Running a car comes with plenty of unavoidable costs, but many of these expenses can be reduced by choosing the right model. Fuel costs, for example, are a major factor—drivers of large V8 SUVs or pickups often face hefty gas bills, while those with fuel-efficient vehicles spend significantly less at the pump.
Insurance is another area where smart vehicle choices can lead to substantial savings. Some models consistently have lower average insurance premiums, helping drivers save hundreds each year.
The average annual insurance rate across the U.S. is $2,638. However, several models come in well below that number, with 14 vehicles averaging under $2,000 per year for drivers with clean records.
This data is based on annual mileage of 13,000 miles and assumes a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a good driving history. While these figures are averages and individual quotes can vary widely, these models are among the most affordable to insure on today’s market.
If your current premiums feel unusually high, it could be taking a serious toll on your monthly budget—especially when paired with car payments, fuel, and maintenance costs. Although some factors affecting insurance rates are beyond your control, the type of car you drive plays a big role.
If you’re shopping for a new vehicle and want to keep long-term costs low, it’s smart to avoid models known for high insurance rates. Checking out lists of the most expensive cars to insure can help you steer clear of budget-busting choices.
In this article, we will take a look at 12 cars that are pocket-friendly and 10 others, not so much.
Also read: 10 Cars That Prove Modern Reliability Still Exists, Even Past 200,000 Miles
Cheap to insure
Chevrolet Trax
Chevrolet isn’t known as one of the cheapest brands to insure, but its smallest SUV, the Trax, has lower insurance prices. The average yearly insurance cost for the Trax is $1,933.
That makes it the least expensive Chevrolet model to insure. The electric Spark has an even lower cost at $1,872, but it was discontinued in 2022 and can’t be bought new anymore.
The Trax does a good job of hiding its low price, especially when seen from the outside. Its style looks like some of the more expensive Chevrolet SUVs, and it shares some of the same parts inside. But once you start driving it, the 1.2-liter engine makes it clear that it’s a lower-cost model.
It gives 137 horsepower, which works well for city driving. On the highway, the small engine may not feel strong enough, but many people might be okay with that because of the Trax’s very low starting price.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V is Honda’s best-selling SUV, with many people buying it every year. One big reason people like it is because it’s not too expensive to buy or insure. On average, insuring a Honda costs $2,188 a year, but the CR-V has a lower insurance cost of $1,873. This makes it the cheapest Honda model to insure.
People who buy the CR-V can save money on gas too, especially if they choose the hybrid version. The front-wheel drive hybrid gets a combined 40 miles per gallon, based on EPA numbers, which makes it one of the most fuel-saving SUVs you can get. In 2025, Honda brought out a new hydrogen-powered CR-V, but it’s only sold in California because that’s the only state with enough hydrogen fuel stations.
Toyota 4Runner
The previous version of the Toyota 4Runner was very old compared to today’s standards, staying on sale for about fifteen years. For 2025, Toyota released a brand-new version with big changes in the SUV’s design, technology, and engine.
There’s a hybrid version available, but Toyota also has a non-hybrid 2.4L engine that makes 278 horsepower. The 2025 4Runner still keeps its strong off-road performance, with several versions available for people who like to drive on rough terrain instead of paved roads.
The lower-end versions of the 4Runner still cost about the same as the old model, which makes them a good deal considering what the vehicle can do. Insurance costs are also reasonable, with an average yearly rate of $1,965.
That puts the 4Runner among the least expensive Toyota models to insure, even cheaper than the Prius and Highlander. However, the RAV4 has the lowest insurance cost in the Toyota group, with an average rate of $1,912.
Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is made for buyers who want both comfort on the road and some ability to handle rougher areas. It’s popular with a lot of people because it’s not only affordable to buy but also cheap to insure. The average insurance cost is $1,889.
In other Subaru models, the Outback has a very similar rate at $1,885, while the Impreza and Forester also stay just under the $2,000 mark. Only the more expensive BRZ and WRX raise Subaru’s average insurance rates.
Even though the Crosstrek doesn’t cost much, it doesn’t feel like a low-quality car. The review said the interior was nicely built, and while the entertainment system inside wasn’t the best out there, it was good enough for how much the car costs.
Subaru offers many safety features for the Crosstrek, such as lane-keeping assist and forward-collision warning. Still, some of these features are only available for an extra cost on the lower trims.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata might not be the most useful car for everyday needs, but there aren’t many new, low-cost cars that are as fun to drive. For 2025, its starting price is $29,330 before any extra fees.
