What Used Cars Are Cheapest to Insure
The cheapest used cars to insure are the ones that are common, safe, cheap to fix, and worth little enough that replacing them costs an insurer almost nothing.
Ordinary cars cost less to insure than you'd think
A used car is cheap to insure when it's unremarkable in every way that matters to an insurer. That means a good safety record, a low rate of theft, parts that are cheap and easy to find, and a value low enough that a claim doesn't cost much to settle. Family sedans and small SUVs with ordinary engines usually fit this description better than trucks, sports cars, or anything with a reputation for being stolen or expensive to repair.
For a driver your age, the car itself often matters less than it would for a younger driver, since your record and your years of experience already carry a lot of weight with insurers. But the car still sets a floor and a ceiling. A low-value, low-risk used car keeps your premium down no matter how good your record is, and a high-value or high-performance one will cost more to insure even with a clean history behind you.
What the car is worth changes the math
Comprehensive and collision coverage are priced around what it would cost to repair or replace your car. A used car that's worth less costs less to insure under those coverages, because the insurer's maximum payout is lower. This is one reason older, modest cars are usually cheaper to insure than newer ones of the same model.
At some point, though, a car's value drops low enough that comprehensive and collision coverage may cost more than the car is worth replacing. That's worth checking with your insurer directly, since they can tell you what your car's current value is and whether dropping those coverages makes sense for you.
Repair cost matters separately from value. Some used cars are inexpensive to buy but expensive to fix because parts are hard to source or the labor is specialized. Ask an insurer or check consumer resources on repair cost ratings before assuming a cheap car will have a cheap premium.
Theft rates matter too. Certain models get stolen more often than others, and insurers price comprehensive coverage accordingly. A car with a low theft rate in your area will usually cost less to insure than one that's a common target, even if the two cars are priced similarly used.
Your state and your coverage choices matter as much as the car
Insurance rules and typical costs vary by state, so a car that's cheap to insure in one state may not be the cheapest option in another. The only way to know for certain is to get a quote on the specific used car you're considering, in your state, with your driving record.
The coverage you choose also changes the answer. If you're only required to carry liability coverage and you choose not to add comprehensive or collision, the value and repair cost of the car matter much less, since those are the coverages tied most closely to the car itself. A cheap-to-insure car and a cheap insurance policy aren't always the same thing once you factor in what coverage you're carrying.
Safety features matter more than people expect from an older used car. Anti-theft devices, airbags, and electronic stability control can all affect your premium, and not every used car has the same set of them even within the same model year. Ask the seller or check the vehicle's history for which features it actually has installed.
Questions people ask about this
Is it cheaper to insure an older car or a newer used car?
It depends on the specific cars being compared, not just their age. An older car usually has a lower value, which lowers comprehensive and collision costs, but it may lack safety features that a newer used car has standard. Compare the actual models you're considering rather than assuming age alone settles it.
Do insurance companies charge more for certain used car brands?
Some brands and models do cost more to insure because of repair costs, theft rates, or claim history tied to that specific vehicle, not the brand as a whole. Ask an insurer for a quote on the exact model and trim you're considering, since cost can vary a lot within the same brand.
Does the number of previous owners affect my insurance cost?
No, insurers price a policy based on the car itself and your driving history, not how many people owned it before you. What matters is the car's make, model, year, value, and safety record, along with your own record and where you live.
Will my insurance go up if I switch from a new car to a used one?
It usually goes down, since a used car typically has a lower value and lower replacement cost than a new one. The exact change depends on the specific used car and the coverage you carry, so ask your insurer for a quote before you buy to see the real difference.
Should I drop comprehensive and collision coverage on an older used car?
That depends on what the car is currently worth and what you could afford to replace it with if it were totaled. Ask your insurer for your car's current value and weigh that against what you're paying for those coverages each year before deciding.
See how the specific used car you're considering actually prices out before you commit to it.
Before you buy, get the year, make, model, and trim of the used car you're considering and ask an insurer for a quote on it directly. Ask what safety features and anti-theft devices the car needs to have to qualify for any available discounts. If you're deciding between a few used cars, get a quote on each one so you're comparing real numbers rather than guesses. Check with your state's DMV or your insurer about any rules specific to your state that might affect the cost. If you're keeping your current policy and just changing vehicles, call your insurer and ask how the switch will change your premium before you finalize the purchase.
