Which are the most, least expensive cars to insure?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As any driver knows, owning a car can be very expensive.

First there’s the price of the vehicle itself. Then add on routine maintenance, filling the gas tank and, of course, vehicle insurance, and the costs can really start piling up.

However, not all vehicles cost the same to insure.

To help prospective car buyers figure out how much they may end up paying for insurance, QuoteWizard has released a new study analyzing quotes from the country’s top car insurers to see which popular vehicle models are the most and least expensive to insure.

“I think people really should consider the cost of insurance when buying a car because it can add tens of thousands of dollars to the price tag over the life of the vehicle,” said Nick VinZant, senior research analyst at QuoteWizard. “Luxury cars, cars with bigger engines and models frequently stolen are always going to cost more to insure.”

Of course, insurance rates can also vary based on the driver. For the purpose of this study, QuoteWizard gathered rates for a 30-year-old male with a clean driving record living in Seattle, Wash.

Here’s a look at the most expensive popular cars to insure with full coverage, based on annual cost.

1. Tesla Model 3 – $2,830
2. Tesla Model Y – $2,658
3. Hyundai Sonata – $2,332
4. Kia Forte – $2,328
5. Hyundai Elantra – $2,295
6. Nissan Sentra – $2,286
7. Chevrolet Silverado – $2,275
8. Nissan Altima – $2,254
9. Chevrolet Suburban – $2,198
10. Toyota Tundra – $2,197

Here’s a look at the least expensive popular cars to insure with full coverage, based on annual cost.

1. Subaru Forester – $1,760
2. Jeep Cherokee – $1,767
3. Honda CR-V – $1,769
4. Jeep Wrangler – $1,777
5. Honda Odyssey – $1,822
6. Ford Transit – $1,827
7. Subaru CrossTrek – $1,839
8. Ford F-Series – $1,847
9. Honda Pilot – $1,851
10. Hyundai Tucson – $1,882

INSURANCE RATES BY STATE

How much you end up paying for your car’s insurance can also vary based on what part of the country you’re living in.

Earlier this year, WalletHub, an online financial advisory site, released its 2021 Best & Worst States for Cheap Car Insurance report, finding that New York is the second-most expensive state in the nation to insure a vehicle.

The average yearly premium for New York drivers is $1,828, second only to Michigan, which boasted the highest average yearly auto insurance premium at $1,908, according to the report.

New Jersey, Louisiana and Delaware were found to be the third, fourth and fifth most expensive states, in order, with average yearly premiums of $1,287, $1,263 and $1,133, respectively, research showed.

Meanwhile, the report stated that the cheapest car insurance rates can be found in Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Vermont and North Dakota, with average yearly premiums of $274, $326, $326, $341 and $370, respectively.

While New York was found to have the second-most expensive car insurance prices in the country, how much each driver pays is dependent on a number of factors, such as coverage type, age, gender and prior driving violations.

Those seeking full-coverage car insurance in New York will pay, on average, 143% more than those content with the minimum required coverage, the data showed. And younger drivers will pay significantly more than their more experienced counterparts, with 16-year-olds paying, on average, 314% more for coverage than 55-year-olds.

Despite studies that show that men typically exhibit more aggressive and dangerous driving behavior than women, female drivers tend to pay 6% more, on average, than male drivers for coverage in New York.

Additionally, drivers with a prior DUI can expect to pay, on average, 85% more for car insurance in New York than those without a prior charge.