Many people believe that when it comes to cheap car insurance, the sure way to pay the most money is to drive an SUV. However, with some preparation and carefully planning, this doesn’t have to be the case. The right SUV can be cost efficient, and still provide the roominess and hardiness that an SUV promises.

Why SUVs are So Expensive

It’s true that most SUVs are incredibly expensive to insure. After all, they are some of the most expensive cars on the road and cause the most damage when they’re involved in accidents with other cars. SUVs are some of the biggest cars on the road and can easily give a driver a false sense of safety and security; after all, the driver feels so much safer in an SUV. Insurance experts, however, point out that SUVs have a much higher chance of rolling over. Plus, that false sense of security can lead SUV drivers to take risks that those in less hardy vehicles might not.

The Most Expensive SUVs to Insure

The Cadillac Escalade, the Mercedes Benz G-Class, and the Porsche Cayenne are among the SUVs most expennsive to insure for a number of reasons. First, they are expensive cars in their own right so any accidents involving either of these cars can cost a pretty penny to repair. Second, they are status indicators and, as such, are theft magnets. Hummers are also expensive to insure because they cause so much damage when involved in accidents. If you want to keep insurance costs down, stay away from any of these SUVs.

Features to Look For

More inexpensively insured SUVs have a number of features in common. First, they’re highly rated for safety. The more safety features a car has, the more likely it is to appeal to safety conscious drivers; safety conscious drivers are much less likely to engage in risky driving habits and keep their premiums down. If the SUV is involved in an accident, it is also less likely to cost as much in injuries. Second, SUVs that are marketed as family friendly or environmentally conscious are also less expensive to insure. Look for SUVs with good crash ratings, fuel efficiency, and very low rollover ratings.

The Inexpensive Lane

For 2010 models, the least expensive SUV is by far the Hyundai Tucson. Though rates differ depending on the driver’s age, location, and driving record, the Hyundai Tucson offers the features discussed above and appeals to more family-oriented buyers. Other models that are less expensive to insure include many Jeep models, such as the Wrangler, Compass, and Patriot, or the Kia Sportage. All of these models are marketed as safety conscious and are relatively inexpensive to repair, making them ideal choices for those watching their wallets.

Due to their gas guzzling and roll over rate, SUVs used to be unappealing to anyone with a budget or a mind for safety. In recent years, however, car designers have done more too make even the most sporty of sport utility vehicles safer and more environmentally conscious, making them reasonable vehicle choices for even cost conscious and safety minded car buyers.