If you want the version with the folding hardtop that handles weather better, you’ll need to pay at least $37,350 before fees. Insurance is fairly priced too, with the average yearly cost is $1,915. As mentioned before, several of Mazda’s more useful models are also priced similarly for insurance.
The Miata is one of the few sports cars today that still comes with a six-speed manual transmission and doesn’t have any kind of electric system yet. But that’s expected to change soon.
Mazda has said the next Miata, coming in 2026, will include some kind of electric feature. There aren’t many details yet, but it looks like some big changes are coming for Mazda’s well-known sports car.
GMC Terrain
The last version of the GMC Terrain had a tough time standing out because there were so many similar vehicles on the market. Still, the newest version for 2025 brings some important updates compared to the old one.
It now comes with more standard safety features, like blind zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking for people and cyclists in front, and reverse automatic braking. The technology inside the car has also been improved, with a new 15-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital display for the driver coming as standard.
For 2025, only the base Elevation trim is being sold, with the AT4 and higher-end Denali trims expected in 2026. The engine hasn’t changed much—it’s still a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with 175 horsepower.
Even with the new version coming out, the Terrain’s insurance cost should stay reasonable. It says a driver with good credit and a clean record would pay about $1,931 each year.
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep is the fourth cheapest car brand to insure, with only Chrysler, Mini, and Mazda being cheaper. The Jeep model with the lowest insurance cost right now is the Wrangler, with an average yearly premium of $1,905.
The main features that make the Wrangler popular have stayed the same since it was first made. But with the release of the 4xe hybrid, buyers now have more choices when it comes to engines.
The hybrid Wrangler comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and electric motor that together make 375 horsepower. There are still regular gas engine options too. Depending on the version chosen, buyers can pick from a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, or a 6.4-liter V8 engine.
The off-road ability of the Wrangler stays strong across all versions. The Wrangler is not the smoothest SUV to drive on regular roads, and that hasn’t changed from past models either. But for people who want to enjoy driving off-road, the newest version still has a lot to offer.
Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson continues to be one of Hyundai’s best-selling models, with over 200,000 sold in 2024, according to CarFigures. Like many other cars in its category, part of its popularity comes from being affordable — both when buying it and keeping it running.
So it’s no surprise that it’s one of the least expensive midsize SUVs to insure. It competes closely with other popular models like the Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4 in this area.
The Tucson has an average yearly insurance cost of $1,897, while the Sportage and RAV4 cost $1,919 and $1,912, in that order. The 2025 version of the Tucson gets a few updates to help it stay competitive, including some changes to how it looks on the outside and updates to the inside of the car.
The engines stay the same as before. There’s a plug-in hybrid that makes 231 horsepower, and a gas-only 2.5-liter engine that makes 187 horsepower.
Nissan Rogue
Most Nissan vehicles cost more than $2,000 a year to insure on average. Still, most of them are cheaper to insure than the national average of $2,638.
The only current Nissan with an average insurance cost below $2,000 is the Rogue, which costs $1,906 per year on average. For 2025, the Rogue starts at $29,230 before fees. However, if buyers choose many of the available options, the price of the top Platinum version can go over $50,000.
That makes the Rogue nearly as expensive as some luxury cars — for example, the BMW X3 starts at a similar price.
On the other hand, the basic Rogue doesn’t come with as much equipment as some other vehicles in the same price range, so the best deal might be found in the mid-level trims. No matter which version you pick, the Rogue comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Subaru Forester
Even though the 2025 Subaru Forester has been updated, it still stays mostly the same as before. That’s not a bad thing, even though the reviewer thought that the engine and the inside of the car could have used bigger changes.
Still, the Forester is known for being dependable, able to handle rough roads fairly well, and being reasonably priced. All of that is still true with the newest version.
Every Forester comes with a 2.5-liter boxer engine as standard. A Forester Hybrid is expected to arrive in the middle of 2025. Subaru hasn’t shared many details about that version yet, but it will be the first hybrid in the company’s lineup.
Insurance costs for Subaru cars are different depending on the model, but many are among the cheapest to insure in their class. The Forester has an average yearly insurance cost of $1,955.
Honda Ridgeline
Pickups usually cost more to insure, but the Honda Ridgeline is one of the few that doesn’t follow that pattern. The average yearly insurance cost for it is $1,950, which is similar to many popular SUVs that focus on value. The basic Sport version starts at $40,150 before fees for the 2025 model year.
Other trims include the RTL, TrailSport, and the highest one, Black Edition. That top version starts at $46,750 and includes features like 18-inch black alloy wheels and ambient lighting inside.
