The Type of Vehicle Affects Insurance Rates

Many pieces of information are used to determine a person's automobile insurance rates. Age, gender, car accident history, hometown, number of miles driven per week or month, and also what type of car is being insured. The brand, model, year, and even the color of a vehicle will affect insurance rates.

Make and Model Make a Difference

One of the reasons that the make, model and year of a particular vehicle plays a role in determining insurance costs is that police departments across the nation keep records on the most popularly stolen cars . There are lists created using national statistics, and insurance companies reference the lists to determine if a person is the owner of a make and model car that is a common target for thieves.

Crash Tests

Another factor contributing to insurance rates is how various makes and models of cars perform in crash tests. The higher the car falls on the safety list, the safer it is deemed. Insurance companies use this information to determine how a car might hold up in an accident.

Sport Utility Vehicles

Some of the most expensive cars to insure in the United States are many makes and models of sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Not only are these types of cars usually very expensive to fix when they are involved in accidents, but they also tend to cause major damage to any other vehicle or object they hit. Also, people riding in other cars can become more severely hurt if their car is hit by an SUV than if it were to be hit by a smaller car. All of these factors can contribute to higher insurance rates.

Small is Not Great Either

Big SUVs are notorious for causing serious damage to other vehicles and people riding in them when an accident occurs. However, small cars are not necessarily better choices when it comes to insurance rates. Small cars tend to not hold up very well in accidents. Also, passengers riding in small cars may not fare very well in major accidents, which can cost insurance companies a great deal of money.

Sports Cars

Sports cars are another class of cars that are usually more expensive to insure than other types. People who own sports cars are often stereotyped and insurance companies put them into a category of people who may tend to drive faster and more recklessly. Insurance companies are aware of this, and charge these car owners accordingly for their insurance.

Check Before Buying

Before purchasing a car - either new or used - check its crash test rating and also check with an insurance agent. Alert the agent that a specific car may be purchased, and get a quote on insurance rates prior to buying the vehicle. Insurance agents should be able to input data regarding various cars into their computer system, and almost immediately come up with a rate quote. A good insurance agent will be patient and willing to help a potential client figure out the most cost-effective vehicle to purchase in terms of safety, size, and insurance rates.