Car insurance for SUVs

How much does it cost to insure an SUV

The average cost of car insurance is $678 per year for minimum coverage and $2,458 per year for full coverage. While SUV insurance rates can fall within this range, premiums could also be higher or lower depending on some of these factors:

• Crash rate stats: SUVs have a reputation for safety, but not all live up to the hype. SUVs with shakier safety ratings from organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) may end up with pricier insurance to account for the added risk of claims. 
• Price of parts: SUVs that require pricey imported parts or high-tech solutions — like the uber-popular Tesla Model Y — may cost more to fix after an accident. This causes insurers to increase rates to potentially cover these increased repair expenses.
• Safety features: SUVs with advanced safety features and those that are statistically less likely to get into an accident may be cheaper to insure than models that have had high instances of theft and claims in the recent past. If your SUV includes features like blind-spot detection, surround-view or rear cross-traffic alert, you might save money.

In addition to these factors, your insurer looks at personal rating factors such as your driving history, location and other personal characteristics to determine rate. However, you may be able to save money with car insurance discounts. Most insurers offer several that may be easy to qualify for.

Car insurance for SUVs by driving profile

Your SUV insurance premium depends on a wide range of unique factors that insurance companies use to calculate the risk associated with you, any other drivers on the policy and your vehicle. Each company calculates each factor differently, but the lower the risk to the company, the more likely it is that you will earn a favorable rate. Your credit-based insurance score, for example, is one factor that will play a role in most states, since drivers with a high credit rating tend to file fewer claims.

Other factors may include where you live, your age (in most states) and your driving record. Keep in mind that different states have different insurance laws, and some states may ban the use of your age, gender or credit tier when rating insurance policies. In some states, ZIP codes are also a banned rating factor. 

The average costs for SUV insurance featured here are based on the most current data available from Quadrant Information Services, using a profile that features a single (unmarried) driver with good credit and a clean driving record.

Car insurance for SUVs by make and model

The make and model of your SUV plays a significant role in your car insurance pricing. The type of coverage and level of coverage you choose can also make a difference, with minimum coverage policies typically costing less than full coverage policies.

The following table indicates the average cost of insuring several popular SUV models. The Honda CR-V, Honda Pilot, and Subaru Outback are among the cheapest makes and models for full coverage auto insurance for SUVs on average.

Cheapest car insurance companies for SUVs

There’s no single cheapest company for SUV insurance. SUVs are among the most popular vehicles on the road today, so every insurance company deals with these vehicles — and while some stand out with lower average rates, your own prices will always depend on personal factors that might not match the average. 

To give you a starting point in your search for affordable SUV coverage, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team analyzed average rates for top SUVs from some of the most affordable names among national carriers. Keep in mind that your location and driving record both play a big role in setting the price of insurance — you may have access to better rates from smaller local carriers, or your record might make you a better fit with a company not listed here. It’s always worth comparing a few rates from different companies based on your unique driver profile.

Average annual premium for full coverage by model

Other car insurance coverage for an SUV

In almost every state, you are required to carry a certain amount of liability insurance to be on the road legally. Your state may also have other required types of insurance, such as personal injury protection in no-fault states. But having a policy with only your state's required minimums may not give you enough coverage if you're in a serious accident. 

Many insurance experts recommend that you purchase as much liability insurance as you can afford to give yourself more robust coverage. In addition, there are a handful of other types of coverage that you may want to consider for your policy:

• Collision coverage and comprehensive coverage are standard optional offerings that are designed to protect against damage to your vehicle caused by crashes, vandalism, theft and weather damage. If you have a car loan or lease, you may be required to carry these coverage options.
• Some states require drivers to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in case of accidents with drivers who have no insurance or don’t have enough coverage to pay for your damages. Keep in mind that uninsured motorist coverage for injuries and property damage are separate coverage types. 
• Gap insurance may be useful if you have a fairly new car. It will pay the gap between your car's depreciated value and what you owe on the loan if the vehicle is totaled or stolen in a covered incident.
• Roadside assistance coverage varies from insurer to insurer, but generally it covers minor inconveniences while you're on the road, such as a flat tire or dead battery. It may also pay to tow you to a garage if the fix is major.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze November 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. 

SUV models:

• Ford Escape
• Honda CR-V
• Honda Pilot
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Jeep Wrangler
• Nissan Rogue
• Subaru Outback
• Toyota RAV4
• Tesla Model Y
• Subaru Forester
• Kia Sportage

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.