The Top Ten Hardest Cars to get Insured

While your driving history is the number one factor in an insurance company determining your premium, the sort of car you drive also plays a role. Insurance companies take into account the sticker price, the cost to repair the vehicle, replacement value, safety features, and how well it will withstand an accident. The higher the cost of claims for a vehicle, the higher the rates, and therefore the harder it is to get insured.

Basically, luxury cars, sports cars, four-wheel drive trucks, and other performance vehicles are the most expensive to insure. Not only do these cars have high claim rates for collisions, theft, and injury, but the companies consider their drivers to be more apt to speed and therefore a higher risk factor.

Here is a list of the top ten most expensive vehicles to insure, that have a sticker price of less than $50k, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI):
1. Lexus IS 300
2. Land Rover Discovery Series II
3. Audi S4
4. Jaguar X-Type
5. Mercedes SLK Class
6. Lexus GS 430
7. Land Rover Freelander
8. Mitsubishi Montero
9. BMW X5
10. Toyota 4Runner

The HLDI also lists vehicles that are the most expensive based theft, injury and collision claims. The most expensive theft claim models are:
1. Acura Integra two-door
2. Acura Integra four-door
3. Jeep Wrangler
4. Jeep Cherokee four-door
5. Honda Prelude two-door

The most expensive injury claim models are:
1. Suzuki Esteem four-door
2. Mitsubishi Mirage four-door
3. Kia Rio four-door
4. Mitsubishi Mirage two-door
5. Kia Sephia four-door

The most expensive collision claim models are:
1. Lexus IS 300
2. Hyundai Tiburon two-door
3. Kia Spectra four-door
4. Suzuki Esteem four-door
5. Mitsubishi Mirage four-door and Audi A6 Avant Quattro station wagon (tie)

The cost to insure a specific make and model will fluctuate as time passes. Especially if it is brand new model to hit the market. Insurance carriers will examine how the vehicle performs in crash tests, as well as the average payout on accident claims.

Insurance companies also look at how durable or dependable the vehicle is, based on basic maintenance and repair costs. But, get a DUI or be a reckless driver and even that 1993 Geo is going to be hard to get insured.