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Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure
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Every year, organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway safety, and companies like Insure.com compile and analyze data from consumers and individual insurers around the country, in order to provide the public with information like which cars are cheapest to own, or safest to drive.
They also provide annual lists of the vehicles with the cheapest car insurance, which is important for those whether we're looking for a new car, or not. After all, knowing how your vehicle compares to others in its class can assure you that you made the right choice, and help you plan your budget, while understanding the cost of insurance may affect a possible purchase.
For 2009, the top five in the "least expensive to insure" list are all relatively inexpensive SUVs and minivans, and similar models round out the top ten (with the exception of a single SmartCar). If this surprises you, consider that an important factor in the cost of insurance is the cost of likely repairs. Hybrids, with their new and extremely specific technology, cost more to repair than even the largest cars with traditional gasoline engines, and small cars, with their lack of crumple zones, are more likely to be declared total losses in the event of a crash. SUVs and Minivans, on the other hand, are built to survive rugged conditions and/or protect families. They're pretty tough to destroy.
And what are those top ten vehicles? Here's the list, with their average annual insurance (note - all prices shown are US national averages):
| Vehicle | MSRP | Average Cost of Insurance |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $21,695 | $832 |
| Kia Sportage | $16,695 | $840 |
| Hyundai Entourage | $23,395 | $848 |
| Kia Sedona | $21,245 | $857 |
| Kia Rio5 | $13,325 | $870 |
| Honda Odyssey | $26,355 | $871 |
| Chrysler Town & Country | $26,355 | $871 |
| Smart ForTwo | $11,990 | $881 |
| Saturn Vue | $23,380 | $911 |
| Mazda Tribute | $19,730 | $913 |
If the biggest cars are the least expensive to insure, you might expect that the most expensive cars to insure are all tiny sub-compacts or SmartCars. You'd be wrong. Two of the other factors that influence the cost of auto insurance are the size (and power) of the engine, and the way the car will be driven. This means that sports cars, with their high horsepower, are more expensive to insure than the tiniest Toyota. (Their higher price tags are also a factor.)
Which cars are on the most expensive list, then? Here are the top five.
| Vehicle | MSRP | Average Cost of Insurance |
| Nissan GT-R | $79,090 | $2,533 |
| Dodge Viper SRT-10 | $88,590 | $2,446 |
| BMW M6 | $102,100 | $2,236 |
| Ford Shelby GT500 | $43,125 | $2,186 |
| Mercedes G-Class | $100,250 | $2,088 |
Does this all mean that the cost of insurance should deter you from buying a car you love? No. But if money is an issue - and for so many of us it is - considering the insurance before you buy is one more way to be a savvy shopper.
EconomyWatch.com Guest Contributor
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