Some used vehicles are better starting points than others when insurance cost matters, but there is no single model that is cheapest for every driver. A vehicle’s claim history, repair costs, theft exposure, safety performance, model year and trim can all affect what insurers charge—and your location, driving history and coverage choices may matter even more.
Which Used Cars May Be Cheaper to Insure?
Current insurance-loss and quote analyses repeatedly point toward practical SUVs, crossovers, minivans and several mainstream cars as good vehicles to compare first. A Consumer Reports analysis based on more than 90 million insurance quotes from Insurify included the Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Honda Odyssey, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Subaru Impreza and Subaru Crosstrek among used vehicles with relatively affordable insurance premiums. [1]
That does not mean every Outback, CR-V or Forester will be inexpensive to insure. Model year, trim, location, driver characteristics, coverage and insurer can change the result substantially. These models are better viewed as useful vehicles to include on a shopping shortlist.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback appears favorably in current affordability research. State Farm’s vehicle-loss analysis also shows why a single insurance number can be misleading: different coverages can produce different results for the same model.
Check: The exact model year, trim, replacement-part costs and comprehensive quote for the vehicle you are considering.
Subaru Forester
The Forester combines a practical vehicle class with favorable collision-loss experience in recent IIHS-HLDI data. Certain Forester 4WD models equipped with EyeSight showed substantially lower collision losses than the passenger-vehicle average.
Check: Whether the used Forester has the same generation, drivetrain and safety equipment reflected in the loss data.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V appears in both used-car premium research and current insurance-loss comparisons. Recent IIHS-HLDI results are particularly favorable for collision losses on some CR-V configurations.
Check: Comprehensive pricing as well. Collision performance does not measure theft, weather damage or other non-collision losses.
Ford Escape
The Escape appears in current lower-premium used-vehicle research. State Farm’s analysis also illustrates that liability, collision and comprehensive results can differ even within the same vehicle.
Check: Generation, powertrain and trim because repair complexity can vary considerably under the same model name.
Honda Odyssey
The Odyssey appears in current used-car affordability research and is a useful family-vehicle candidate to quote. Its actual insurance cost still depends on the exact model year, driver, location, insurer and coverage selected.
Check: Vehicle age, safety equipment and whether collision and comprehensive remain financially worthwhile for the vehicle’s current value.
Subaru Impreza
Drivers who prefer a car rather than a crossover may want to compare the Impreza. IIHS-HLDI data summarized by Progressive show favorable recent collision-loss experience for certain Impreza configurations.
Check: Exact body style, equipment and model year instead of assuming every Impreza receives similar insurance pricing.
Ask instead: “Which vehicles on my shopping list produce the best quotes for me when I compare identical coverage?” National rankings can help narrow your search, but an actual quote for the specific vehicle is more useful before purchase.
What Insurance-Loss Data Actually Tells Us
The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) publishes insurance-loss results for hundreds of passenger vehicles across six major coverage types, including collision, property damage liability, comprehensive, personal injury protection, medical payments and bodily injury liability. The results show how each vehicle’s insurance losses compare with the passenger-vehicle average. [2]
This is more informative than assigning an unexplained “low,” “medium” or “high” insurance label to a vehicle. It also shows why one universal vehicle score is misleading: a model can perform favorably under collision coverage while producing less favorable results under another coverage.
IIHS-HLDI 2021–2023 model-year collision loss data: The figures below compare combined collision claim frequency and severity with the average passenger vehicle. They are not insurance premiums.
| Used vehicle example | Collision loss result vs. average | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler 2-door 4WD | 49% below average | Substantially lower combined collision claim frequency and severity in the cited dataset. |
| Honda CR-V 4-door | 41% below average | Strong recent collision-loss performance makes it a useful vehicle to include when comparing quotes. |
| Subaru Forester 4WD with EyeSight | 36% below average | Recent real-world collision losses were substantially below the passenger-vehicle average. |
| Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 4WD | 35% below average | A newer-used crossover candidate with favorable collision-loss experience in the cited dataset. |
| Honda Pilot 4-door | 33% below average | Shows that larger family vehicles can also produce favorable collision-loss results. |
| Subaru Impreza 4WD | 21% below average | Provides a car alternative with below-average collision-loss experience. |
These percentages are based on IIHS-HLDI collision claim frequency and severity data summarized by Progressive. They are not insurance premiums and do not mean your quote will be the same percentage cheaper. Liability, comprehensive and injury coverages can produce different results. [3]
Why One Used Car Can Cost Less to Insure Than Another
Claim frequency and severity
Insurers care about both how frequently a model generates claims and how expensive those claims tend to be. Two similarly priced vehicles can produce very different real-world losses.
