Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure in 2026: Complete Guide

From Maseratis to Mazda CX-5s — discover exactly what your next car will cost to insure before you buy.

Updated Mar 15, 2026 Fact checked

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Choosing your next car based on sticker price alone can be a costly mistake. The most expensive cars to insure in 2026 can cost over $7,000 per year in premiums — while the cheapest come in under $2,000. That gap adds up to tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a vehicle.

In this guide, you'll find category-by-category rankings of the most and least expensive vehicles to insure — including a new section on electric vehicles — a clear explanation of the factors that drive premiums up, and actionable tips to reduce your insurance costs whether you're shopping for your next car or already driving one that's hitting your wallet hard.

Key Pinch Points

  • Maserati Quattroporte is the priciest car to insure at ~$7,090/year
  • Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V rank among cheapest at under $2,270/year
  • EVs cost 19–23% more to insure than comparable gas vehicles
  • Stacking discounts can cut your premium by 30–50% annually

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Most and Least Expensive Vehicles to Insure by Category

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in 2026 can be thousands of dollars per year — and that gap can turn a seemingly great deal into a costly ownership mistake. Whether you're shopping for a family SUV, a performance sedan, or a weekend sports car, knowing the insurance cost before you sign the paperwork is just as important as knowing the sticker price.

Below are the 2026 rankings by vehicle category based on average annual full coverage premiums. For a broader look at how your vehicle type affects your rates, see our full breakdown by body style.

Sedans

Model Avg. Annual Premium Notes
Subaru Impreza ~$2,022 One of the cheapest sedans to insure
MINI Cooper ~$2,150 Low starting premiums with major carriers
Mazda3 Sedan ~$2,029 Affordable parts keep costs down
Maserati Ghibli ~$6,384 Luxury repair costs drive premiums sky-high
BMW M8 Gran Coupe ~$5,988 Performance brand = high insurer risk

SUVs

Model Avg. Annual Premium Notes
Mazda CX-5 ~$1,947 Consistently one of the cheapest SUVs to insure
Honda CR-V ~$1,951–$2,270 IIHS Top Safety Pick year after year
Subaru Forester ~$2,035 Low repair costs and strong safety scores
Hyundai Kona ~$1,960 Budget-friendly compact SUV
Hyundai Palisade ~$2,995–$3,049 Larger size and repair costs raise premiums

Trucks

Model Avg. Annual Premium Notes
Honda Ridgeline ~$2,030 Cheapest truck to insure overall
Toyota Tacoma ~$2,389 Reliable midsize with moderate premiums
Nissan Frontier ~$2,340 Budget-friendly midsize option
Chevrolet Colorado ~$2,348 Mid-range compact truck
GMC Sierra 3500 HD ~$3,000 High weight causes greater damage in crashes

Sports Cars

Model Avg. Annual Premium Notes
Nissan Z ~$2,916 Sporty but more accessible insurance
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ~$3,201 High performance, elevated premiums
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 ~$3,411 Track-focused spec adds to risk profile
Nissan GT-R ~$6,790 Near-supercar territory for insurance
Maserati Quattroporte ~$7,090 The most expensive car to insure in 2026

Electric Vehicles

EVs are a growing consideration for buyers in 2026, and their insurance costs deserve their own look. On average, EVs cost roughly 19–23% more to insure than comparable gas vehicles, primarily due to expensive battery repairs, high vehicle values, and limited specialized repair networks. Learn more about EV insurance costs and coverage in our dedicated guide.

Model Avg. Annual Premium Notes
MINI Electric ~$1,389–$2,099 One of the cheapest EVs to insure
Nissan Leaf ~$1,555–$2,100 Affordable EV with reasonable premiums
Chevy Bolt ~$1,571–$2,400 Budget EV with lower repair costs
Tesla Model Y ~$2,189–$3,500 Mid-range EV with above-average premiums
Porsche Taycan ~$2,915–$3,365 Luxury EV with premium repair costs

Pincher's Pro Tip

Before you fall in love with a vehicle, run a quick insurance quote online using your ZIP code and the car's make/model. A car with a $5,000 lower sticker price could cost you more over time if its annual insurance premium is $1,500 higher.
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Why Some Cars Cost So Much More to Insure

Insurance companies don't set rates randomly — every premium is built on data about how much a specific vehicle costs to own, fix, and replace after a claim. Understanding these four core factors helps explain why your next car choice can dramatically shift what you pay. For a complete breakdown of all the variables at play, see what affects car insurance rates.

