The cheapest SUV to insure is the Subaru Outback, according to our analysis of nearly 180 SUV insurance rates.

It costs an average of $1,851 a year to insure the Outback, which has an MSRP of $28,895. Insurance for an Outback comes in 25% cheaper than the overall average SUV insurance cost of $2,478 a year.

The cheapest SUVs to insure are:

1.  Subaru Outback ($1,851 per year)

2.  Subaru Forester ($1,887 per year)

3.  Mazda CX-5 ($1,895 per year)

4.  Mazda CX-30 ($1,904 per year)

5.  Honda CR-V ($1,908 per year)

6.  Chevrolet TrailBlazer ($1,914 per year)

7.  Honda HR-V ($1,928 per year)

8.  Kia Seltos ($1,933 per year)

9.  Hyundai Kona ($1,943 per year)

10.  Volvo XC40 ($1,944 per year)

 

Compare SUV Insurance Rates

The Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5 have the cheapest car insurance for SUVs after the Subaru Outback. All three cost less than $1,900 to insure annually. Here are the 20 cheapest SUVs to insure.

Rank Make and model Average annual car insurance cost
1 Subaru Outback $1,851
2 Subaru Forester $1,887
3 Mazda CX-5 $1,895
4 Mazda CX-30 $1,904
5 Honda CR-V $1,908
6 Chevrolet Trailblazer $1,914
7 Honda HR-V $1,928
8 Kia Seltos $1,933
9 Hyundai Kona $1,943
10 Volvo XC40 $1,944
11 Volkswagen Tiguan $1,950
12 Fiat 500X $1,952
13 Kia Sportage $1,965
14 Ford Escape $1,980
15 Subaru Crosstrek $1,989
16 Hyundai Tucson $1,995
17 Mazda CX-50 $2,009
18 Mini Countryman $2,014
19 Honda Pilot $2,015
20 Toyota Corolla Cross $2,016

Top 5 Cheapest SUVs to Insure by Make and Model

The SUVs with the cheapest insurance are smaller models with lower base prices. Here are the five cheapest SUVs, all of which are midsize, compact or subcompact SUV models.

1. Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is a midsize SUV and is the cheapest SUV to insure at $1,851 a year, among the SUVs in our analysis. The Outback’s MSRP is $28,895. That is a good bit below the average cost of a new vehicle of $48,247, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Subaru

2. Subaru Forester

Subaru holds the top two spots for the cheapest SUVs to insure, with the Forester coming in second with average car insurance costs of $1,887 a year. The Forester is a compact crossover SUV with an MSRP of $27,095.

Subaru

3. Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is a compact SUV that takes third place for cheapest SUVs to insure, with an average cost of $1,895 per year for auto insurance. The CX-5’s MSRP of $29,300 is much lower than the average cost of a new vehicle, which helps keep its car insurance costs down.

Mazda

4. Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 is a subcompact SUV that is the fourth cheapest SUV to insure in our analysis at $1,904 a year. The Mazda CX-30 has a relatively low MSRP of $24,995, which is over $23,000 cheaper than the average cost of a new vehicle.

Mazda

5. Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a compact SUV that is the fifth cheapest SUV to insure, coming in at an average of $1,908 a year for car insurance. The CR-V’s MSRP of $29,500 is comparable to the price of other small SUVs with cheap insurance rates.

 

Most Expensive SUVs to Insure

The most expensive SUV to insure is the BMW Alpina XB7, a full-size luxury SUV with an average auto insurance rate of $4,900 per year. It costs 165% more to insure a BMW Alpina XB7 than the cheapest SUV to insure, the Subaru Outback.

The most expensive SUVs to insure are larger in size and price. Half of the top 10 most expensive SUVs to insure cost over $100,000.

Drivers of these SUVs pay more for car insurance due to the higher value of the vehicle, plus extra features and technology, which can add to your driving experience but also be costly to repair or replace if your vehicle is damaged in an accident.

Rank Model and make Average car insurance cost per year MSRP
1 BMW Alpina XB7 $4,900 $149,400
2 BMW X7 $4,494 $81,900
3 Audi SQ7 $4,429 $90,400
4 Audi SQ8 $4,391 $96,600
5 Maserati Levante GT $4,283 $90,700
6 Tesla Model X $4,151 $96,990
7 Mercedes EQS $3,695 $104,400
8 Audi RS Q8 $3,574 $125,000
9 Mercedes G-Class $3,522 $139,900
10 BMW XM Xdrive $3,459 $159,000

Factors that Affect the Cost of SUV Insurance

The main factors that affect car insurance rates—such as your location, driving record, car insurance history and coverage selections—impact what you pay for SUV insurance. Beyond those primary factors, the make and model you insure influences the cost of SUV insurance, including the following factors.

Size of the SUV

The larger the SUV, the more damage it could cause to others’ property if you cause an accident. A full-size SUV can also pose more of a threat of injuring pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles than a small or midsize SUV.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that car occupants are 28% more likely to die in collisions with SUVs than with other cars. Because of the heightened risk posed by larger SUVs, auto insurance costs may be higher for the liability insurance portion of your policy, which pays for injuries and property damage to others in an accident you cause.

The IIHS notes that larger cars, such as SUVs, give better protection for their occupants due to the longer front ends, which could help lower your costs for car insurance medical coverage, such as personal injury protection and medical payments.

