Consumer reports say these are the cheapest possible car brands to insure
Published on Dec 07, 2025 at 12:47 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Dec 04, 2025 at 9:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Automotive insurance costs aren’t getting any lighter, so knowing which are the cheapest car brands to insure can make a real difference.
Consumer Reports has just published new data ranking the cheapest car brands to insure in the US, and it’s built on one of the largest datasets you can get.
The organization pulled from more than 90 million real insurance quotes gathered by Insurify, covering both new and used cars.
And the cheapest brand in the country? It’s ahead by roughly $300 a year over the 10th-place finisher.
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Subaru leads the list of cheapest car brands to insure
Subaru takes the number-one spot with an average annual premium of $2,088, making it the most affordable brand to insure according to Consumer Reports.
The brand also dominates CR’s separate ranking of cheapest recommended new cars to insure: the Forester sits in first place at $2,184, the Crosstrek comes in third at $2,283, and the Impreza makes the list at $2,382.
Behind Subaru, Buick lands in second with an average premium of $2,148, followed by Volvo and GMC, which tie at $2,184.
Mini rounds out the top five at $2,208.
From there, Jeep, Mazda, Ford, Chevrolet, and Honda complete the top 10, all still close together in pricing.
Consumer Reports points out one interesting detail: some brands place higher than expected because pickup trucks are often cheaper to insure than sedans.
Insurify’s data shows trucks cost about 16 percent less to insure on average, which helps explain why brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC appear further up the list, despite mixed reliability reputations.
The overall spread between the cheapest and 10th-cheapest brand is only about $300 per year, but for most buyers, that’s still meaningful money.
Why your own premium can still swing dramatically
Even with these averages, Consumer Reports stresses that insurance costs are far from fixed.
Companies factor in your age, driving record, gender, credit score, location, and the exact model you’re insuring – not just the badge on the grille.
Insurers also look at your vehicle’s safety equipment and crash-test performance.
Features like automatic emergency braking can reduce rates, and strong ratings from agencies like the IIHS or NHTSA help as well.
That’s why Consumer Reports recommends getting multiple insurance quotes before buying your next car, not after.
Even within these top 10 brands, a few small choices can shift your bill more than you’d expect.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
