Key Takeaways:

• Dodge, Tesla and BMW typically sell some of the most expensive cars to insure.
• Mazda, Volkswagen and Subaru consistently have cheap cars to insure.
• Your vehicle’s make and model are only a few factors that affect car insurance rates.

Your car’s make and model play a major role in how much you’ll pay for auto insurance. Certain vehicles are deemed more of a risk to insure, which can raise the cost of your car insurance policy. However, the right provider for your needs can ensure that you pay a fair rate for insurance, no matter what vehicle you drive.

In this article, we at the Guides Auto Team will cover the 10 most expensive car makes to insure along with why they have high average premiums. We’ll also cover the cheapest car makes to insure before revealing average costs from some of the market’s best car insurance companies.

While auto insurers consider many factors when setting auto insurance rates, your car’s make and model are some of the most important. From typical repair costs to the number of liability claims filed, you may be surprised at how much your car choice affects auto insurance costs.

What Makes a Car Expensive To Insure?

There are various factors that can make a vehicle expensive to insure. For example, auto insurance providers might consider you more likely to get into an accident or to receive a speeding ticket if you have a car with a powerful engine.

Your chosen trim level can also have a major effect on how much you get charged for car insurance. If you own a new car with high-tech features that will cost more to repair or replace, auto insurers may require higher rates to cover these potential expenses.

In addition, you’ll likely face a hefty insurance bill if you own a luxury or high-performance car like the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte, Audi R8 or Mercedes-AMG GT.

We ranked the 10 most expensive cars to insure using data from Quadrant Information Services. We’ve also included the annual and monthly average rates required to insure these vehicles with the industry’s top-rated insurance providers.

1. Dodge

While Dodge is one of America’s oldest automakers, it’s mainly known today for offering cars packed with power and speed. Partly due to this, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that the Dodge Charger’s insurance losses are about 110% higher than average, with other Dodge models following closely behind. When taken together, Dodge models are the most expensive cars to insure among the leading brands in the U.S.

Average Cost To Insure a Dodge

The average cost to insure a 2022 Dodge model is $354 per month or $4,242 per year. That’s about 145% higher than the national average for a full-coverage auto policy, which is currently $144 per month or $1,730 per year.

Below are the average rate estimates for Dodge models from leading car insurance providers:

*Note: Unless stated otherwise, estimates are for full-coverage auto insurance and reflect the profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit history. USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.

2. Tesla

Tesla is one of the most well-known electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers on the market today. However, the IIHS found that models such as the Tesla Model X are expensive to repair after collisions, which partly explains why they’re pricey to insure. Since EV models use parts that are tough to find and often expensive, it’s not surprising that Teslas have high insurance rates.

Average Cost To Insure a Tesla

The national average cost to insure a 2022 Tesla model is $251 per month or $3,007 per year. That’s almost a 74% increase from the national average cost for full-coverage auto insurance.

Below are the average Tesla insurance rates from top-scoring providers:

3. BMW

The average cost to insure a BMW is $195 per month or $2,337 per year, which is 35% higher than the national average. BMW is known as a luxury car brand, so this high insurance cost may come as little surprise. Higher-end models and luxury vehicles cost more to insure overall.

Average Cost To Insure a BMW

See below for average BMW insurance costs for a 2022 model from our top five providers:

4. Lexus

Lexus ranks as the fourth most expensive make to insure. While both the Lexus ES 350 and the Lexus IS were 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners from the IIHS, this luxury brand’s car insurance rates aren’t cheap. The average cost to insure a Lexus is $189 per month or $2,273 per year.

Average Cost To Insure a Lexus

Check the table below for auto insurance rate averages for a 2022 Lexus:

5. GMC

GMC is a division of General Motors (GM) that manufactures trucks and other utility vehicles. As the fifth most expensive vehicle make to insure, the average cost for auto insurance on a 2022 GMC model is $184 per month or $2,207 per year.

Average Cost To Insure a GMC

See below for more details on average insurance rates for a 2022 GMC from top-ranked providers. Several fall below the overall national average of $1,730 per year.

6. Ram

A subset of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Ram is well-known for its heavy-duty pickup trucks. The IIHS found that pickup trucks and SUVs are proportionally more likely than cars to be involved in fatal single-vehicle crashes such as rollovers.

Average Cost To Insure a Ram

The risks associated with protecting pickup trucks could factor into the cost of auto insurance for  Ram models, which is $175 per month or $2,101 per year. See below for rate estimates on a 2022 Ram model from five of the top auto insurers:

7. Nissan

Nissan is the seventh most expensive automotive brand to insure. With models like the speedy Nissan GT-R and the all-electric Nissan Leaf, you’ll find the average cost of auto insurance for a 2022 Nissan to be around $167 per month or $2,004 per year.

Average Cost To Insure a Nissan

Find an average car insurance cost breakdown for all 2022 Nissan models below:

8. Hyundai

Hyundai is a well-known and popular South Korean automaker. Unfortunately, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) found that vehicles built by Hyundai and Kia are often top targets of car thieves, with theft claims twice as common as with all other manufacturers combined. The average cost of auto insurance for a 2022 Hyundai is $164 per month or $1,973 per year.

