The feeling of gravity pushing you back into your seat as you push on the gas pedal is like no other. The horsepower under the hood gives you a sense of power and excitement. You purchased your Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Maserati because you wanted to feel that power and speed, and take the risk of such a considerable investment. Enter sports car insurance. When you call your insurance agent, your sports car induced high starts to evaporate as you realize that your wallet is about to be a lot lighter.
Coverage
Sports car insurance is similar to regular auto insurance when it comes to the structure of the policy. Each policy will contain liability and physical damage coverage.
Liability: This coverage will include bodily injury and property damage to others if you are at fault in an accident. While you may have heard state minimum limits are sufficient, this is not the case, especially driving a sports car that can go higher speeds than a family car. Insurance companies are going to consider the liability higher with a sports car, so prepare yourself by having higher limits.
Physical Damage: This coverage includes damage to your sports car for two areas: comprehensive and collision. Comprehensive coverage will pay for “acts of God” which include hitting a deer, glass breakage, or a tree falling on your vehicle. Comprehensive covers anything other than a collision.
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Collision includes colliding with any other object, such as another car. If you are the victim of a hit and run, that will be covered under here as well. Both of these may be subject to a deductible out of your pocket.
Of course, you will have extra coverages available on some policies which can include rental reimbursement, towing coverage, and new car replacement. Each insurance company will offer different coverage enhancements, so be sure to check into all of them.
Rating Factors
You probably already expected to pay a little more for your sports car than your family car, but maybe you want to understand a bit more about why. Insurance companies will consider many factors when rating an auto insurance policy. For sports cars, here are some things they may consider:
- Parts: Since you are driving a more expensive, high-performance car, then you know the parts are going to cost more than traditionally expected for a vehicle. The more unique the sports car, the higher the cost of parts. The cost of looking cool can be high.
- Horsepower: As a general rule, the more horsepower your sports car has, the more you will pay for insurance. As mentioned above, the liability is higher on a car that has more power.
- Analytics on theft: Is the type of sports car you drive stolen often? If so, this may impact your insurance rates. For example, for every 10 Chevrolet Corvettes that are owned by consumers, more than one has been stolen in the last thirty years according to Forbes.com.
- Is it your primary: If your sports car is your primary vehicle, then you can plan to pay a higher premium than if it was a secondary vehicle. Maybe save your awesome car for beach trips.
For more tips on managing your car insurance, and some suggestions for future cars, consider our list of The Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure.
Ways to Save
Since you just spent a significant amount of money on your hot new sports car, here are some ways to save on your insurance premiums.
Source: pixabay/Toby_Parsons
- Make it your secondary car: Most companies will give you a discount if you drive your sports car less than 4,000 miles a year. So, it might cost you less to insure two vehicles with your family car being your primary vehicle.
- Safety features: Just because it has power, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be safe. Be sure to purchase a sports car that has safety features as you are more than likely to get a discount for that. An annoying anti-theft thorn might come in hand.
- Clean driving record: Probably the most obvious way to save money on your sports car insurance is to maintain a clean driving record. Don’t get caught while speeding, okay?
Enjoying your new sports car is going to be much easier if you aren’t paying a fortune for your insurance. Now that you have the tools to know what to look for and how to save, get back into your beautiful sports car.
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Our Definitive List of the 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure – HartleyAgency.com
Purchasing a new car can be an exhilarating experience. The variety of cars available in the marketplace these days is impressive, and you are sure to find something that fits your needs! But with this excitement comes worry about costs, especially when it comes to insurance. With this huge investment to transport you and your family, you probably want to find the cheapest car to insure—or at least, the most affordable.
To help you out, we created a list of the top 10 cars that will be the most affordable to insure. We also added additional tips to help keep your expenses manageable. As always, feel free to reach out to us once you’re finished reading as well if you’d like a car insurance quote from us!
How Companies Determine Cost
Before we get into the list, here’s a brief overview of how insurance costs are calculated. Sometimes, it may seem like the prices are pulled out of thin air, but there is (usually) a method to the madness.
One of the biggest factors that insurance companies consider is repair costs. The more expensive a car is to repair, the more it will cost to insure, as the company will need to recover their losses. Part of this equation is the cost of the parts themselves. The cheapest cars to insure will be compatible with aftermarket parts.
