The vehicle you drive can have a noticeable effect on the cost of full-coverage car insurance.
When collision and comprehensive coverage are included, insurance companies look at more than the driver. The vehicle’s make, model, model year, trim level, value, repair costs, and equipment can all factor into the price.
The exact vehicle matters. A higher trim, newer technology, more expensive parts, or a performance-focused version can all influence how much it costs to insure.
What Vehicle Details Can Affect Full Coverage Rates?
Several parts of the vehicle can affect how much it costs to insure.
Make and Model
The make and model can affect things such as repair costs, parts availability, vehicle value, theft history, and past insurance losses.
The Highway Loss Data Institute tracks insurance losses by make and model, showing that claim patterns can vary from one vehicle to another.
Even vehicles from the same manufacturer can have different repair costs, values, and loss histories, which can lead to different full-coverage rates.
Trim Level
The trim level can make more of a difference than people may realize.
Different trims of the same model can include different:
- Engines
- Wheels and tires
- Headlights
- Cameras and sensors
- Electronics
- Safety equipment
- Performance features
A higher trim may also have a higher vehicle value, which can affect the cost of repairing or replacing it after a covered loss.
Model Year
The year of the vehicle can also affect the rate.
Newer vehicles may have higher values and more advanced technology. At the same time, newer does not automatically mean more expensive to insure.
Repair costs, parts availability, safety features, and the vehicle’s insurance loss history can all play a role.
Vehicle Value
Vehicle value becomes especially important with collision and comprehensive coverage.
If a vehicle is badly damaged or totaled in a covered loss, a more valuable vehicle can represent a higher potential claim.
Because of that, two vehicles that look similar may still have different insurance prices.
Repair Costs
Modern vehicles can be expensive to repair even when the visible damage appears minor.
Depending on the vehicle, repairs may involve:
- LED headlights
- Windshields with built-in technology
- Cameras
- Radar sensors
- Electronic components
- Specialty wheels
- Manufacturer-specific parts
The cost and availability of those parts can affect how the vehicle is priced for insurance.
Technology and Safety Equipment
Many newer vehicles include cameras, sensors, automatic braking systems, blind-spot monitoring, and other driver-assistance features.
These systems can provide important safety benefits, but they can also add complexity to repairs when components need to be replaced or recalibrated.
Engine and Performance
The exact version of a vehicle can matter too.
A standard trim and a performance-oriented trim may have different engines, horsepower, equipment, and vehicle values.
That is another reason the specific trim can matter when getting a full-coverage quote.
Why the VIN Matters
A Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, helps identify the exact vehicle being insured, including details that may not be clear from the year, make, and model alone.
This is especially important when the same model is available in different trims or configurations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN decoder can be used to look up manufacturer-reported information tied to a specific VIN.
Using the correct VIN can help make sure the right version of the vehicle is being rated when getting a full-coverage quote.
Check the Insurance Price Before Buying the Vehicle
Checking the insurance price before you buy can give you a clearer picture of what the vehicle may cost to own each month, especially if you plan to carry full coverage.
If you are choosing between two or three vehicles, getting a quote for each one can make the comparison more complete. A different trim, engine, model year, or set of safety features can affect the insurance price even when the vehicles are close in purchase price. Some vehicles typically cost less to insure because their value, repair costs, parts, and equipment are different.
If the dealer has the VIN available, use it when getting the quote. That gives the insurer the exact vehicle information and can help you compare your options with a better idea of what each one may cost to insure.
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