Repair costs
Parts prices, labor requirements, body construction and embedded cameras, radar or sensors can affect the cost of repairing even a relatively minor collision.
Theft and comprehensive losses
A vehicle that generates frequent or expensive theft, vandalism, weather or other comprehensive claims may cost more to insure even when its purchase price is modest.
Safety performance
Crashworthiness and crash-avoidance technology can affect injury and collision experience, but safety should be evaluated for the particular model year rather than assumed from the brand name.
Vehicle value
Actual cash value matters to collision and comprehensive coverage because a more valuable vehicle can expose the insurer to a larger payout if it is stolen or totaled.
Trim, drivetrain and redesigns
Two versions of the same model can produce different insurance results. Performance trims, hybrid systems, all-wheel drive, safety packages and major redesigns can change vehicle value, repair costs and claim experience.
State Farm similarly evaluates vehicles using separate measures for liability, collision damage, damage and theft, and medical/PIP experience rather than assuming that one characteristic determines the entire premium. [4]
A Popular, Reliable Car Is Not Automatically a Low-Theft Car
Vehicle theft is one reason shoppers should avoid treating a familiar model name as an automatic insurance bargain. NICB reported that the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Honda CR-V were all among the 10 vehicle models with the highest total number of reported U.S. thefts in 2025. [5]
Those are raw theft totals, not theft rates per registered vehicle. Popular vehicles naturally have more units on the road, so total theft counts alone should not be used to declare one model inherently riskier than another. The practical lesson is to obtain a comprehensive quote for the exact vehicle and consider model year, anti-theft equipment and where the car will normally be parked.
- the exact model year and trim;
- whether the vehicle has an engine immobilizer or other anti-theft equipment;
- the comprehensive premium and deductible;
- local theft exposure where the car will normally be parked; and
- whether applicable manufacturer theft-prevention software updates or other anti-theft campaigns have been completed.
Do Safety Ratings Mean a Car Will Be Cheap to Insure?
Not by themselves. Safety is important, but it is only one part of insurance pricing.
NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare crash protection, while IIHS evaluates crashworthiness and crash-avoidance performance. Ratings should be checked by model year because test standards and vehicle designs change. NHTSA also cautions that frontal crash ratings should generally be compared among vehicles of similar weight. [6]
Why the relationship is more complicated
A vehicle can perform well in crash tests but use expensive headlights, cameras, radar modules or body components that increase repair costs. Another model may be relatively inexpensive to repair but have unfavorable theft or liability losses. Insurance pricing reflects the combination of these factors—not one star rating.
Is an Older Used Car Automatically Cheaper to Insure?
No. Vehicle age can reduce part of the insurance cost, but it does not automatically reduce every portion of a policy.
Older vehicles commonly have a lower actual cash value. That can reduce the insurer’s potential payout under collision or comprehensive coverage, and owners of paid-off, lower-value vehicles may eventually decide that one or both coverages no longer provide enough value for their cost.
Liability coverage is different. It protects against covered injuries or property damage you cause to others, so an older vehicle does not eliminate that exposure. State law may require liability and other coverages regardless of vehicle age, and a lender may require collision and comprehensive while a vehicle is financed. Allstate similarly notes that insurance costs for an older car still depend on the driver, location, vehicle and coverage selected. [7]
Before dropping collision or comprehensive from an older vehicle, compare the car’s current value, your deductible, the annual cost of those coverages, and how difficult it would be to repair or replace the vehicle out of pocket. Drivers evaluating these decisions should consider essential coverage options for used vehicles before adjusting their policy.
The 10-Minute Insurance Check Before Buying a Used Car
The most useful insurance research happens before you buy the vehicle. Progressive recommends obtaining an insurance quote before buying a used car so you have an estimate of what it may cost to insure. [8]
Shortlist two or three vehicles
Do not compare a single favorite car in isolation. Pick several realistic alternatives with similar purchase prices and the features you need.
Quote the exact year, make and model
Use the VIN when available. At minimum, provide the correct model year, trim, engine or powertrain and major safety equipment.
Keep coverage identical
Use the same liability limits, comprehensive and collision deductibles, optional coverages and driver information for every vehicle comparison. Otherwise, you are not comparing the vehicles on equal terms.
Check safety and open recalls
Review model-year safety information and use NHTSA’s VIN lookup to identify unrepaired safety recalls. A VIN search can identify open recalls that require repair. [9]
Review the vehicle’s history
Review the vehicle’s history
Review the vehicle’s history
Prior damage, title problems, and other vehicle history details can influence the purchase decision even when they do not directly determine the quoted premium.
Compare total ownership cost
Add the annual insurance estimate to financing, maintenance, fuel, registration and expected repair costs. A car that costs $1,000 less to buy is not necessarily the less expensive vehicle to own.
