Are Two-Seater Coupes Cheaper to Insure Than Sedans?
Two-door and especially two-seater cars are often more expensive to insure than four-door sedans. Read on to find out why.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
On average, the high-performance nature of two-seater, two-door coupes tends to lead to higher rates for
car insurance
. But your driving record, where you live, and several other factors also have a significant impact on car insurance costs.- Insurance companies consider several variables when calculating auto insurance premiums—the type of car you drive is just one of them.
- Though two-seater cars are generally not the cheapest cars to insure, there are several things you can do to keep your coupe car insurance costs affordable.
- Insurance companies consider several variables when calculating auto insurance premiums—the type of car you drive is just one of them.
- Though two-seater cars are generally not thecheapest cars to insure, there are several things you can do to keep your coupe car insurance costs affordable.
Is car insurance cheaper for coupes?
Probably not. In fact, you can usually expect to pay significantly higher rates for car insurance on a coupe than a sedan—usually.
There are some instances in which you can expect to pay less to cover a coupe than a sedan. For example, if you’re driving a 15-year-old
Honda
coupe, or one outfitted with a smaller engine, it will likely cost less to insure than a brand new BMW
sedan—especially if that sedan features a more powerful engine.But there’s a lot at play when it comes to determining how much it’ll cost to cover your coupe. Let’s dive in!
Why 2-door cars tend to have higher insurance costs
Two-door cars, or coupes, tend to have higher insurance costs because most car insurance companies consider them more high-risk vehicles than sedans. Coupes are usually sports cars, or performance cars, which means they’ll have more powerful engines, and they could be more likely targets for theft than a comparable four-door sedan. This can make them some of the
most expensive cars to insure
.Another factor that often leads to increased insurance costs for coupes is their drivers. Coupes aren’t exactly a top choice for families. Their drivers are usually young and single, which makes them a higher risk to insure than married drivers with children—drivers with families tend to be more stable and are often thought to drive more safely as a result.
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Other vehicle factors that impact car insurance rates
As you probably know, there’s a lot more than just the number of seats or doors that goes into calculating your insurance costs. Let’s take a look at some additional vehicle factors that could lead to higher premiums.
Horsepower
If your car has a V-6 or V-8 under the hood, it’s probably going to have quite a bit more horsepower than a four-cylinder. This means higher top-speed potential and faster acceleration. Together, these translate into a higher likelihood for accidents—and a greater potential for costly insurance payouts.
Vehicle age
Remember our 15-year-old coupe example from earlier? No matter how powerful your coupe, a used car will generally cost less to replace than a new car if it gets totaled.
Car repairs
are also likely to be less expensive on an older model car than a new vehicle.Safety features
Safety features can go a long way toward both preventing accidents and preventing major injuries when an accident occurs. That’s why cars with lots of safety features will tend to cost less to insure than those without them. In fact, many providers offer discounts for drivers whose cars are equipped with safety features, such as:
- Airbags
- Electronic stability control
- Anti-theft devices
- Anti-lock brakes
Driver factors that impact car insurance rates
The only thing that affects auto insurance rates as much as the vehicle type is the person driving it. Now that we know how vehicle factors can impact your insurance rates, let’s take a look at the driver factors that could cause your rates to increase.
- Driving history: It should go without saying that if you have aclean driving record, you’ll pay less for insurance than someone with multiple tickets and accidents.
- Credit score: Yes, your credit score can affect car insurance costs. Typically, a higher credit score correlates statistically to less risk. That’s why, in states that allow insurers to use credit score as a factor in calculating your rates, a higher score will usually translate to lower insurance costs.
- Age: Young drivers have less driving experience. This makes them more prone to accidents and risky driving behaviors, which makes them more expensive to insure.
- Gender: Statistically, male drivers are viewed as riskier by insurers than female drivers.
- Occupation: While it often has more to do with discounts than rate increases, some insurers do consider certain occupations to be more risky than others.
- Location: If you live in a high-crime area or a location with a higher than average accident rate, it could translate into higher costs for car insurance.
- Marital status: Married drivers tend to be less risky to insure than single drivers.
- Mileage: If your job or daily habits require you to spend a lot of time on the road, that means you have more chances to wind up in an accident. This increased risk will lead to increased insurance premiums.
How to lower your coupe car insurance costs
If you’ve already got a coupe and you’re paying high insurance premiums, here are some things you can do to help make your insurance policy more affordable:
- Drive safely—Getting and keeping a clean driving record is one of the most impactful things you can do to lower your insurance premiums, no matter what you drive.
- Raise your deductible—The higher your deductible, the lower your premium.The best car insurance deductibleis often the highest one you can afford that still keeps your rates low. Keep in mind that a high-deductible will mean bigger out-of-pocket costs in case of accidents, but even if you hit your deductible, you’re still likely to pay less in insurance costs annually.
- Take advantage of discounts—Whether it’s bundling,safe driver discounts, orgood student discounts, make sure you’re taking advantage of all the money-saving opportunities offered by your provider.
- Take a driver-safety course—Many insurance providers offer discounts to drivers who successfully complete a state-approved driver safety course.
- Lower your insurance coverage—Simply put, the more insurance you have, the more you’ll pay for it. Especially if you’re driving an older coupe, you may be able to save money by opting forliability coverageinstead offull-coverage car insurance. Be sure to consider the possible financial risks before youdrop full coverage on your car, though.
- Pay your policy in full—Many providers charge a fee if you choose to pay month-by-month for your coverage. You can often save money bypaying your car insurance in full.
- Don’t be afraid to switch—Experts recommend you should shop for car insurance every six months to make sure you already have the best policy at the best price. Often, saving money on coverage for your coupe is as simple as comparingcar insurance quotes online.
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