The Most Expensive Cars to Insure

A new car is one of the biggest purchases you make, even before you consider how much the insurance is going to cost. Generally speaking, the more expensive the car, the more likely it is to come with a hefty insurance bill. Insurance rates for a vehicle, irrespective of the driver, are determined primarily by how much agencies have paid out for repairs on that model in the past.

"Rates could be high because there are lots of claims on the car or because the few claims that do exist are high since the parts are so expensive," Amy Danise, senior managing editor of, told MainStreet. This is why luxury cars like Mercedes and BMW models cost more to insure. Driver behavior also contributes to the cost of insuring, say, a convertible. "People are buying these cars to go fast and that's why they're crashing them," Danise explains.

Conversely, family cars like station wagons or sedans with low horsepower generate lower insurance rates since they're used more often to commute than to drag race. Which 2011 models specifically present the best (and worst) insurance deals?

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services, which monitors insurance rates, to calculate the average premiums for a single 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work each day. This theoretical driver has a clean driving record and good credit. All policies considered had limits of $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident. They also had a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.

Quadrant Information Services used car insurance rates from six large carriers (State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide) in 10 ZIP codes per state.

Not all models are available for calculating average rates, especially some exotic cars, which is why you won't see Lamborghinis on the list, though, according to Insure.com, you can assume those carry hefty insurance bills. Note also that a person's rate may vary depending on their actual driving record.

Most Expensive

1. Mercedes SL65 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,544

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 12

2. BMW 750i

Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8

3. BMW 750Li

Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8

4. Mercedes SL63 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,263

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 8

5. Mercedes S65 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,221

Style: Four-door sedan turbo

Cylinders: 12

Least Expensive

1. Chrysler Town and Country

Average National Annual Premium: $1,092

Style: Four-door wagon

Cylinders: 6

2. Sienna 4 Cylinder

Average National Annual Premium: $1,101

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4

3. Toyota Sienna LE

Average National Annual Premium: $1,108

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4

4. Honda Odyssey LX

Average National Annual Premium: $1,115

Style: Five-door hybrid, two-wheel drive, single overhead Camshaft engine

Cylinders: 6

5. Nissan Murano SL

Average National Annual Premium: $1,128

Style: Two-wheel drive, four-door utility

Cylinders: 6

7 Insurance Tricks That Cost You Money

Is there a way to get insurance against insurance? For some who have been victims of the scrupulous practices of some insurance companies, they probably wish they could purchase some protection against their insurance. Sadly, we often feel like we're at the mercy of the insurance giants, but there is a way to level the playing field: education. If you know their tricks, you know how to avoid them.

1. You May Not Need Collision Insurance

So you purchased an older model car. It's only worth $2,500 and is seven or more years old. As your car depreciates, it gets closer and closer to your deductible. Remember that the insurance company won't pay you any more than the value of your car, so if the value is the same or less than your deductible, you won't get any money. If you're driving an old car, consider not getting collision insurance. The minimum policy required by law is enough in your case. Don't count on your insurance agent to tell you, though.

2. If You Have a Car Loan, You Need Gap Insurance

After you got rid of that old car, you purchased a shiny new car complete with that brand new car smell that everybody loves. You took out a loan for $25,000 and drove home. Two weeks later your car was totaled and the insurance company offered to pay you $21,000 for the car. The bank is going to still want the $25,000 you owe, so you'll be on the hook for the other $4,000.

Without gap insurance, you have to pay it out of your pocket. If you have a loan for your car, you should also consider gap insurance.

3. Anti-Concurrent Language in Your Policy

You live in a coastal town and recently a major hurricane came through and caused major damage to your home, including tens of thousands of dollars in flood damage. Everything will be covered because you have hurricane insurance as part of your homeowner's policy, right? Wrong!

Your insurance company tells you that because of the anti-concurrent language in your policy, nothing is covered because flood damage isn't covered even though the damage was clearly caused by the hurricane. Adding insult to injury, they tell you that you should have read your policy. Does all of this sound confusing?

Make sure to ask your insurance agent about the anti-concurrent language in your policy and ask them to show it to you in the policy.

4. You'll Never Understand It, Anyway

Have you ever tried to read your insurance policy? Regardless of your level of education or your street smarts, these policies are written in an extremely complicated way, but this problem is quickly being solved. Legislation in more than half of the United States has been introduced or enacted in to law making insurance companies write their policies in plain English. Always ask for an explanation of the policy if you don't understand it. Do you have a phone that allows you to record? Turn the microphone on and record the insurance agent's explanation.

5. We Use Your Credit Score to Determine Your Rate

Had some troubles paying your bills? Bankruptcy? These may not seem like unreasonable items for your insurance company to look at if they're trusting you to make payments on your policy, but think of it another way: What if you believe in paying cash for everything and you have no credit? What if you're elderly and no longer make purchases requiring credit?

This practice assumes that having credit makes for a responsible person when in actuality, some people are so responsible that they don't need credit at all. When receiving a rate quote, ask the agent if they used your credit score as a metric to determine your rate.

6. We Get a Bonus If We Hassle You

According to a North Dakota Insurance Department report released in 2007, Farmers Insurance used to have an incentive program called "Quest for Gold" that rewarded adjusters with pizza parties and $25 gift cards if they met low payment goals. They weren't the only ones -- others rewarded adjusters with various gifts and pressured employees to meet low payment goals.

Before entering into negotiations with the insurance adjuster, know how much your car is worth, have a clear idea of the extent of your injuries and speak to an attorney if necessary. While not all insurance companies are going to act this way, they want to save money as much as you want to make money, so they will most likely not give you their best and fair offer without a little bit of negotiation on your part.

7. We Consider It a Claim If You Call

A neighbor accidentally hit a baseball through your kitchen window, but you don't remember what your deductible is and you've never made a claim against your homeowner's insurance, so you call the company to collect some information. You tell them the situation and simply ask for information.

Your insurance company may view that as a claim and adjust rates accordingly and the call may go in into the CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report on your house, which is available to anybody with a financial interest in your home. That one phone call may make it difficult to get insurance for your home.

If you have a question about your policy and must call, make your question into a general question that you are asking to gain an understanding on your policy.

The Bottom Line

Not all insurance companies are out to get you, but like all types of businesses, there are honest and dishonest people and you have to protect yourself at all times.