Insurance World

Have you ever wondered why sports cars cost more to insure than other types of car – even when the purchase price of the sports car is less expensive? If so, the following are the main reasons why this is the case.

Car Insurance Group Categories

While many of the factors that determine the make-up of car insurance quotes are not known, what is known is that insurance companies ‘group’ certain types of cars into categories. For this purposes, insurance companies have groups ranging from 1 through to 20. Group 1 is the least expensive type of car to insure. Group 20 is the most expensive type of car to insure. So, if you buy a Fiat Panda, you’ll be classed a Group 1 car driver. Buy a sports car, any sports car, and you are looking at being classed a Group 15 and above driver. Buy a performance sports car, such as a Porsche 911, and you’ll definitely be Group 20 driver!

Theft

Over 2 million car crimes happen in the UK each and every year. Aside from popular model cars, such a Ford, the biggest car crime category is sports cars! Have a soft-top convertible sports car, and the chances of it being stolen are red hot! So, even if you live out in the countryside with no one else around for miles, you will still be seen as driving an extremely high risk car when it comes to car theft. With increased risk, comes an increased premium!

Accidents

Insurance companies are not charities – they’re in the business to make money. As such, they keep vast amounts of data and part of that data tells them that if you drive a sports car there is an increased risk you’ll be in an accident and that the accident will be more serious (and costly) than if you were driving a regular car. As such, the premium charge is going to be higher.

Under 30?

Unless you have just won the Lottery, if you are under 30 there are no appealing factors when it comes to insuring a sports car. Not only do the insurance company see the car you drive as being a high risk car to insure, but you as the driver are far more risky to insure as well. Consequently, car insurance premiums for those 30 years of age or under, driving sports cars, is probably the highest of all types of car insurance available in the UK today.

Did you know that one of the easiest ways to ensure low rate car insurance for yourself is to drive a vehicle that is both safe and considered “low-profile”? It’s true. You’re more likely to get low rate car insurance on a minivan that you are a flashy sports car or SUV.

If you choose a safe vehicle, not only are you better protecting yourself and passengers, but you’re also protecting the vehicle itself. Insurance companies will look at how much it’s going to cost to repair your vehicle in the event of an accident, as well as how safe you and your passengers are going to be inside the vehicle in the event of an accident. Insurance companies are going to look at statistics such as crash test ratings and features such as air bags for both drivers and passengers, so you should research them as well when you head out to purchase your next vehicle.

Also, if you choose a “low-profile” vehicle, it’s less likely to be burglarized, vandalized, and/or stolen. This is especially true for people who already live in areas that are considered “high crime” areas; that is, areas where a lot of crime, including auto-related crimes, occurs. Insurance companies can find information about particular vehicles by checking out the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). These organizations keep track of vehicles that are most often burglarized, vandalized, and/or stolen.

So, the next time you set out to purchase a new, or even used, vehicle, do some research. Find out how safe the car is and how well it will hold up to collisions or other auto-related accidents by checking out the crash test ratings and safety components of the vehicle. Also find out whether or not the vehicle you have in mind is at a high risk for being burglarized, vandalized, and/or stolen. These factors will help you get low rate car insurance.