Used Vehicles That Deserve Extra Insurance Research
A permanent “cars to avoid” list can become outdated as vehicle designs, theft patterns and insurance-loss experience change. A better approach is to recognize characteristics that deserve closer inspection before buying.
Performance models
Higher-powered vehicles can produce different loss patterns than ordinary versions of the same model. Do not assume the insurance cost of a standard trim will apply to a performance-oriented version.
Luxury vehicles with expensive parts
A heavily depreciated luxury car may be inexpensive to purchase but still use costly body panels, lighting systems, electronics and specialized repair labor.
Theft-targeted model years
Theft experience can vary considerably by model year and equipment. Verify the specific vehicle’s anti-theft features rather than relying on the reputation of the brand as a whole.
Vehicles with expensive sensor repairs
Advanced driver-assistance systems can help prevent or reduce crashes, but sensors integrated into bumpers, mirrors, windshields and headlights may also increase repair and recalibration costs.
Drivers who already own a used vehicle can look for insurance savings rather than changing cars.
How We Selected the Vehicles in This Guide
We do not rank vehicles using unexplained national premiums or generic “low,” “medium” and “high” labels.
The examples in this guide were selected by comparing current used-car insurance research with real-world insurance-loss information. We looked for vehicles that appear favorably in recent premium analyses or show better-than-average loss experience in relevant IIHS-HLDI data.
- Consumer premium research: used vehicles appearing in a Consumer Reports analysis based on more than 90 million Insurify insurance quotes.
- Insurance-loss experience: IIHS-HLDI results covering real-world insurance losses by vehicle make and model.
- Insurer vehicle analysis: information from Progressive and State Farm addressing collision losses, liability, repair costs, theft and other vehicle characteristics.
- Theft context: National Insurance Crime Bureau vehicle-theft information.
- Safety verification: NHTSA vehicle-specific safety and recall resources.
Important: None of these sources can determine your personal premium. A quote based on your driver information and the exact vehicle remains the most useful way to compare insurance costs before purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What used cars are usually cheaper to insure?
Current analyses frequently identify practical models such as the Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Honda Odyssey and Subaru Impreza as useful vehicles to compare. However, the cheapest model for you depends on the driver, location, model year, trim, insurer and coverage selected.
Should I get an insurance quote before buying a used car?
Yes. Request quotes for the specific vehicles you are considering before completing the purchase. Keep your limits, deductibles and driver information identical so you can better see how much of the price difference comes from the vehicle itself.
Is an older car always cheaper to insure?
No. Its lower value may reduce the cost or usefulness of collision and comprehensive coverage, but liability and other coverage costs depend on additional factors. Some older vehicles can also have unfavorable theft, safety or insurance-loss experience.
Can a car with good safety ratings still be expensive to insure?
Yes. Safety is only one factor. Repair costs, theft exposure, claim frequency, claim severity, vehicle value, trim and the driver’s own rating factors can all affect the premium.
Does the model year matter for insurance?
Yes. Different generations of the same model can have different safety systems, anti-theft equipment, replacement costs and claim histories. Compare the exact model year and trim whenever possible.
Should I carry collision and comprehensive on an older used car?
It depends on the car’s value, the cost of the coverage, your deductible, whether the vehicle is financed and whether you could afford to repair or replace it yourself. A lender may require collision and comprehensive while you are financing the vehicle.
Can two insurers charge very different prices for the same used car?
Yes. Insurers use different rating models, discounts and underwriting rules. Comparing multiple quotes using identical coverage is therefore more useful than relying on one national average. Our guide to cheap used-car insurance covers additional ways to shop and reduce costs.
Choose the Car and the Insurance Together
The best used vehicle for your budget is not simply the one with the lowest purchase price. A stronger candidate combines a manageable insurance quote with good safety performance, reasonable repair costs, acceptable theft exposure and a purchase price you can afford.
Use national insurance-loss information to build your shortlist, but obtain quotes for the exact vehicles before buying. That final comparison tells you far more about your likely insurance cost than a generic “cheapest car” ranking ever could.
References
- Consumer Reports. Cheapest Used Cars to Insure. ↩
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety / Highway Loss Data Institute. Insurance Losses by Make and Model. ↩
- Progressive. The Cheapest Cars to Insure. ↩
- State Farm. Some of the Cheapest Cars to Insure Based on Safety, Theft & Repair Cost Ratings. ↩
- National Insurance Crime Bureau. U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline. ↩
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5-Star Vehicle Safety Ratings. ↩
- Allstate. Insurance Considerations for Older Cars. ↩
- Progressive. Insurance When Buying a Used Car. ↩
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicle Recall Lookup. ↩