second factor is claims history for that specific make and model. If thousands of drivers in your area have filed theft claims on a particular car, your rate goes up.

Age matters too. A five-year-old Honda Accord costs less to insure than a brand-new one, because the insurer's maximum payout is lower. A ten-year-old car costs even less. But very old cars sometimes cost more to insure if they lack modern safety features like automatic emergency braking or stability control.

Key Takeaways

• Sedans and compact cars from Honda, Toyota, and Mazda typically have the lowest insurance rates because parts are cheap and repair shops are abundant.
• A car's repair cost, theft rate, and safety rating all affect your premium — a car that is cheap to fix will be cheap to insure.
• Older model years of the same car cost less to insure than newer ones, but very old cars without modern safety features may cost more.
• Sports cars, luxury vehicles, and trucks cost significantly more to insure because they are expensive to repair and have higher claim rates.
• Your actual rate depends on your age, driving record, location, and coverage choices — the car itself is only one piece of the calculation.

Why repair cost is the biggest driver of insurance rates

When you file a claim, your insurance company pays the repair shop. If your car needs a $500 part that is sold by dozens of suppliers, the insurer's cost is predictable and low. If your car needs a $3,000 part that only the manufacturer sells, the insurer's cost is high and unpredictable. Insurance companies price your premium to cover the average claim they expect to pay on your car.

A Honda Civic has been sold in huge numbers for decades. Every repair shop stocks Civic parts. A fender costs $200 to $400. A Toyota Corolla is the same story. A Porsche 911 has parts that cost three times as much and take weeks to order. A Range Rover has electronics that require specialized diagnostic equipment. These costs get passed to you as a higher premium.

This is why a used Honda or Toyota is almost always cheaper to insure than a used BMW or Audi, even if both cars are the same age and have the same mileage. The Honda parts ecosystem is bigger and cheaper.

How theft rates and claims history affect your premium

Insurance companies track which cars get stolen most often and which cars show up in claims most frequently. If a particular model is stolen constantly in your state, your rate for that model goes up. If a model has a history of engine problems or transmission failures, rates go up. If a model is involved in more accidents than average, rates go up.

Some older pickup trucks and sports cars have high theft rates in certain regions. Some luxury cars have high claim rates because they are driven by younger drivers or because their owners file claims for minor damage. Your insurance company has this data broken down by make, model, year, and sometimes even by trim level.

You cannot change your car's claims history, but you can choose a car with a good one. Before you buy, you can ask your insurance company what the rate would be for a specific car. Most companies will quote you over the phone or online in minutes.

Specific car models that typically have low insurance rates

Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Mazda3, and Mazda6 consistently rank among the cheapest to insure. These are mid-size and compact sedans with affordable parts, abundant repair shops, and stable claims histories. A 2018 or 2019 model year of any of these cars will cost less to insure than a 2024 model of the same car.

Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are also inexpensive to insure, partly because they are newer to the US market and have lower theft rates than some older models. Nissan Altima and Nissan Sentra fall into the same category. These are all mainstream sedans with no performance reputation and no luxury price tag.

Avoid sports cars (Mustang, Challenger, Charger, Camaro), luxury sedans (BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4), and trucks (F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500) if your goal is the lowest possible insurance cost. These categories have higher repair costs, higher theft rates, or both.

Why age and mileage lower your insurance cost

An older car is worth less money, so the insurer's maximum payout if the car is totaled is lower. A 2015 Honda Civic is worth maybe $8,000 to $12,000. A 2024 Honda Civic is worth $25,000 to $30,000. If both cars are in an accident, the insurer's risk on the newer car is much higher. Your premium reflects that risk.

This is why a five-year-old car of a cheap-to-insure model is often the sweet spot: it still has modern safety features, parts are still widely available, but the value has dropped enough that your premium is noticeably lower than a new car.

Very high mileage (over 150,000 miles) can sometimes raise your rate slightly, because older cars are statistically more likely to be in accidents. But the effect is usually small compared to the car's age and model.

How your personal factors override the car choice

The car itself is only one part of your insurance rate. Your age, driving record, location, and the coverage you choose matter just as much or more. A 19-year-old driver in a Honda Civic will pay more than a 45-year-old driver in a Mustang. A driver with three accidents in the past three years will pay more than a driver with a clean record, regardless of the car.

Your location affects rates too. A Honda Civic in a rural area with low theft rates costs less to insure than the same car in an urban area with high theft rates. Comprehensive coverage (which covers theft and weather damage) costs more in high-theft areas.

The coverage you choose also matters. Liability-only coverage is cheaper than collision plus comprehensive, but it leaves you unprotected if you cause an accident or if your car is damaged by weather or theft. Most lenders require collision and comprehensive if you are financing the car.

Getting a rate quote before you buy

Do not buy a car without checking the insurance cost first. Call your current insurance company or visit their website and ask for a quote on the specific make, model, and year you are considering. Most companies will quote you in minutes without any commitment. Some will quote you based on the vehicle identification number (VIN) if you have it.

Compare quotes from at least two companies. Rates vary widely between insurers, and a car that is expensive to insure with one company might be cheaper with another. Some companies specialize in high-risk drivers, some in young drivers, some in rural drivers. The company that is cheapest for you depends on your profile.

If the insurance cost is higher than you expected, ask the company which factors are driving the rate. Is it the car's repair cost? The theft rate? Your age or driving record? Knowing this helps you decide whether to choose a different car or shop around for a better rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a used car always cheaper to insure than a new car?

Yes, usually. An older model year of the same car costs less because it is worth less money. But a very old car (15+ years) without modern safety features might cost more than a newer car with automatic emergency braking or stability control. The sweet spot is usually three to seven years old.

Do electric cars cost more to insure?

Yes, typically. Electric vehicles have expensive batteries and specialized repair shops, so parts and labor cost more. Battery damage from an accident can total the car. As the market grows and repair shops become more common, this gap is narrowing, but electric cars still cost more to insure than comparable gas cars.

Does the color of the car affect insurance rates?

No. Insurance companies do not charge different rates based on color. This is a common myth. Your rate depends on the make, model, year, and your personal factors — not on whether the car is red or blue.

Will my rate go down if I buy a car with more safety features?

Possibly. Some insurance companies offer discounts for cars with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, or other advanced safety features. Ask your company what discounts are available before you buy. The discount is usually 5 to 10 percent, not enough to offset the higher cost of a newer car, but worth knowing about.

Can I lower my insurance cost by choosing a different coverage level?

Yes. Liability-only coverage is cheaper than collision plus comprehensive. But if you are financing the car, your lender will require collision and comprehensive. If you own the car outright, you can choose lower coverage to save money — just understand that you will pay out of pocket for any damage to your own car.