Insure.com Announces Most and Least Expensive Vehicles to Insure

DARIEN, Ill., June 2 -- Results from extensive research conducted by Insure.com, Inc. reveal the most and least expensive cars to insure.

Insure.com calculated average car insurance premiums for almost 300 vehicles in model year 2009.

Topping the "most expensive to insure" list is the Nissan GT-R, which Nissan bills as a "multi performance supercar" that delivers fantasy driving. Its average annual premium is $2,533. Compare that price to the lowest-premium vehicle, the Hyundai Santa Fe at $832, and you can see how your car choice can deliver a surprising insurance bill.

The GT-R's supercharged engine helped drive it to the top of the list. It's a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 with 485 horsepower. Compare that to the Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6, with a horsepower of 271. Or take the Smart Fortwo, the smallest car available and one of the least expensive to insure, which has 71 horsepower.

Owners of the GT-R buy it for power and speed, and their driving habits are often reflected in frequent and expensive insurance claims.

GT-R owners who are young with less-than-spotless driving records could easily see their annual car insurance premiums zoom to several thousand dollars.

Sports cars dominate the "most expensive" roster, along with theft favorites like the Cadillac Escalade.

If low premiums are more your speed, the "least expensive" list contains a good selection of SUVs, minivans and passenger cars. Low insurance rates tend to reflect a vehicle's safety because drivers of those models have submitted fewer and less-expensive insurance claims.

"If you're looking to get the lowest car insurance price possible, these rankings can point you in the direction of vehicles that can help you get there," said Amy Danise, editor of Insure.com. "Maintaining a good driving history and good credit are also crucial to getting good rates. Your age and location also have a big impact. Shopping around is the No. 1 easiest way to lower your rate, even if you can't change your other 'risk' factors."

Save money no matter what car you drive

Even if you're not in the market for a new car and don't want to change insurance companies, there are ways you can lower your car insurance bill immediately:

  --  Trade higher deductibles for lower premiums - but make sure you can
      afford your deductible in case you crash your car
  --  Drop collision and comprehensive on older cars, especially vehicles
      with low resale value.
  --  Make sure you're getting all the discounts to which you're entitled.
      Have you recently installed a car alarm, lowered your annual mileage
      or even changed jobs? All these could qualify you for a discount.
  --  Buy your home/renters policy and car insurance policy from the same
      company, for a multiline discount.

About the rankings: To compare car insurance rates, Insure.com used a driver profile of a 40-year-old single male who drives 12 miles to work with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive. Policies quoted include uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300. Rates were averaged across multiple ZIP codes and insurance companies. Average rates are for comparative purposes; drivers' own rates will depend on age, driving history, location, discounts and other factors.

Average premiums for the profile used ranged from $2,533 to $832. When all vehicles were averaged together, the Chevy Tahoe ranked at the center, with an average car insurance premium of $1,169.

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