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The cheapest cars to insure in 2024 for annual full coverage are the Subaru Forester at $1,974, the Mazda CX-30 at $2,017 and the Subaru Outback at $2,025
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Key Takeaways:
Nobody likes paying too much for car insurance, but it can be tough to get great coverage at a reasonable price. However, you can tip the scales in your favor by picking one of the cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates.
In addition to reviewing the best car insurance companies, we at the MarketWatch Guides team have researched the country’s most popular vehicles to figure out how to find cheap car insurance no matter what make and model you purchase.
In order to help you find the most affordable rates for auto coverage, our team looked over hundreds of rate estimates from dozens of providers using cost estimate data from Quadrant Information Services.
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Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Based on our research, Mini vehicles are typically the least expensive to insure. Owners of Subaru, Mazda and Volkswagen vehicles can also find affordable car insurance.
In the sections below, we’ll look at the cheapest makes and models to insure. The table below shows the average rates for 2023 models from the most popular automakers on the market. All rate estimates are based on a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit.
Based on our research, the least expensive cars to insure are made by Mini, Subaru and Mazda. See how the 25 cheapest automakers compare below:
| Vehicle Make | Monthly Average
for 2023 Model | Annual Average
for 2023 Model |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | $184 | $2,209 |
| Subaru | $187 | $2,238 |
| Acura | $189 | $2,268 |
| Mazda | $189 | $2,271 |
| Volkswagen | $190 | $2,283 |
| Buick | $193 | $2,310 |
| Hyundai | $195 | $2,343 |
| Honda | $196 | $2,352 |
| Toyota | $196 | $2,352 |
| Jeep | $197 | $2,360 |
| GMC | $198 | $2,380 |
| Kia | $199 | $2,387 |
| Chevrolet | $204 | $2,449 |
| Nissan | $204 | $2,450 |
| Ford | $209 | $2,504 |
| Cadillac | $235 | $2,822 |
| Lincoln | $236 | $2,828 |
| Volvo | $237 | $2,845 |
| Chrysler | $238 | $2,851 |
| Infiniti | $247 | $2,958 |
| Lexus | $269 | $3,222 |
| Dodge | $271 | $3,250 |
| Mercedes | $290 | $3,480 |
| Jaguar | $296 | $3,550 |
| Alfa-Romeo | $303 | $3,641 |
These are the 25 most affordable car models to insure in 2024:
| Vehicle Model | Monthly Average for 2023 Model | Annual Average for 2023 Model |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester | $164 | $1,974 |
| Mazda CX-30 | $168 | $2,017 |
| Subaru Outback | $169 | $2,025 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $170 | $2,039 |
| Subaru Crosstrek Sport | $170 | $2,043 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport | $170 | $2,045 |
| Honda CR-V EX | $172 | $2,059 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan SE | $175 | $2,097 |
| Kia Sportage LX | $176 | $2,113 |
| Subaru Impreza | $177 | $2,119 |
| Toyota Tacoma SR | $177 | $2,120 |
| Chrysler Pacifica Touring | $177 | $2,123 |
| Hyundai Tucson SE | $177 | $2,126 |
| Hyundai Kona SE | $177 | $2,127 |
| Kia Soul LX | $178 | $2,133 |
| Ford Escape | $179 | $2,142 |
| Subaru Outback Limited | $179 | $2,142 |
| Kia Sportage EX | $179 | $2,146 |
| Toyota RAV4 LE | $179 | $2,150 |
| Volkswagen Atlas SE | $180 | $2,158 |
| Mini Hardtop 2-Door Cooper | $180 | $2,160 |
| Chevrolet Colorado Work Truck | $180 | $2,162 |
| Subaru Forester Sport | $180 | $2,166 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe SE | $181 | $2,166 |
| Acura RDX | $181 | $2,167 |
Generally, drivers receive the most cost-effective protection when they select smaller SUVs and minivans. On our list, compact or crossover SUVs such as the Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX-30 or Jeep Wrangler are among the most affordable cars to insure.
