The 15 cheapest vehicles to insure

The Chevrolet Colorado is among the cheapest trucks to insure.

Car insurance can account for up to 25 percent of a household’s automotive expenses, according to Edmunds.com, an online resource for automotive information. Yet it’s a cost that’s easy to overlook.

“Insurance expense is often one of the last things that people think about when deciding which model to purchase,” says Warren Clarke, automotive content editor at Edmunds.com. “This is unfortunate, since this expense can represent a significant financial outlay, costing a car owner hundreds of dollars each month.”

With that in mind, Edmunds.com recently produced a list that identifies the cars and trucks with the lowest insurance costs. Here are the top three vehicles in each category.

Top three trucks
Chevrolet Colorado, $6,778 (nationwide estimate of insurance premiums over five years).
GMC Canyon, $6,832.
Ford Ranger, $7,036.

Top three coupes
Kia Forte, $6,317.
Honda Civic, $6,762.
Chevrolet Cobalt, $6,794.

Top three sedans
Volkswagen Jetta, $5,695.
Chevrolet Aveo, $5,818.
Suzuki SX4, $5,904.

Top three hatchbacks/wagons
Smart Fortwo, $4,134.
Chevrolet HHR, $4,976.
Nissan Cube, $5,341.

Top three SUVs/crossovers
Hyundai Tucson, $5,534.
Jeep Patriot, $5,700.
Kia Sportage, $5,722.

Generated by the Edmunds.com data team, the rankings are based on five-year projections for all models in each class. Each model’s costs were determined based on the trim package that is the least expensive to insure.

Data for the vehicles was collected by comparing average policy costs among all insurers in a state, Clarke says. “For national averages, we take a flat average across all states,” he says.

Car shopping and insurance shopping

When car shopping, the more price-sensitive you are, the more you should consider auto insurance expense before deciding on your purchase, Clarke says. While some vehicles are naturally pricier — luxury cars are more expensive to insure than economy models, for instance — there’s often a variance within each category. Some luxury models will be cheaper than others to insure.

The Hyundai Tucson is one of the cheapest SUV/crossovers to insure.

When you obtain auto insurance, you’ll want to have at least the minimum coverage required by law. In most states, that means liability insurance. Getting more coverage, such as collision and comprehensive coverage, is recommended if you own a newer or expensive vehicle. Collision covers damage to the policyholder’s car from any kind of collision, whether you hit another car or a light post. Comprehensive coverage protects your car in the event of theft, fire, falling objects or other events.

Choosing an insurer

In today’s market, you don’t want to be married to an insurance carrier, says Ryan Hanley, a broker at the Guilderland Agency Inc. in Albany, N.Y. Since your insurance needs will vary during the course of your life, you’ll want to find an insurance carrier that can serve your current situation.

Some carriers will price their policies more competitively for certain types of risks, Hanley says. If you’re in your 50s, own a home, have three cars and a grown child, you may be able to find a carrier that lowers their costs for your particular demographic. Similarly, some carriers cater to young male drivers and will lower their rates for that segment. Finding the best-priced policy for your needs can be done through an agent or an insurance rate comparison site.

–Rachel Hartman