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Where can I find insurance premium prices for various vehicles? I'm going to buy a car in about 90 days and want to include insurance costs in my search.
The December 2003 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance contains insurance cost estimates for more than 430 vehicles. You can view estimates for our list of Best New Cars free online, or purchase the entire list of vehicle ratings in our archive ($2.95; search for the story "Driving Deals" above).
The insurance estimates, provided by InsWeb, are for a hypothetical 40-year-old California couple with a spotless driving record who buy a policy with $300,000 of liability coverage and $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage.
Keep in mind that this information will just help you assess relative insurance costs. Your actual rates will depend on where you live, your age and your driving record.
Another good resource is the Highway Loss Data Institute's Web site, which shows how much insurance companies have paid out, on average, in collision, injury and theft claims for each model compared to others in the same category. The lower score the better; 100 is average. Insurers often look at this information when setting their rates. Cars with a history of high insurance payouts typically carry higher premiums.
For the most accurate premium estimates, contact your insurer after you've narrowed your list of prospective cars down to a handful of models, and ask the agent for a cost comparison.
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