The types of cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates typically have these characteristics:
There are many factors that affect which cars are the cheapest to insure. These include vehicle model details, auto insurance coverage choices and your personal driving profile. In the sections below, we break down the factors that go into determining car insurance premiums, and how you can reduce your costs.
Even if you don’t select one of the cheaper models listed above, it’s possible to find affordable auto coverage rates. Car insurance companies consider when setting premiums:
Some decisions a driver makes can influence the cost of their car insurance. Here’s a look at a few of those factors:
Even the cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates can be expensive to insure if personal factors indicate that you’re a high-risk driver. Below are some characteristics that often lead to increased car insurance premiums, depending on the state you live in:
Having good credit and a clean driving record can make it easier to get cheap car insurance. While the cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates may have lower costs, coverage will still likely cost more than the national average if your record indicates potential risks.
You may find cheaper premiums by carefully considering car insurance discounts. Below, we’ll look at some common car insurance discounts that are offered by many providers.
Here are even more discounts many providers offer to help you save:
| Car Insurance Discounts | Discount Details |
|---|---|
| Safe driver discount | Gives lower premiums to those who’ve been accident-free for multiple years |
| Good student discount | Generally offers cheaper prices for full-time students with at least a B average |
| Multi-vehicle discount | Offers discounts to those who insure multiple cars under the same auto policy |
| Multi-policy discount | Reduces prices for motorists who bundle auto coverage with other insurance policies |
| Military discount | Rewards active-duty military members with lower insurance premiums |
| Vehicle safety features discount | Provides a discount for drivers with air bags, anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices in their cars |
| Senior discount | Lowers rates for older motorists, typically 55 years old and older, especially after they take an approved driving course |
| Usage-based insurance discount | Tracks motorists’ driving habits and reduces rates for those who follow safe practices |
It’s relatively simple to find savings opportunities when you’re selecting a car insurance policy. Since these are just some of the car insurance discounts on the market, contact your potential auto insurance provider to discover more ways to save.
While cost is important, we don’t recommend purchasing your car–or your car insurance policy–based on price alone. The cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates typically perform well in crash tests, but they aren’t necessarily the right models for everyone. And shockingly low rates could indicate that an insurer offers subpar coverage and targets drivers who want to save money.
While you’ll spend less by selecting your state’s minimum required coverage, consider your options and needs. Car insurance quotes will be cheaper if you reject comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, but bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage won’t take care of your costs after an accident.
In this article, we went over the cheapest cars to insure and some of the factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates. We also provided a list of discounts that can make insurance premiums even cheaper and discussed whether you should pick the cheapest option.
Our team recommends comparing quotes from multiple car insurance providers in order to get the best deal.
If you’re looking for cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates, you may also be wondering which providers offer affordable coverage. Based on our research, we found that it’s easy to get competitive car insurance premiums from Geico and Progressive.
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Below are some frequently asked questions about the cheapest cars to insure:
Out of the most popular 2023 models in the U.S., the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-30 are the cars with the cheapest auto insurance rates. The estimates we received averaged just under $1,996 per year for full-coverage car insurance for these models.
Geico is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in the country, though rates vary by driver. To discover whether Geico is cheapest for you, compare car insurance quotes from Geico with quotes from companies like State Farm, USAA and Progressive.
Newer cars are often cheaper to insure due to their advanced safety features, but that’s not always the case. Because of expensive repairs and sophisticated components, some new vehicles cost more to insure than older vehicles.
No, automatic cars are usually more expensive to insure than manual vehicles. Automatics almost always have higher repair costs, which are passed on to drivers in the form of somewhat pricier insurance rates.
In general, the more expensive your vehicle is, the more expensive it will be to insure. This is because of the higher costs associated with repairs and replacements of parts. However, it’s not always the case that a less expensive vehicle will cost less to insure. In some cases, a less expensive car can cost more to insure depending on age, make and mileage.
Insurance providers base rates on a variety of factors related to the vehicle, driver and policy details. High-end cars, luxury cars or cars with an increased likelihood of theft, accidents or other claims are typically the most expensive cars to insure.
Sedans are typically more affordable to insure than full-size SUVs. However, modern compact or crossover SUVs often receive affordable annual premiums.
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
Our credentials:
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.
