What to Know When Buying SUV Insurance

Crossover SUVs are the most popular type of car in America. SUVs, in general, are extremely popular, with the Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander, and Honda CR-V being three of the top 10 vehicles sold in the United States last year.

You don’t need a specific type of car insurance for SUVs, just like you don’t need a specific type of coverage for trucks or vans. Car insurance is just that – insurance for any vehicle.

But, there are some particulars you may want to know before buying coverage for your sport utility vehicle. Keep reading to learn more about SUV insurance rates and how to get an SUV insurance quote.

Arguably, the most pressing matter of car insurance for your SUV is the cost. Although many factors affect car insurance, the sticker price of the SUV does impact rates. Generally, more expensive cars will cost more to insure. You should also be aware of your state’s liability requirements. And, if you’ve financed your car, know that keeping full coverage will cause your SUV insurance to be higher.

Luxury SUVs like BMWs, Mercedes, and Land Rovers will likely cost more to insure than more affordable SUVs and crossovers. They cost more to rebuild after damage, especially if they’re decked out with all the bells and whistles.

Additionally, the amount of insurance you need for your SUV depends on your state. Nearly every state requires a certain amount of liability insurance to drive legally. This is because repairs from car accidents and treating the injuries that can stem from them can get extremely expensive. Most people don’t have the means to comfortably cover damage they can cause on the road, so states mandate liability insurance to protect all drivers.

You’ll need more than just liability insurance if you’ve financed your SUV. Since they technically still own the car, lenders want to protect their investment – your SUV – from as many forms of damage as possible. Thus, they require you to maintain full coverage, which entails collision and comprehensive coverage, for the life of your loan. 

This isn’t a bad thing. Most drivers have some form of full coverage since it protects their own vehicle after accidents. And, you can add several optional coverages, like uninsured motorist coverage, gap insurance, and more.

SUV premiums can be lower than sedan insurance premiums. And, smaller SUVs, such as crossovers, can have lower insurance rates than standard SUVs. Large SUVs, trucks, and vans tend to be the most costly to insure.

Even though SUVs tend to cost more than sedans, SUVs often have lower insurance rates than sedans of the same kind and quality. One reason for discounted SUV insurance may be the advanced safety features that come with sport utility vehicles. 

SUVs perform better in front-crash testing than sedans, so accidents may have lower chances of causing injuries, which insurance companies like. And, they often have traction control to handle driving in the elements better.

In addition to the ones we’ve already mentioned, such as the cost to repair and safety features, some factors that affect how much you pay for car insurance on your SUV include:

If insurance premiums on SUVs are an aspect you’re considering before buying one, keep in mind that you can always shop for car insurance, and there are always ways to save. Consider if the extra money you spend when buying an SUV over a sedan is even worth the potentially lower insurance rates.

Factors like your driving history and your location are crucial. Piling up accidents and tickets will be disastrous for your premiums. Also, allowing your car insurance to lapse at any point is a big red flag to providers.

And, if you have full coverage on a financed SUV, be sure to pay your premiums regularly to avoid force-placed insurance, which is very costly and may not be enough coverage for your vehicle.

Ultimately, the type of vehicle you have isn’t the most important component when it comes to car insurance since so many factors are at play.

The Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Chevrolet Traverse are among the cheapest SUVs to insure. Their relatively affordable sticker prices and high safety scores are beneficial for their insurance premiums. 

The cost of insurance on these models will vary from company to company. Generally, though, larger SUVs and trucks will be more expensive to insure than smaller SUVs and crossovers. 

Some Jeep SUVs and the Tesla Model Y tend to be some of the most costly SUVs to cover. Tesla’s are expensive to insure because of their high list price and modern, sometimes proprietary technology. Also, Teslas can only be repaired at certain places—the costs associated with rebuilding a Tesla after damage drive up insurance rates on its SUV.

And as we mentioned earlier, expensive luxury SUVs will be more costly to insure overall since they cost more to rebuild after an accident.

When looking for car insurance for your SUV, it’s crucial to compare quotes from several providers. It’s the only way to know you’re getting the best deal. 

At Clovered, we make that easy. When you fill out our auto insurance quote form, one of our licensed agents will get back to you with your SUV insurance options. We partner with several of the top car insurance companies in the country, like Progressive and Travelers, and we’ve helped thousands find coverage. 

We’d love to work with you. If you’re buying an SUV, new or used, you need insurance before you can drive it off the lot. Be proactive and get the right coverage.