Average Cost To Insure a Hyundai

Our top insurance providers offer rates for 2022 Hyundai models that are below or close to the national average. Below are details on the annual premiums you could pay for a Hyundai:

9. Kia

Another leading car brand from South Korea, the HLDI found that Kia models are top targets of auto theft as well. Many 2015 to 2019 Hyundai and Kia models lack electronic immobilizers, which prevent thieves from starting a car without the proper key. Average costs for auto insurance for 2022 Kia models amount to $164 per month or $1,968 per year.

Average Cost To Insure a Kia

Here’s more cost information on auto insurance for 2022 Kia models:

10. Toyota

Toyota comes in as the 10th most expensive car make to insure, with an annual average cost of $164 per month or $1,964 per year for 2022 models. This is about 13% higher than the national average. However, if you’re looking for a full-coverage insurance policy, our top five providers offered rates for 2022 Toyota models that are below the national average.

Average Cost To Insure a Toyota

See the table below for annual and monthly averages for 2022 Toyota models:

While some car makes are typically more expensive to insure, others are generally cheaper than the national average. Remember that each individual’s premium will vary since many factors outside of your vehicle’s make and model influence car insurance costs.

1. Mazda

According to Quadrant Information Services, Mazda ranks as the least expensive car to insure. Mazda’s 2022 models have an average annual insurance rate of $138 per month or $1,658 per year for full-coverage policies, coming in at around 4% less than the national average.

Average Cost To Insure a Mazda

Our top car insurers provide cheaper average rates, which are broken down below:

2. Volkswagen

Volkswagen is the second cheapest car make to insure, with 2022 models seeing an average annual rate of $142 per month of $1,707 per year. While this is only about 1% less than the national average, our top providers’ average rates for Volkswagen are significantly lower.

Average Cost To Insure a Volkswagen

See the table below for a detailed cost breakdown for Volkswagen:

3. Subaru

On average, car insurance premium costs for 2022 Subaru models are around $146 per month or $1,752 each year. However, it’s relatively easy to compare quotes and get reduced rates on Subaru insurance coverage.

Average Cost To Insure a Subaru

See below for more information on average rates from our top five auto insurance providers:

4. Jeep

While it’s the fourth cheapest car brand to insure, the average cost for Jeep insurance still sits at $153 per month or $1,833 per year. Note that you may find significantly different rates for models such as the Wrangler than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Compass.

Average Cost To Insure a Jeep

You’ll find relatively competitive rates from our top five providers for 2022 Jeep models.

5. Honda

On average, it costs $156 per month or $1,869 each year to insure a 2022 Honda model. While this is higher than the national average, there are many reputable insurance companies that offer cheaper prices for full-coverage auto insurance.

Average Cost To Insure a Honda

Look below for our top five choices and their average auto insurance rates for models such as the Honda CR-V and Civic:

Your vehicle’s make and model aren’t the only factors that can change your car insurance cost. Providers also consider the following factors when setting premiums:

• Location: Car insurance rates vary widely based on where you live. Population density, climate and even the number of claims processed nearby can influence insurance costs.
• Age: Younger and less experienced motorists are seen as riskier to insure, so they can expect to pay more for insurance than those with a long driving history.
• Credit history: A high credit score is seen as a mark of financial responsibility and reliability, which often equates to lower insurance rates. A poor credit score can result in much more costly insurance premiums.
• Driving record: If you have a speeding ticket, a recent at-fault accident or a driving under the influence (DUI) charge on your driving record, you’ll get charged more for insurance than someone with a clean record.
• Marital status: Those who are married typically pay less for auto insurance than single drivers.
• Gender: Men, especially young males, usually pay more for car insurance than women.
• Chosen deductible: Expect to pay higher premiums if you choose a low or nonexistent deductible when filing claims.

According to Quadrant Information Services, Dodge models are the most expensive cars to insure among automakers. While the make and model you drive factor into your insurance costs, they’re not the only elements that affect your rates. 

If you’re concerned about auto insurance costs for your specific make and model, shop around and compare car insurance quotes from various providers to find the right types of coverage. While you can get a minimum-coverage policy that simply includes the basics such as bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, experts recommend that you purchase more.

Top Auto Insurance Recommendations

We suggest starting your auto insurance search with some of the industry’s leading providers such as State Farm and Geico.

State Farm: Editor’s Choice

We named State Farm as our Editor’s Choice for 2023 thanks to its quality coverage options, affordable rates and positive customer reviews. It offers insurance add-ons such as rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance along with other choices. State Farm also lets policyholders sign up for a telematics insurance program known as Drive Safe and Save™ that could provide up to a 30% discount on your premiums if you’re a safe driver.

Read more: State Farm insurance review

Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers

We’ve determined that Geico is a provider that’s Affordable for Most Drivers, as it provides consistently low rates and relatively strong customer service. It offers every standard type of car insurance along with valuable coverage add-ons like mechanical breakdown insurance and rental car reimbursement. Additionally, you can save on insurance costs with DriveEasy, Geico’s usage-based insurance app.

Read more: Geico insurance review

Our Methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
• Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
• Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
• Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.

Our credentials:

• 800 hours researched
• 45 companies reviewed
• 8,500+ consumers surveyed

*Data accurate at time of publication.