The cheapest cars to insure share a clear profile: low theft, low repair cost and low injury claims. On our data the Chevrolet Express is cheapest — about $690/yr at the US average, roughly 52% below a typical car. Every figure below is the state-average premium × each car's real HLDI insurance-loss index — use the calculator for your state.
Across the 669 cars we price, insurance averages 133% of what a typical vehicle costs to insure — roughly $1,913/yr against the $1,438 national average. Within this list the gap is $9,899 a year between the cheapest and the other end — same coverage, different car. The top of this ranking is mostly Ford, Subaru, Buick. HLDI loss data × NAIC premiums.
Cheapest Cars to insure — full ranking
Estimated annual premium at the US average, cheapest first — real HLDI insurance-loss index. Click a model for its full page.
| # | Vehicle | Est. premium | vs average | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Express | $690/yr | 48% of avg | Cheap |
| 2 | Smart Fortwo | $706/yr | 49% of avg | Cheap |
| 3 | Mini Cooper Roadster | $887/yr | 62% of avg | Cheap |
| 4 | Saturn SKY | $892/yr | 62% of avg | Cheap |
| 5 | Volvo S60 Cross Country | $902/yr | 63% of avg | Cheap |
| 6 | Pontiac Montana | $923/yr | 64% of avg | Cheap |
| 7 | Buick Rendezvous | $938/yr | 65% of avg | Cheap |
| 8 | Subaru Forester | $946/yr | 66% of avg | Cheap |
| 9 | Buick Terraza | $951/yr | 66% of avg | Cheap |
| 10 | Ford E-350 | $951/yr | 66% of avg | Cheap |
| 11 | GMC Acadia | $958/yr | 67% of avg | Cheap |
| 12 | Mini Cooper | $959/yr | 67% of avg | Cheap |
| 13 | Subaru Outback | $959/yr | 67% of avg | Cheap |
| 14 | GMC Savana | $961/yr | 67% of avg | Cheap |
| 15 | Subaru Crosstrek | $978/yr | 68% of avg | Cheap |
| 16 | Buick Cascada | $979/yr | 68% of avg | Cheap |
| 17 | Fiat 500 | $985/yr | 69% of avg | Cheap |
| 18 | Subaru Ascent | $989/yr | 69% of avg | Cheap |
| 19 | Volvo XC40 | $989/yr | 69% of avg | Cheap |
| 20 | Volkswagen Golf Alltrack | $992/yr | 69% of avg | Cheap |
| 21 | Mazda MX-5 | $999/yr | 70% of avg | Cheap |
| 22 | Volkswagen Golf | $1,001/yr | 70% of avg | Cheap |
| 23 | Ford Freestyle | $1,002/yr | 70% of avg | Cheap |
| 24 | Acura RDX | $1,011/yr | 70% of avg | Cheap |
| 25 | RAM ProMaster 3500 | $1,011/yr | 70% of avg | Cheap |
| 26 | Ford Five Hundred | $1,015/yr | 71% of avg | Cheap |
| 27 | Nissan Xterra | $1,018/yr | 71% of avg | Cheap |
| 28 | Ford Transit | $1,020/yr | 71% of avg | Cheap |
| 29 | Honda Pilot | $1,020/yr | 71% of avg | Cheap |
| 30 | Ford Taurus X | $1,021/yr | 71% of avg | Cheap |
Top 15 cheapest cars to insure
Estimated annual premium at the US average — the cheapest cars to insure.
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What makes a car cheap to insure
Insurers price a car on how much it costs them — exactly what the HLDI loss index measures. The big factors:
Safety is one of the biggest levers — cars with top crash-test scores file fewer injury claims. See the safest cars by crash-test score.
Check any car in your state
This ranking uses the US average. Pick a specific car and state below for its estimated annual premium — same real HLDI loss data.
Cheapest Cars to Insure — frequently asked
What is the cheapest car to insure?
The Chevrolet Express is the cheapest car to insure in our data — about $690/yr at the US average, roughly 52% below a typical car.
How is this ranking calculated?
We rank cars by their real HLDI insurance-loss index (how much each costs insurers versus an average car, 100 = average) and estimate the premium as the US-average premium × that index. It's an estimate for a typical driver, full coverage — not a quote.
Are cars cheaper to insure than other cars?
The cars on this list run well below the average car; cars with low theft, repair and injury losses are among the cheapest vehicles to insure overall.
Does the state I live in change this?
Yes — these figures use the US average. Your state can move the premium up or down by 30%+ . Use the calculator or see cost by state.