Be prepared to open up your wallet a little wider for any of these cars

Buying a new car – whether it’s actually new or just new to you – is an exciting experience. Even if it’s something you’ve done several times before, it can be a lot of fun. After all, a car lot is like a toy store for grownups.

Cars are expensive, of course, so it’s important to go in knowing you’ll have to shell out quite a bit to get a quality auto. And while you might have factored in the fees for taxes, title, and maybe even undercoating (whatever that is), there’s another little item you definitely do not want to forget about: Insurance. Because different cars come with different insurance price tags, this is something you have to think about before your purchase.

What makes a car more expensive to insure?

There are many factors that affect Insurance Premiums, including driving record and credit history. But the car itself also plays a big role. These are the things insurers focus on to calculate their rates:

•  Repairs – When it comes to making repairs, luxury and sports cars almost always have high costs for both parts and labor.

•  Claims – Even if won’t ever make a claim, if the kind of car you’re buying has a high claim rate, your insurance will be higher.

•  Type – Not just luxury models come with larger insurance premiums. Convertibles, for example, are more expensive to insure in part because they are more prone to break-ins.

The most expensive vehicles to insure

According to Insure.com, these cars were the ten costliest to insure in 2017. The make and model is followed by the average annual premium:

1. Mercedes S65 AMG convertible – $3,835

2. Dodge GTS Viper – $3,779

3. Mercedes S63 AMG 4Matic convertible – $3,624

4. Maserati Quattroporte GTS – $3,547

5. Mercedes S550 convertible – $3,502

6. Mercedes C43 4Matic convertible – $3,418

7. Mercedes Maybach S600 – $3,355

8. Mercedes SL65 AMG convertible – $3,322

9. Nissan GT-R Nismo – $3,313

10. Audi R8 5.2L V10 Quattro – $3,267

It probably comes as little surprise that a high-end brand like Mercedes is all over this list. In fact, Mercedes had a total of nine vehicles in the top 20. But luxury isn’t the only factor when it comes to insurance premiums, says Joe Wisenfelder of Cars.com.

“The Dodge Viper, Audi R8, and Nissan GT-R are extremely powerful cars, exceeding 500 horsepower,” Wisenfelder said. “This plays a part when it comes to insurance costs because performance vehicles are likely to be driven more aggressively, which puts them at a higher risk of damage.”

And it’s not just the auto brand; the cars on this list are also top-of-the-line models, as Wisenfelder points out: “It’s no coincidence that many of the vehicles on the most expensive insurance list are more than just Mercedes models – they’re among the most expensive versions of those models, and consequently the most expensive to replace and possibly to repair.”

Be sure to do your research before you buy

While you may not be buying one of these luxury cars anytime soon, it’s important to consider insurance no matter what you drive. And just as you would shop around for the best price on your auto, it’s important to do the same for your insurance. To find out how much Avante can save you on your insurance premiums, get in touch for a free quote.

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