How the make and model of your car can impact insurance premiums

Among the many factors that can dramatically impact what you pay for insurance is the type of car you drive. This is, of course, an element you have some of the most control over.

 Given the American love affair with the car, most of us want the car we drive to do a little more than get us from here to there; we want it to say something about us. So it’s unlikely you’ll head out car shopping with a list of those vehicles that will cost you the least to insure and pick solely based on those criteria. But it is important to know what you’re getting yourself into.

 Cars with higher safety ratings tend to have lower insurance premiums. It’s not exactly square to care about safety anyway, so look at safer alternatives to your favorite make when car shopping.

 How frequently certain types cars are involved in accidents, how badly they’re damaged and how much it costs to repair them also play a factor in how much it will cost to repair them. Sports cars and high-profile SUVs tend to be among the most expensive cars to insure.

 Those that are specialty cars and foreign vehicles, which cost a lot to repair, also tend to be pricier.

 Sometimes those cars that are most commonly stolen can also come with higher insurance premiums. The most stolen vehicles are not necessarily the most expensive ones. In fact, they are often some of the most common cars, frequently stolen for parts or just for joyrides. The National Insurance Crime Bureau lists the most commonly stolen cars.