Repair Costs

Luxury and performance vehicles use specialized parts, proprietary materials, and advanced electronics that cost far more to replace than standard components. Vehicles with expensive parts or specialized repairs lead to higher premiums, as insurers anticipate larger payouts on collision or comprehensive claims. This is why a Maserati and a Honda can sustain the same fender-bender but generate claims that are thousands of dollars apart. Electric vehicles face a similar issue — battery damage and limited repair shops drive EV repair bills far higher than their gas counterparts.

Theft Rates

If your vehicle is a popular target for thieves, your insurer knows it. Vehicles with higher theft likelihood raise premiums because comprehensive coverage must account for frequent theft claims — insurers track models prone to theft using detailed historical data. High-performance imports and certain popular truck models tend to have above-average theft exposure.

Safety Ratings

IIHS and NHTSA ratings have a direct and measurable impact on what you pay. Vehicles that earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards typically see insurance premiums 5–15% lower than comparable vehicles with poor ratings. Cars with top safety ratings — like the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru Forester — consistently earn lower rates because they result in fewer injury claims and reduced collision severity. On the other hand, poor or unrated safety scores signal elevated risk to insurers.

Horsepower & Performance

Bigger engines and higher horsepower correlate with higher speeds and greater accident severity. Insurers factor in a vehicle's performance profile because high-powered cars are statistically more likely to be involved in costly, high-speed crashes. This is why sports cars and performance trims always carry a premium over their base-model counterparts. Understanding how vehicle weight affects your insurance rates is equally important — heavier vehicles cause more damage in crashes, which raises liability costs.

Low Insurance Risk

  • Strong safety ratings (IIHS/NHTSA)
  • Affordable, widely available parts
  • Low theft rate history
  • Moderate horsepower / standard engine

High Insurance Risk

  • Poor or unrated safety scores
  • Proprietary or luxury components
  • High national theft frequency
  • High-performance or turbocharged engine
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How to Research Insurance Costs Before You Buy

One of the smartest things you can do as a car buyer in 2026 is check insurance costs before you step foot in a dealership. This five-minute step could save you hundreds — or thousands — per year.

Step 1: Use an Online Insurance Calculator

Free tools from NerdWallet, Insurify, MoneyGeek, Bankrate, and PolicyGenius let you enter a vehicle's make, model, year, and your ZIP code to get a real-time rate estimate. Insurify draws on tens of millions of real quotes, making its estimates highly accurate for comparison purposes.

Step 2: Compare Multiple Carriers

Don't just accept the first quote you receive. Shopping multiple car insurance quotes across providers can reveal significant differences — sometimes $800 or more per year — for the exact same vehicle and coverage level. Check our guide on the best auto insurance companies for 2026 to see which providers consistently offer the lowest rates for your vehicle type.

Step 3: Factor In Your Driver Profile

Your age, credit score, driving record, and location all affect how much any given car will cost to insure. A 25-year-old with a clean record in Vermont will pay very different rates from a 20-year-old with a speeding ticket in Nevada — even for the same car. The national average for full coverage now ranges from approximately $2,290 to $2,513 per year, but individual rates can vary dramatically above or below that baseline.

Step 4: Look at State-Level Data

Insurance costs are heavily influenced by where you live. National averages don't tell the full story — rates range from around $101/month in Vermont to $280/month in Nevada for full coverage. Check our guide on car insurance rates by state to understand the baseline for your area before shopping.

Don't Forget Full Coverage Costs

If you're financing a vehicle, your lender will almost certainly require full coverage (collision + comprehensive + liability). Make sure you're estimating full coverage costs — not just liability-only minimums — when budgeting your total monthly payment. Learn the difference in our guide on liability vs. full coverage.

