The Cheapest Cars to Insure in 2023
The Subaru Outback, Jeep Wrangler Sport, and Subaru Forester are three of the cheapest vehicles to insure in 2023.
Written by Sarah Gray
Edited by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- The 10 cheapest cars to insure in 2023
- What makes these cars cheaper to insure?
- Average rate of car insurance claims for 2023’s top models
- Crossovers and minivans are the cheapest types of car to insure
- The cheapest makes to insure: Subaru, Mazda, and Ford
- Car buying guide: How to keep your insurance costs low
Load full table of contents
The Subaru Outback is the cheapest vehicle to insure in 2023, thanks to all-wheel drive, affordable parts, and a stellar safety record.
- Luxury makes like Mercedes-Benz and electric automakers like Tesla have higher rates than the national average.
- Small crossovers are the cheapest type of vehicle to insure; sports cars, electric cars, and luxury vehicles are the most expensive.
- When buying a new vehicle, aim for a mid-tier trim and opt for a used vehicle to keep your car insurance rates low.
- Luxury makes like Mercedes-Benz and electric automakers like Tesla have higher rates than the national average.
- Small crossovers are the cheapest type of vehicle to insure; sports cars, electric cars, and luxury vehicles are the most expensive.
- When buying a new vehicle, aim for a mid-tier trim and opt for a used vehicle to keep your car insurance rates low.
The 10 cheapest cars to insure in 2023
Jerry’s editorial team reviewed publicly available insurance premiums for dozens of current vehicles and found that these are the 10 cheapest models to insure in 2023:
- Subaru Outback: $1,552 per year
- Jeep Wrangler Sport: $1,558 per year
- Subaru Forester: $1,585 per year
- Honda CR-V EX: $1,616 per year
- Honda Odyssey EX: $1,637 per year
- Honda Pilot EX: $1,647 per year
- Ford Escape: $1,688 per year
- Hyundai Tucson Sport: $1,745 per year
- Ford F-150: $1,757 per year
- Toyota RAV4: $1,778 per year
Methodology: How we picked the cheapest cars to insure
We used two datasets to identify the cheapest cars to insure in 2023:
- Real quote data from policies sold to Jerry users.
- Publicly available data from news outlets, automotive experts, and financial advice websites including Forbes, Car and Driver, USA Today, and Experian.
The 10 cheapest models were selected based on an average of both datasets, but the cost information displayed is based solely on Jerry customer data.
What makes these cars cheaper to insure?
The least expensive cars to insure have three main things in common:
- Low repair costs: The more a car costs to repair, the more it costs to insure. If your car has a high market value, expensive components, or high-end materials, it will cost more to repair and insure.
- High safety ratings: Safer cars are less likely to be in accidents and generate insurance claims.
- Low rate of insurance claims: The more claims submitted by previous owners of a specific model, the higher the cost of car insurance.
Keep in mind: While buying an affordable car with strong safety ratings can help to lower your car insurance rates, your
insurance quotes
also reflect your age, gender, ZIP code, driving record, credit score, and other personal factors. Average rate of car insurance claims for 2023’s top models
To better understand why these 10 car models have such
cheap car insurance
rates, let’s take a look at how often their owners submit insurance claims. The below is based on data from a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI)
. 1. Subaru Outback ($129/month)
Equipped with standard AWD and boasting stellar safety ratings from experts, the affordable Outback has a below-average rate of every type of insurance claim.
MSRP: $28,395 - $42,295
IIHS Score: Top Safety Pick+
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 38% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 4% more than average |
Property damage liability claims | 46% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 51% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 36% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 37% fewer than average |
2. Jeep Wrangler ($129/month)
Wrangler owners file fewer collision and comprehensive claims than other drivers, but they also see an elevated number of liability claims.
MSRP: $31,195 - $90,895
IIHS score: Mixed
NHTSA rating: Not rated
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Jeep Wrangler 2dr |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 44% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 48% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 34% more than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 11% more than average |
Personal injury claims | 40% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 42% fewer than average |
3. Subaru Forester ($132/month)
The Outback's smaller sibling, the AWD-equipped Forester SUV has a low level of insurance claims in every category except comprehensive insurance.
MSRP: $26,395 - $36,795
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 39% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 7% more than average |
Property damage liability claims | 42% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 54% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 36% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 33% fewer than average |
4. Honda CR-V ($134/month)
If you're looking for a safe, affordable SUV, look no further than the Honda CR-V.
MSRP: $28,410 - $39,100
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick+
NHTSA rating (2022): 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 34% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 29% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 22% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 21% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 5% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 6% fewer than average |
5. Honda Odyssey ($136/month)
The Honda Odyssey is the quintessential family minivan, with lower insurance costs and a low rate of claims in every category.
MSRP: $37,490 - $49,620
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick+
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Honda Odyssey |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 27% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 21% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 26% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 37% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 22% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 24% fewer than average |
6. Honda Pilot ($137/month)
The Honda Pilot is the cheapest three-row SUV to insure, and has a low rate of insurance claims in all categories.
MSRP: $35,950 - $52,030
IIHS score (2022): Mixed
NHTSA rating (2022): 5 star
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Honda Pilot |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 28% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 12% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 29% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 27% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 13% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 15% fewer than average |
7. Ford Escape ($140/month)
The Ford Escape has decent safety ratings and the option to add AWD, which reduces the rate of insurance claims.
