Suvs Most Expensive, Hummers Top List

By Author: Norris Rios
Total Articles: 572
Comment this article

Thinking of buying a Hummer or SUV? Think having a large car will help keep your rates down?
Think again.
Larger vehicles are actually likely to cost you more to cover.
Why Big Cars can Cost More

Conventional wisdom suggests that larger vehicles will fair better in an accident, therefore there will be less damage to repair. This is partially true - your car will probably suffer less damage, but many car accidents involve more than just your car.
If you have a large car and you are involved in an accident with another car, your large truck may do more than average damage to the other car, ultimately increasing costs and, as a result, your premiums.
The Most Expensive Big Vehicles to Insure

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the five cars linked to the most expensive damage to other cars are the Dodge Ram 2500, the Toyota Highlander, and (in the top 3 positions) Hummer H2 and H3 variants. These are particularly large and burly vehicles, and they tend to cripple the vehicles they encounter on the road.
Other Reasons for a High Premium

It's ...
... widely understood that small, fast sports cars cost more to insure, for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is that drivers of those vehicles tend to be more reckless and have a poorer driving record. The same is true of Hummers, which are known for being frequently pulled over for traffic violations. This translates into higher premiums.
The Exception to the Rule

Although some large vehicles can be especially pricey to insure, it's certainly not always the case. Minivans are relatively large vehicles, but they actually are among the least expensive vehicles to insure. Sounds contradictory, right? Well, there are two important differences between these vehicles.

Unlike the vehicles mentioned above, the minivan is not likely to inflict as much damage to vehicles it hits. Although minivans are larger, they lack the bulk and momentum from utility-style trucks designed to haul heavy cargo or - in the case of the original Hummer - military weapons like anti-aircraft guns and missiles!

Minivan drivers also tend to be females (who have better driving records as a whole) and drive during the day rather than late at night or early in the morning, which peak hours for traffic accidents.
How to Act on This Information

In short, if you're looking to keep your car insurance rates low, avoid purchasing one of the vehicles mentioned above, and opt for a vehicle which, on average, tends to produce lower car insurance rates for its drivers. And, of course, drive cautiously and keep your driving record as clean as possible!

If you are absolutely intent on purchasing one of these vehicles, compare car insurance quotes aggressively online. Seeking quotes online will allow you to instantly compare rates between various providers so you can get the best deal possible.

Doing so will save you hours of phone calls and waiting on hold, or waiting in offices, and sorting through agents attempting to sell you policy add-ons you don't really need.