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Tips to Lower Insurance Costs on Expensive-to-Insure Vehicles

Already driving or committed to buying a higher-cost-to-insure vehicle? These strategies can meaningfully reduce what you pay.

Shop Aggressively and Switch When It Makes Sense

Loyalty doesn't always pay in auto insurance. Switching providers is one of the most effective ways to lower your rate. With car insurance rates stabilizing in 2026 after years of double-digit increases, this is an ideal time to shop around and lock in a better deal.

Stack Every Discount You Qualify For

Most drivers leave significant money on the table by missing discounts they're already eligible for. Stacking multiple discounts — such as safe driver, bundling, and multi-car — can yield combined savings of 30–50% or $300–$800 annually. Common options include:

  • Multi-policy bundling (home + auto): saves 7–25%
  • Good driver / accident-free history: saves 10–30%
  • Telematics / usage-based programs: saves 10–30%
  • Multi-car discount: saves 10–25%
  • Paid-in-full or auto-pay: saves 5–9%
  • Anti-theft device installation: varies by carrier

Raise Your Deductible Strategically

Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can lower your collision and comprehensive premium meaningfully — just make sure you have enough in savings to cover the out-of-pocket difference if you file a claim.

Consider Dropping Unnecessary Coverage on Older Models

If you're driving an older vehicle in the $5,000–$8,000 value range, full coverage may cost more annually than your car is worth. Understanding what full coverage car insurance actually includes can help you decide the right threshold for your situation.

Compare Specialized Insurers for High-Value Vehicles

Not all insurers price vehicles the same way. If you own a luxury or exotic vehicle, specialized carriers like Chubb, AIG, and Hagerty often offer better coverage terms and more competitive rates than standard carriers. Learn more in our guide to luxury and exotic car insurance.

Pros

  • Raising your deductible can lower premiums by 10–20%
  • Bundling home and auto typically saves 7–25%
  • Telematics programs reward safe drivers with up to 30% off

Cons

  • Higher deductibles mean more out-of-pocket after a claim
  • Some discounts aren't available in all states
  • Switching insurers mid-policy may trigger cancellation fees

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most expensive car to insure in 2026?

The Maserati Quattroporte tops the list as the most expensive car to insure in 2026, with an average annual premium of approximately $7,090 for full coverage. Its premium pricing reflects extremely high parts costs, low production volume, and elevated theft and claim severity risk. Other top contenders include the Maserati Ghibli ($6,384/year), the Nissan GT-R ($6,790/year), and the BMW M8 Gran Coupe (~$5,988/year).

What is the cheapest car to insure in 2026?

The Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester consistently rank as the cheapest cars to insure in 2026, with annual full coverage premiums ranging from approximately $1,947 to $2,270. These vehicles earn low rates thanks to strong IIHS safety ratings, widely available and affordable replacement parts, and historically low theft and claim rates. Among trucks, the Honda Ridgeline (~$2,030/year) stands out as the most affordable to insure.

Do electric vehicles cost more to insure than gas cars?

On average, yes — EVs cost roughly 19–23% more to insure than comparable gas vehicles in 2026. This is largely due to expensive battery repairs, higher vehicle values, and a more limited network of qualified repair shops. However, more affordable EVs like the Nissan Leaf and MINI Electric buck the trend with premiums competitive with gas-powered vehicles in their class.

Can I lower insurance costs on a high-premium vehicle?

Absolutely. Key strategies include aggressively comparing quotes across multiple insurers, stacking all eligible discounts (bundling, telematics, good driver), raising your deductible if financially feasible, and enrolling in a usage-based insurance program. Combining three to five qualifying discounts can save 30–50% off your base rate, and simply switching carriers can save hundreds per year.

Why do some affordable cars have surprisingly high insurance rates?

Some budget-priced vehicles carry elevated insurance premiums due to poor safety ratings, high theft rates, or repair costs that are expensive relative to their value. A car's purchase price and its insurance cost are not always correlated — insurers care about how much it costs to repair or replace, not how little you paid for it. Always verify insurance costs for any specific make and model before purchasing, using free tools from MoneyGeek, Bankrate, or Insurify.

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