Are older cars cheaper to insure?

Yes, older cars are cheaper to insure than newer cars in most cases because older cars are less valuable, so an insurer won’t have to pay out as much in the event of a total loss. Plus, once an old car falls below a certain value, you may not have to pay for comprehensive and collision insurance anymore.

But a car’s age actually has less of an impact on insurance premiums than its make and model. If your older car is a popular model with thieves, has hard-to-find replacement parts, or is a luxury car or high-end sportscar, it could cost more to insure than a brand-new car of a different make and model.

When your car is at a higher risk of being stolen, your premiums are likely to be higher, too. You may think that thieves love flashy sportscars, but many older cars are stolen to be dismantled for parts. Popular targets are chosen because their parts haven’t changed much over the years or because so many of them are still on the road.

Top 5 Most Stolen Used Cars (More Expensive to Insure)

1. 1998 Honda Civic (1998)
2. 1997 Honda Accord (1997)
3. 2006 Ford F-150 (2006)
4. 2004 Chevrolet Silverado
5. 2017 Toyota Camry

There are other reasons an older car could be more expensive to insure. For instance, parts can become hard to find for discontinued makers, like Saab, or less popular models. Trouble finding replacement parts drives up repair costs. That increases the price of insuring a vehicle.

So, in general, older cars are cheaper to insure. But if your older car is one of the special cases with higher insurance costs, shop around for the best price. Not all insurance companies treat all older cars the same.