Everyone knows that between cars of the same price level, the model is a key determinant of insurance prices, but can you tell which exact model is cheaper to insure?
State Farm regularly published its list of Vehicle Insurance Ratings, a quantitative guide of how car model can affect insurance premiums.
Each car model is assigned two ratings: Vehicle Safety Discount (VSD) and Damage and Theft Index (DTI). Each car model is assigned a VSD rating between 0% to 40%, which represents the percentage discount for medical payments/personal injury protection premiums. DTI can be A, B or C, in which A means lower-than-standard collision and comprehensive premiums and C means higher-than-standard premiums. Of course, the list is only useful when you compare models in the same price range. Insuring a BMW will always be more expensive than insuring a Hyundai.
Still, auto insurance is still a relatively small component of total car ownership cost, and if you really want to make an effort to cut your expenses in wheels, Edmunds' True Cost to Own A Car can be a better guide.