Crossovers, SUVs least expensive to insure in 2013
(January 27, 2013) In a remarkable upset this year, minivans are no longer the go-to vehicles for the best car insurance rates, according to Insure.com in its annual insurance cost survey released earlier this month.
"In the past, minivans have dominated our annual rankings of 'the least expensive vehicles to insure,' but in the 2013 model year, crossovers and SUVs have taken control of the top 20, including models from Ford, Jeep, Kia and Hyundai," Insure.com states in a press release.
Minivans have been “Edged” out: The Ford Edge SE is the first crossover to snag the best position on our list.
“The SUV is the new minivan,” says Russ Rader, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which performs crash tests on vehicles. “These are vehicles used largely by families. They're going to the mall, taking kids to school and driving to sports practices on the weekends. They're not getting into a lot of crashes.”
Their lack of crashes and their low repair costs keep insurance rates down.
Also notable is the appearance of a small car in the rankings of least expensive vehicles to insure: The Honda Fit squeaks in at No. 19.
Mercedes-Benz drivers must have worked hard in the past year to increase insurance claims costs and thus their auto insurance rates. Mercedes models control half the list of the 20 “most expensive vehicles to insure” for 2013 models.
The 12-cylinder Mercedes-Benz CL600 coupe earns the unenviable top spot for the highest national average car insurance rates. AutoTrader.com notes the car’s “blistering acceleration.” The next sounds you hear may be squealing brakes and cracking metal: Expensive claims have propelled the CL600’s rates.
With an MSRP of about $160,000 and an annual average insurance bill of $3,357 (and that’s for a good driver), the CL600 is expensive driveway candy.
It could be worse. When we look at state-specific auto insurance rates, we see that insuring an Audi R8 5.2 Quattro in Washington, D.C., costs an average of $6,009.
Yet most drivers shop for cars without any consideration for insurance costs.
“People just don’t think about it,” says Michelle Rupp, an independent agent with NRG Insurance in Seattle. She estimates that only about 20 percent of car buyers will research the auto insurance rates of a vehicle before they buy it. “If they’re really watching dollars and cents, they need to do that,” she says.
But over her 30 years of experience as an agent, “it gets worse,” laments Rupp. Consumers who diligently research invoice price, fuel efficiency and how to negotiate at a dealership will overlook auto insurance costs.
Below is a list of the 20 least and most expensive vehicles to insure for 2013 according to Insure.com.
The least expensive 2013 vehicles to insure
Rank | Make & model | Cyl. | Avg. annual premium |
1 | Ford Edge SE | 4 | $ 1,128 |
2 | Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo | 6 | $ 1,148 |
3 | Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium | 4 | $ 1,150 |
4 | Kia Sportage | 4 | $ 1,157 |
5 | Jeep Patriot Sport | 4 | $ 1,160 |
6 | Chevrolet Express 1500 | 8 | $ 1,171 |
7 | Subaru Outback 3.6R | 6 | $ 1,180 |
8 | Hyundai Tucson GLS | 4 | $ 1,189 |
9 | Ford Explorer | 6 | $ 1,197 |
10 | Hyundai Tucson GL | 4 | $ 1,204 |
11 | Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | 6 | $ 1,206 |
12 | Ford Transit Connect XLT Premium | 4 | $ 1,210 |
13 | Chevrolet Equinox 1LT | 4 | $ 1,210 |
14 | Honda Odyssey EX-L | 6 | $ 1,217 |
15 | Jeep Compass Sport | 4 | $ 1,217 |
16 | Kia Sorento LX (2 WD) | 6 | $ 1,222 |
17 | Nissan Pathfinder S | 6 | $ 1,224 |
18 | Chevrolet Equinox 2LT | 6 | $ 1,235 |
19 | Honda Fit | 4 | $ 1,235 |
20 | Kia Sorento LX (4 WD) | 4 | $ 1,237 |
The most expensive 2013 vehicles to insure
Rank | Make & model | Cyl. | Avg. annual premium |
1 | Mercedes-Benz CL600 | 12 | $ 3,357 |
2 | Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG | 12 | $ 3,330 |
3 | Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG | 8 | $ 3,221 |
4 | Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG | 12 | $ 3,207 |
5 | Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG | 8 | $ 3,184 |
6 | Mercedes-Benz S600 | 12 | $ 3,158 |
7 | Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG | 8 | $ 3,075 |
8 | Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG | 8 | $ 2,978 |
9 | Porsche 911 Turbo | 6 | $ 2,958 |
10 | Porsche 911 Turbo S | 6 | $ 2,925 |
11 | Porsche Panamera Turbo | 8 | $ 2,912 |
12 | Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic | 8 | $ 2,897 |
13 | Jaguar XKR (convertible) | 8 | $ 2,822 |
14 | Jaguar XKR (coupe) | 8 | $ 2,756 |
15 | Jaguar XK | 8 | $ 2,684 |
16 | BMW 650i | 8 | $ 2,681 |
17 | Mercedes-Benz SL550 | 8 | $ 2,671 |
18 | Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | 6 | $ 2,642 |
19 | Mercedes-Benz S550 | 8 | $ 2,640 |
20 | Porsche 911 Carrera S | 6 | $ 2,626 |
Source: Insure.com