The value and performance of the car can also contribute to the cost. Sleek sports cars will likely be more expensive to insure than small sedans better suited to neighborhoods than to the Indy 500. Flashy vehicles are also more susceptible to theft, and therefore more expensive to cover.
A surefire way to lower costs: purchase a car with safety features. Often, insurance companies will give you a discount for the added security, as the safety features help to reduce the possibility of a claim. How often the particular car has had claims is another factor to consider. If a Chevrolet Cruz has less claims history than a Toyota Corolla, then the Chevy will be cheaper to insure.
Another, more obvious, factor that determines the cost of your insurance is your own personal characteristics. These attributes include age, driving history, and insurance credit score. To keep costs down, always drive safely to avoid accidents and violations. Some other factors also include how much the car will be driven or where the vehicle is kept at night.
Top 10 Cars That Are Cheapest to Insure
You may find different lists floating around the internet, but here is our well-researched list of the most affordable cars to insure as of today.
1. Honda CR-V
This crossover makes the top of our list as the cheapest to insure–and still has enough room for a growing family. The CR-V has been ranked #1 in the crossover category. What really makes this car stand out is the smooth ride, excellent crash test scores, and amazing cargo space.
2. Subaru Outback
Subaru’s are known for their long life. With a national average cost of less than $30,000, the vehicle alone among the most affordable. Where you can go with this vehicle is limitless with its all-wheel-drive. This car also features the infamous Subaru Boxer engine, only used elsewhere by Porsche, to decrease vibrations for maximum power and stability. Spacious and comfortable, the Outback is sure to please.
3. Jeep Cherokee
If you are looking for a bit of a larger vehicle, the Cherokee is the way to go. Known as the most luxurious SUV, go off-road but still feel like a VIP. The technology is not to be outdone, with touchscreen, voice command, and heated mirrors to help avoid icing.
4. Chevrolet Equinox
Possibly the roomiest on this list is the Equinox. Great for summer road trips and winter snow storms. A great car for keeping the kids entertained, this compact SUV gets a 5-star safety rating and voted as most dependable in 2018.
5. Ford Fiesta
A sportier looking car without the costs of a real sports car. If you are looking for fantastic gas mileage, this one is it with up to 37 miles per gallon on the highway. An excellent commuter car, the Fiesta does not lack personality. Both hatchback and sedan models come with hill start assist and high-strength boron steel: a major safety feature when it comes to crashes.
6. Ford Escape
Still decent gas mileage but a roomier choice with this crossover. The newer models help you parallel park with Active Park Assist. With 68 cubic feet of space behind the front seats, long car trips will be less stressful with passengers who have long legs, or kids who like to kick the seat.
7. Jeep Wrangler
If you have any plans for off-roading this is the vehicle for you. Surprised to see it on the list? Whether you get the 2-door or 4-door model the Wrangler is made for tough roads. Now coming with a backup camera and the ability to wash the interior.
8. Toyota Rav4
Crossovers seem to be the theme for cheapest cars to insure and this one has excellent gas mileage and superior passenger leg room. This compact SUV can look fancy, but still get down and dirty with its 18-inch wheels and rocker panel guards. Roof rails make transporting bulky items easy.
9. Honda Accord
A lovely family sized sedan is always an excellent choice for any driver. The Accord can be fancy or sporty depending on the model you choose. Loaded with safety features like forward collision warning and mitigation, it can make for a great first car for your teen.
10. Toyota Camry
Roomy and still under $30,000, this is our last car on the list. The mid-sized Camry boasts a 41 miles per gallon highway gas efficiency and a sleek interior cabin featuring the latest technology. Pedestrian detection, for example, is one of the most unique, underrated safety features that helps this car earn all 5 stars.
You might have noticed that all of the cars we mentioned on our list have a ton of safety features. If you are looking for a newer model, this is a big reason why they make the list. Always be sure to check the history of the vehicle if you buy used as this can also impact costs. When shopping for insurance, explore what discounts are available from each company and take advantage of them. And of course, keep our list of Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure easily accessible when you are shopping for your latest asset.
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