Top 10 Most/Least Expensive Vehicles To Insure
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Jun 9th 2009 at 12:29PM 
Click above for Most Expensive ------------------------------- Click above for Least Expensive
There are lots of variables to consider when shopping for your next new car. Obviously, the initial purchase price is a big part of the decision, but that's certainly not the only sum to factor in. For instance, the cost of gas and insurance need to be added in to figure out the final monthly expenditure. This being the case, we're all keenly interested to know how vehicles compare when it comes to these ancillary charges.
Thankfully, there are experts paid to do this tedious work for us. Researchers from Insure.com compiled a list of nearly 300 vehicles available in 2009 and has broken them out in order of average insurance costs. For the most part, the list plays out pretty much as you'd expect to see. There are a few surprises, though. For instance, coming in as the eleventh most expensive vehicle to insure – and therefore the first vehicle not appearing on our list of the most expensive cars to insure – is the Chevy Cobalt SS. That means the littlest Super Sport in the Bowtie stable costs more to insure than cars like the Jaguar XKR, BMW M3 and Audi R8. Who'da thunk?
Want to know more? Take a moment to follow us along as we take a brief look at both ends of the insurance cost spectrum. First, click here to see the Top 10 Most Expensive Cars to Insure. Finished? Perfect, as an interesting counterpoint, click here to see the Top 10 Least Expensive Cars to Insure. Remember, the prices quoted by Insure.com are averages, so your actual insurance premiums may vary widely.
[Source: Insure.com, Main image by limonada | CC2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alex 12:35PM (6/09/2009)
Not a surprise, a Cobalt SS is much more likely to be owned by a more inexperienced driver than an XKR, M3, etc.
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Yar 12:40PM (6/09/2009)
I guess you've never been to Highland Park in Dallas, M3's are a dime a dozen and always seem to be driven by high school kids who stall out at every intersection.
Poor does not necessarily mean bad driver. Then again, Racing Schools are expensive...
Nick Vrana 12:51PM (6/09/2009)
I'm a student at SMU (in Highland/University Park), and there are a couple of every one of the cars on the most expensive list there, driven by undergrad.
There's also a McLaren SLR, two Aston DB9's, a V8 vantage (freshman), etc.
Craziest thing I've seen is a 60-70 year old lady squeel all four tires in a Gallardo at the Mockingbird and Bishop intersection, it was a Superleggera and was so loud it was unbelievable.
Lifestyles of the rich and famous I guess.
Nick Vrana 1:03PM (6/09/2009)
Wow, the formatting of that post was completely messed up. Oh well.
Clay Garland 1:13PM (6/09/2009)
I'm trying to figure out how a Smart is cheap to insure. The chances of catastrophic injury when you're in an accident while driving one of those has to be high.
John 1:28PM (6/09/2009)
The higher the danger to YOURSELF in an accident, typically the cheaper the insurance. If you are likely to die they aren't all the likely to pay as much. It's part of the reason motorcylce insurance is so damn cheap. You aren't much of a threat and are more than likely to die in a serious accident.
Clay Garland 3:19PM (6/09/2009)
Since when is motorcycle insurance cheap?
lern2read fgt 3:38PM (6/09/2009)
Clay, I hope you're kidding. Motorcycle insurance usually runs about $20-40 a month. My car costs me $278/mo to insurance, whereas a Harley Nightrod only costs $47 (NJ).
Sea Urchin 12:42PM (6/09/2009)
I thought that Buggati would be #1, or a Lambo or a Ferrari
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Alan 12:54PM (6/09/2009)
They said that they only sampled 300 cars, nothing on the list was much over 100 grand. So those cars probably do cost more.
Alex 2:29PM (6/09/2009)
I have heard that many of the "typical" auto insurance companies do not do the exotics like Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bugatti. I don't know if it is true or not, just what i heard. *shrugs*
Scott 3:51PM (6/09/2009)
My 355spider is a 98 and Is only a touch over 500 a year as a second-pleasure car. I think the rates are lower because most of them are used as second cars, and have a fewer annual miles then I would think most cars on this top 10 list. I only put maybe 1400 miles on it last year.
But that is my best guess, its funny to me that has been the least expensive part of ownership over the years.
Alex 12:42PM (6/09/2009)
If i read the M5 post correctly, it is far and away the most expensive car to insure at $24,240 a year ;)
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inteller 3:05PM (6/09/2009)
yes I noticed that too, apparently it is cheaper not to proof read blog posts as well.
Tam 12:44PM (6/09/2009)
I'd be more interested in seeing vehicles ranked by insurance costs as a percentage of price.
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Kumar 12:56PM (6/09/2009)
It wouldn't do too much good, as the insurance is regional. You're best bet is to call your insurance company with your top car selections and get quotes.
I remember the VW GTI being about twice as expensive to insure as the Golf/Rabbit, despite getting better mpg's (the turbo is the reason of course).
travisty 7:58PM (6/09/2009)
Me too. Of course the expensive cars are going to be most expensive to insure, duh... Now the fact that cars like the Cobalt SS only cost $23k and are stupidly expensive is a tidbit I'd be more interested in hear. I'm assuming that goes for any of the hot hatches, Mazdaspeed3, MCS, GTI, etc.
Matt 1:10PM (6/09/2009)
As a 24 year old male without drivers-ed, I'm paying more than it costs to insure the GT-R for my Hyundai Accent. This sucks.
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Redeemed 12:51PM (6/09/2009)
Insurance rates depend on so many factors it's difficult to generalize.
On my last new vehicle purchase I got 5 quotes. Per 6 months, they ranged from about $520 to $850 for identical coverage.
It really pays to get at least 5 or 6 quotes when getting a new vehicle and also roll in property insurance to get the maximum discounts.
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Sea Urchin 12:53PM (6/09/2009)
Location, weather or not you have a garage, crime rate in the area, credit score, all can affect insurance.