Value of the SUV

The most expensive SUVs to insure are much pricier (costing $80,000 or more) than the cheapest SUVs to insure. An SUV’s price tag may come with some nice extras you’ll take advantage of as a driver, but it hikes up your cost for collision and comprehensive insurance coverage.

The value of your vehicle is important because your insurer could end up paying you what your car is worth if it’s totaled.

Cost of Repairs

Costs to repair your SUV are a critical factor in determining your auto insurance rates. If the insurer knows your car is pricier to fix, it will charge you more for your policy.

An SUV with specialized parts or luxury finishes and added technology leads to higher repair costs as the parts cost more to repair or replace. Also, repair shop professionals may need custom tools and specialized training to repair certain components, leading to higher repair costs. A smaller SUV can still be expensive to insure if it has loads of high-tech features.

Claims History of the SUV Model

SUV models that are more likely to be stolen or are known to have more claims for other reasons will have higher car insurance costs. Insurance companies review their own internal data on past claims for all car models and will calculate your rates in part on the claims it has paid for that model.

Cheapest Insurance Companies for SUV Drivers

Travelers has the cheapest overall national cost for SUV insurance, with Nationwide and USAA coming in as next-cheapest. The average cost for SUV insurance is $2,478 among the insurance companies we analyzed.

Company Average annual cost for SUV insurance
Travelers $1,656
Nationwide $1,759
USAA* $1,801
Erie $1,885
Progressive $2,169
*USAA auto insurance is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families.

Insurance companies vary in how they calculate rates on vehicles, so it’s smart to compare car insurance quotes to find the company that offers the best rates. If you’re changing vehicles, the insurer that may have been the most affordable for your old vehicle may not be the cheapest for your new one.

 

Cheapest SUV Insurance Companies for 30 Top-Selling SUVs

Model and make Cheapest Company Average annual cost of the cheapest company
Toyota RAV4 Travelers $1,424
Honda CR-V Nationwide $1,263
Tesla Model Y Nationwide $1,812
Nissan Rogue Travelers $1,550
Jeep Grand Cherokee Travelers $1,584
Hyundai Tucson Travelers $1,384
Chevrolet Equinox Travelers $1,455
Subaru Forester Nationwide $1,179
Jeep Wrangler Geico $1,076
Subaru Outback Nationwide $1,173
Ford Escape Travelers $1,386
Subaru CrossTrek Travelers $1,293
Toyota 4Runner Nationwide $1,335
Mazda CX-5 Travelers $1,306
Kia Sportage Travelers $1,424
Hyundai Santa Fe Travelers $1,489
Ford Explorer Nationwide $1,411
Ford Bronco Sport Nationwide $1,452
Honda HR-V Travelers $1,415
Chevrolet Traverse Erie $1,465
Chevrolet Trailblazer Nationwide $1,344
Kia Telluride Nationwide $1,420
Chevrolet Tahoe Nationwide $1,362
Toyota Highlander Nationwide $1,519
Honda Pilot Nationwide $1,312
Lexus RX Travelers $1,679
Kia Sorento Erie $1,408
Ford Edge Travelers $1,446
GMC Yukon Nationwide $1,382
Mazda CX-30 Geico $1,360
In some instances, USAA was the cheapest, but the next-cheapest company is listed because USAA is only available to veterans, military members and their families.

How To Get the Cheapest Insurance for an SUV

To get the cheapest insurance for an SUV, try out these tips.

  • Check discounts. See about bundling your SUV insurance with home or renters insurance to get a reduction in rates. Ask your agent about other car insurance discounts you may be eligible for but not receiving.
  • Pick the right coverage. A key to cheap SUV insurance is buying the coverage types you need and skipping those you don’t. For instance, maybe you don’t want to spend money on rental reimbursement coverage if you have an extra vehicle at your home.
  • Shop around and compare costs. Insurance companies’ rates vary widely, so comparison shopping allows you to find the company with the cheapest costs for your specific car and situation. Shop for insurance when you’re looking to buy an SUV so that you know you can afford both the SUV and its insurance.

Methodology

We used data from Quadrant Information Services to determine the average rates for new SUVs. Rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a clean record. Coverage includes $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage and any other coverage required in a state. Collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible was also included.

Cheapest SUVs to Insure Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is SUV insurance different from standard auto insurance?

No. SUV insurance is not different from a standard auto insurance policy. You have the same coverage choices and can shop for and buy an SUV insurance policy the same way you would for a sedan.

Does the size of an SUV impact insurance rates?

Yes, the size of an SUV may impact your car insurance rates. Full-size SUVs tend to cost more to insure than compact SUVs. Larger SUVs can cause more damage to other vehicles and people in accidents, which lead to higher claims. If you or your vehicle poses more risk for claims, your price for insurance will reflect this.

Do cheaper SUVs have lower auto insurance costs?

Cheaper SUVs—those with a lower MSRP—typically have lower auto insurance costs. The reason is that SUVs with a lower value normally have less technology and can be cheaper to repair or replace if a total loss occurs.

To find out what size SUV will best fit your budget, compare car insurance quotes with multiple companies when shopping for a new vehicle so you know what SUV insurance rates are a good deal.

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