MSRP: $28,000 - $40,500
IIHS score: Good
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Ford Escape |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 14% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 10% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 15% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 4% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 11% more than average |
Medical payment claims | 19% more than average |
8. Hyundai Tucson ($145/month)
The compact, affordable Hyundai Tucson offers safety with a low rate of claims (especially if you spring for AWD).
MSRP: $26,900 - $39,110
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick+
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Hyundai Tuscon |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 18% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 21% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 7% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 4% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 16% more than average |
Medical payments claims | 21% more than average |
9. Ford F-150 ($146/month)
America's favorite pickup truck isn't just a cool ride: it also has a lower rate of liability and personal injury claims than most vehicles on the road.
MSRP: $41,530 - $107,350
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4WD |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 9% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | Same as average |
Property damage liability claims | 21% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 19% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 42% fewer than average |
Medical payments claims | 27% fewer than average |
10. Toyota RAV4 ($148/month)
Toyota's most popular SUV boasts a very low rate of collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance claims.
MSRP: $27,975 - $37,680
IIHS score: Top Safety Pick
NHTSA rating: 5 stars
Type of claim | 2019-2021 Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|
Collision claims | 21% fewer than average |
Comprehensive claims | 20% fewer than average |
Property damage liability claims | 20% fewer than average |
Bodily injury liability claims | 13% fewer than average |
Personal injury claims | 16% more than average |
Medical payments claims | 9% more than average |
Crossovers and minivans are the cheapest types of car to insure
If you want the lowest insurance rates, look for a compact crossover SUV or a minivan.
Vehicle type | Example | Average insurance cost for sample model | Why they’re cheap to insure |
|---|---|---|---|
Crossover SUV | Subaru Forester | $2,046 per year | Car-based crossovers combine sturdy builds with low prices and massive popularity. The result: safe vehicles with low repair and insurance costs. |
Minivan | Honda Odyssey | $2,046 per year | Minivans are engineered for safety and prioritize practicality over high-end components, making claims infrequent and repair costs low. |
Small pickup trucks | $2,140 per year | Pickup trucks are no-nonsense vehicles that fare well in crashes and have a lower rate of insurance claims. | |
Midsize pickup truck | Ford F-150 | $2,166 per year | Pricier than small pickups, standard trucks come with slightly higher insurance costs |
Midsize or large SUV | Honda Pilot | $2,290 per year | Larger SUVs cost more to repair, leading to higher insurance costs. |
Compact car | $2,677 per year | Smaller vehicles are more likely to be damaged in a crash, leading to higher claim rates. | |
Midsize car | $2,786 per year | Midsize cars cost more than compact cars, making their repair costs higher. |
The most expensive cars to insure:
Electric vehicles
. Because EVs use expensive and hard-to-source components, their repair costs tend to be much higher than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Example: The
Tesla Model 3
, one of the most popular electric cars on the market, costs an average of $3,216 per year to insure. By contrast, a non-electric compact sedan like the Toyota Corolla
costs as little as $1,960 per year to insure. The cheapest makes to insure: Subaru, Mazda, and Ford
| Make | Average annual cost for minimum coverage | Average annual cost for full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru | $1,495 | $2,114 |
| Mazda | $1,554 | $2,036 |
| Ford | $1,611 | $2,262 |
| Toyota | $1,651 | $2,181 |
| Honda | $1,713 | $2,522 |
Subaru is the cheapest vehicle make to insure, thanks to:
- All-wheel drive: Vehicles with all-wheel drive see increased safety and lower rates of insurance claims—and AWD is standard on every Subaru.
- Low repair costs: Subarus aren’t luxury cars; they’re made from affordable materials, which makes them fairly cheap to repair.
- Stellar safety ratings: With 5-star NHTSA ratings for every 2023 model and five IIHS Top Safety Picks, you can’t get much safer than a Subaru.
The middle of the pack: Affordable automakers like
Kia
, Nissan
, Dodge
, and GMC
tend to have average insurance rates
. The most expensive makes to insure:
Mercedes-Benz
and Tesla
both make expensive vehicles with sky-high car insurance premiums
. Car buying guide: How to keep your insurance costs low
Auto insurance premiums make up a huge percentage of new car ownership costs. While insurance is a necessary expense for any car owner, you can minimize the impact of insurance on your ownership costs by using the
smart shopping tips
below: - Choose an older car: The cost of car insurance drops about 3.4% for every model year that a car ages. Opting for a lightlyused carfrom a recent model year instead of the latest brand-new model could give you a huge advantage whenshopping for quotes.
- Take previous claims into account: UseIIHS’s databaseto look up the average rate of insurance claims for your desired make and model. If you’re torn between two vehicles, choose the one with the lower rate of claims.
- Consider the costs of a hybrid: Like electric vehicles, hybrids typically cost more to repair—and insure. Run some calculations to see if the fuel savings offset the added insurance cost.
- Aim for a mid-tier trim: Premium trim levels often include unnecessary accessories that can drive up your insurance costs, but base trims may lack safety features or all-wheel drive, both of which can reduce the cost of insurance.
- Think crossover: Choosing a type of vehicle is partly about personal preference, but car insurance companies generally assign lower annual premiums to crossover SUVs than any other vehicle type.
Finally, no matter what kind of car you buy, compare car insurance quotes from at least three different providers before settling on an insurance policy. Look for companies like
Progressive
or Travelers
that offer gap insurance or new car replacement coverage for full coverage policies. Download the Jerry app to compare rates on the cheapest car insurance—no matter what you drive.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees, ever
Compare Car Insurance Quotes For Free
Jerry automatically shops for your insurance before every renewal. Members save $872/year.
Start saving money!
You might also be interested