SlashGear tested the Ridgeline TrailSport in 2024 and said it handled well, even if it didn’t stand out in every way. Like past versions, the Ridgeline drives more comfortably on roads than trucks that are built mainly for rough terrain, but that comes with less off-road ability.
The inside of the truck isn’t as modern as some of Honda’s newer vehicles, and the tech for music and apps isn’t as up-to-date as in other models. Still, it’s affordable to keep running, and the insurance cost is just as reasonable.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage goes up against many strong competitors from brands like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. It still manages to be a solid choice. The 2025 version has a few small updates, but it’s mostly the same as the one introduced back in 2023. Kia is already planning bigger changes for the 2026 version, which will be released later.
Whether buyers choose the current 2025 Sportage or wait for the new 2026 version, the cost to insure it should stay low compared to others in the same category.
The average insurance premium for the Sportage is $1,919 per year. That’s close to what it costs to insure models like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Other Kia cars are priced well for insurance too.
The most expensive Kia to insure is the Telluride, with an average cost of $2,588 per year. That’s still less than the national average, even if it’s not as affordable as the Sportage.
Expensive to insure
Lexus RX 350
The RX 350 is known for being a very comfortable car. But that comfort can come with a higher price when it comes to insurance. The average yearly cost for insurance is around $2,105.
If you’re looking to buy a new car, keep in mind that Lexus is one of the pricier brands to insure. It’s a good idea to compare different insurance options to try and find a better deal.
You might be able to pay less if you check out different companies and keep a clean driving history.
Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus
Tesla is a brand that people think of as fancy and expensive, and the Model 3 Standard Plus fits that image.
The average yearly insurance cost for this model is $2,447. Because so many people want to buy Teslas, they tend to cost more. You might also have trouble finding mechanics who can fix them, which can affect insurance prices.
Lexus ES 300H
The yearly insurance cost for this model is about $2,485. Lexus is known for being a luxury brand, and that usually means insurance costs more.
Another thing that affects insurance prices is who is driving the car. Women might pay less because they are sometimes less likely to drive sporty or luxury cars. Cars that are aimed at sportier or single drivers can have higher insurance costs.
Tesla Model S Performance
If you drive a Tesla, chances are your insurance will cost more than it would with many other cars. The Model S Performance is one of the most expensive cars to insure, with a yearly average of $3,960.
One reason for this is that Tesla cars cost a lot to fix and their parts can be very pricey, mostly because of the advanced technology they use.
Porsche Panamera Turbo
Several Porsche models are among the cars with the highest insurance prices. The Panamera Turbo costs about $4,129 per year to insure.
One of the main reasons insurance is so expensive for this car is that Porsche vehicles are very expensive to buy. That means fixing them costs more too. They also use special parts that aren’t cheap.
BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe
BMW is known for being a pricey brand, mostly because it’s seen as high-quality and performs well.
The M8 Competition Gran Coupe costs around $4,231 a year to insure. This is mostly because it’s a luxury car with a high price tag and parts that are expensive to fix or replace.
Some BMW cars are listed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as having some of the highest losses from crashes.
Maserati Quattroporte Modena Q4
Insurance for this Maserati is expensive too, with a national average of $5,118 a year.
If you’re driving a Maserati, you’re probably ready for big costs, since regular upkeep on Maseratis tends to be more expensive than on many other brands.
If you’re going to own one, it might help to compare prices from different insurance companies. You could even try asking if you qualify for any discounts.
Maserati Quattroporte
It’s no surprise that Maserati is at the top of the list for the most expensive cars to insure. In fact, the two cars with the highest insurance costs are both Maseratis.
The Quattroporte is the most expensive one, with a yearly average cost of $5,176. Brands that focus on luxury and performance usually have the highest insurance prices because fixing or replacing parts can cost a lot.
Also read: 10 Used Cars That Are Still a Smart Buy in 2025 for Reliability and Value
Nissan Altima 2.0 S
The average yearly insurance cost for the Altima 2.0 S is $2,130.
One reason this cost might be higher is because Altima models tend to have more collision-related losses than usual. This could be part of the reason why Nissan cars might be some of the more expensive non-luxury vehicles to insure.
Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription
You might not think of Volvo as being among the cars with the highest insurance costs, since they are often some of the more affordable options, but the XC90 T8 Inscription stands out as different.
The average yearly insurance cost is $2,456. The cost of parts for this model might be higher than for other Volvo vehicles, which could be one reason why the insurance rates are higher.
