Drive the Right Car, Cut Your Auto-Insurance Premiums
Among 2016 models, the Honda Odyssey LX costs the least to insure, with an average annual premium of $1,113.
I’m looking for a new car for my family. Are some cars cheaper to insure than others? --L.M., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Yes, the type of car you buy can make a big difference in your insurance premiums. Every insurer has its own calculations and claim figures, but a vehicle’s insurance costs are generally based on theft statistics, crash tests, the cost of replacement parts and the cost of the car.
Insure.com compared rates for 2016 models and found that the Honda Odyssey LX cost the least to insure, with an average annual premium of $1,113, followed by the Honda CR-V LX (two-wheel drive), Dodge Grand Caravan AVP and Jeep Patriot Sport (two-wheel drive). The most expensive car to insure was the Dodge Viper GT, averaging more than $4,000.
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As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
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