Cheaper may not always be better: Here's why your 'affordable' car Is costing you more in insurance

Cheaper may not always be better: Here's why your 'affordable' car Is costing you more in insurance

Two neighbors decide to buy new cars. Jim goes for an affordable Honda CR-V, while Larry spends almost $12,000 more on a new Honda Pilot.

You’d think Larry’s insurance would be a lot more expensive, too — but he can expect to spend almost $600 less than Jim on his premiums this year, according to the financial data site ValuePenguin.

What gives?

As it turns out, there’s a few good reasons why the cheapest cars to buy don’t always boast the cheapest insurance.

Don’t miss

• Millions are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of rising interest rates. Know your options.

• Too many Americans could be missing out on cheaper car insurance.

• With home insurance rates rising 40% over the last 12 years, it’s more important than ever to compare rates to make sure you’re getting the best price available to you.

What insurers consider when setting premiums

Some of the factors used to calculate your premiums are pretty obvious, like how much it would cost to replace or repair the car if it got in an accident. So, yes, that pricey and sophisticated Tesla will cost a fortune to insure.

Certain models are also, statistically speaking, more likely to get into a crash. A three-year-old minivan is probably driven by a responsible parent who would never risk the safety of their kids in the backseat. A brand-new sports car, not so much.

Of course, personal factors like your driving record, age and gender matter, too. Your ZIP code can play a role, if you live in an area with a high rate of theft.

And even though many people don’t realize it, your credit score can actually drive up your premiums.

While some states don’t allow insurance companies to use credit scores directly, insurers can still draw up an “insurance” score using data in your credit report.

Research suggests that people with debt, bankruptcies or a history of late payments are more likely to file insurance claims — so if your credit score isn’t up to snuff, your insurance score won’t be either.

Why cheap cars don't always get the best rates

None of the above really explains why Larry gets a much better deal on insurance for his Pilot than Jim with his CR-V.

In many cases, the difference can be explained once a driver looks into their car’s safety features.

For instance, the Honda CR-V — which ValuePenguin found to be one of the most affordable cars to insure — earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this year.

If a car holds up better in a crash, causing less damage to the vehicle or the fragile humans inside, that can mean big savings for insurers. After all, a single serious injury can mean years of costly tests, drugs, therapy and surgery.

For that reason, a more expensive vehicle loaded with accident-avoidance and crash-safety features can give insurers the confidence to lower premiums.

That’s not all. Some cheaper car models are more likely to be stolen. While missing anti-theft features can be a problem, crooks sometimes prefer to target cheap, common cars so they can use them for other crimes while remaining incognito.

Lastly, it’s a lot easier to find replacement parts for cars that sold well. Undesirable clunkers are cheap to buy, but the insurer may have to pay a disproportionately high price for repairs.

How to find affordable insurance

When looking for a new car, savvy shoppers will want to investigate whether their top picks are statistically more likely to wind up in an accident and which safety features are included.

Rates also tend to decline as vehicles age, so buying a used or year-old car can get you your desired model while keeping expenses down.

But ultimately, the best way to save on an insurance policy is to shop around for the best rate. Each insurer weighs the factors that go into your premiums in different ways, so you’ll find that prices can vary widely.

The Insurance Information Institute recommends comparing at least three different quotes before you settle on an offer.

Whether you drive a Honda or a Tesla, shopping around will ensure you’ll always get the best price for your own insurance — regardless of what the guy down the street is paying.

What to read next

• The big stores don’t always have the best prices. Make sure you’re saving what you can when you shop online.

• How to get paid $10 just for saving your spare change

• If you owe $25K+ in student loans, there are ways to pay them off faster

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.