The Cheapest Cars to Insure in 2025

The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are the cheapest cars to insure, on average.

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The Tesla Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are among the most expensive cars to insure. In general, smaller pickups and small SUVs cost less to cover. Insurance on larger sedans — like the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry — and SUVs typically costs the most.

Car insurance rates are higher for certain cars for different reasons. A car with high repair costs, a poor safety record or few anti-theft features will likely cost more to cover.

What's the cheapest car to insure?

The Honda CR-V is the cheapest car to insure among top-selling vehicles nationally.

At $238 per month, full coverage insurance for a Honda CRV costs 16% less than the average cost across top-selling cars in the U.S. CR-V insurance costs $163 less per month than coverage for the Tesla Model 3, which is the most expensive car to insure.

Cars with the best insurance prices

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Least expensive cars to insure

Make
Model
Vehicle type
Monthly cost
HondaCR-VSmall SUV$238
MazdaCX-5Small SUV$240
JeepWranglerSmall SUV$245
SubaruOutbackSmall SUV$247
ToyotaTacomaSmall pickup$251
ChryslerPacificaMinivan$251
ToyotaHighlanderSmall SUV$255
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Insurance costs tend to increase with vehicle price, but the very cheapest cars to buy aren't always the cheapest to insure.

Vehicles with values between $26,000 and $32,000 have the lowest auto insurance rates. At $255 per month on average, they cost 6% less to insure than the cheapest cars.

By contrast, the more expensive cars — with values of more than $38,000 — cost the most to insure, with an average monthly car insurance rate of $308. This group includes the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, which are two of the most expensive cars to insure.

Cheapest types of cars to insure by model

Shoppers typically have a specific type of vehicle that they're looking for when buying a new car. For example, if you need a vehicle that can hold a lot of passengers, you are more likely to look at SUVs or minivans.

Cheapest model to insure for each body type

Vehicle type
Model
Monthly rate
Small SUVHonda CR-V$238
Small pickupToyota Tacoma$251
MinivanChrysler Pacifica$251
Standard SUVFord Explorer$263
Large carHonda Accord$270
Compact carToyota Corolla$272
Standard pickupFord F-150$258
Midsize carHonda Civic$269
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Which car make is the cheapest to insure?

Mazdas, Chryslers and Subarus are the cheapest cars to insure with average monthly rates under $255.

Certain car makes tend to be more expensive to insure than others. For example, a Mazda tends to be cheaper to insure when compared to a luxury brand such as Tesla.

Cars with the cheapest insurance

Make
Monthly rate
Mazda$240
Chrysler$251
Subaru$252
Honda$259
Jeep$259
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Quotes are for a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision coverage.

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The cheapest car type to insure

Smaller pickups, minivans and SUVs tended to be the cheapest types of cars to insure.

The size and shape of your car affect how much you pay for insurance. Generally, a car with a more powerful engine and more extras costs more to insure. Electric vehicles also often cost more to insure than cars with gasoline engines.

Best cars for cheap insurance

Body type
Monthly price
Small pickup$251
Minivan$251
Small SUV$263
Standard SUV$268
Large car$270
Compact car$272
Standard pickup$288
Midsize car$307

Rates are for a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision coverage.

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Why does the car you drive affect your insurance rates?

Insurance companies set their rates based on the chance that a driver of a certain vehicle will file a claim. They also consider what the claim could cost if that vehicle is in an accident.

  • If drivers of a particular type of car file claims more often, they will typically pay more for insurance, even if they have a good driving record. This is why sports cars, which are more likely to be involved in accidents, are often more expensive to insure.
  • Vehicles that are expensive or cost more to repair also tend to have higher insurance prices. This is because insurance companies anticipate having to pay out more for a comprehensive or collision insurance claim, which covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle. It is also part of the reason car insurance rates may decrease as your car ages — increased availability of replacement parts can make a repair cheaper.
  • Newer, more sophisticated safety features, such as blind-spot detection or 360-degree cameras, may reduce your rates. These features may lower the chances or severity of a crash, especially when it comes to injuries. However, these features could also raise your rates, because they make your car more expensive to fix if they're damaged in an accident.
  • Lastly, car theft also plays a role in your rates. Thieves tend to target certain cars, so you'll pay more for insurance if you drive one of those cars.

Drivers should keep in mind that there are many other factors at play that impact auto insurance rates, such as age and driving record.

Are stick-shift cars cheaper to insure?

Overall yes, stick-shift cars are slightly cheaper to insure than automatic cars. However, the difference is only a few dollars a month. Many offer slightly lower rates for manual vehicles since they tend to be less expensive to repair and less desirable to steal.

Best cars to insure for young drivers

The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are the most affordable cars to insure for young drivers.

They're both about 13% cheaper than average for 21-year-olds.

Model
Monthly rate
Honda CR-V$389
Mazda CX-5$391
Subaru Outback$398
Jeep Wrangler$400
Chrysler Pacifica$411
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Younger drivers tend to pay a lot more for coverage. On average, a 21-year-old pays 50% more than a 30-year-old driver.

The fact that young drivers pay more for coverage means the vehicle you choose could make even more of a difference on your bill. For example, opting for a CR-V instead of a Tesla Model 3 will save a 21-year-old $258 on their insurance bill each month.

Most expensive vehicles to insure

The Tesla Models 3 and Y are the most expensive popular cars to insure.

The Model 3 costs $401 per month to insure, while the Model Y costs $369 per month. The third-most expensive top-selling vehicle, the GMC Sierra 1500 truck, is more than 17% cheaper to insure than either Tesla.

If you want to keep your car insurance rates down, it's a good idea to avoid large sedans and pickup trucks. Those tend to be the most expensive vehicles to insure.

Insurance for electric vehicles also tends to be pricier. This is largely because they have more technology on board and are more expensive to repair.


Frequently asked questions

Which vehicles are cheapest to insure?

The Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Jeep Wrangler and Subaru Outback are the cheapest cars to insure. All three have full coverage rates under $250 per month, on average.

What SUV is the cheapest to insure?

The Honda CR-V is the cheapest crossover SUV to insure, at $238 per month for a full coverage policy, on average. The Ford Explorer has the most affordable insurance for full-size SUVs, at $263 per month.

Is insurance cheaper on a car or SUV?

Car insurance is typically cheaper for SUVs than cars. This could be because larger cars are generally safer, as you're less likely to be hurt in an accident.


Methodology: How we got our data

ValuePenguin gathered insurance quotes for the 2023 models of 25 of the top-selling cars of 2023 using sales for the first nine months of the year.

Rates are state averages in Illinois for a 30-year-old with good credit and a clean driving record. Rates for young drivers are for a 21-year-old. All quotes are for full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage along with higher liability limits than the state average. Our editors included rates from six of the largest insurance companies in the country: Allstate, American Family, Farmers, Geico, Progressive and State Farm.

EPA size categories were collected from fueleconomy.gov. Car MSRPs are from car manufacturer websites.

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.