Home Car insurance Car insurance rates The least expensive 2011 hybrids to insure The least expensive 2011 hybrids to insure Written by: Amy Danise | Reviewed by: Michelle Megna Michelle Megna Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. | Posted on April 18, 2011 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. If you’re looking to save money on gas and auto insurance this year, your best bet is a Mazda Tribute 2WD SUV hybrid. The Tribute ranks No. 1 among the least expensive 2011 hybrids to insure, according to Insure.com’s rankings. (See our car insurance comparisonfor insurance rankings for all 2011 models.) But hybrid vehicles continue to cost more to insure than their gasoline counterparts. Among our rankings of the 20 hybrids that are cheapest to insure, only two hybrid models – the Toyota Sequoia and GMC Sierra pickup – costs less to insure than their gasoline versions. The difference between gasoline and hybrid models was greatest for the Toyota Highlander SUV AWD – the hybrid is $348 more expensive to insure – and two best-selling sedans, the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion. Still, the insurance differences are generally not huge, and for most models you’ll likely close the gap quickly with your gas savings. Whether you’re buying a hybrid or a gas car, premiums for collision and comprehensive coverage are based on your car model. If your model costs more to repair, or other drivers of your car submit more frequent or more expensive claims, you’ll get a higher auto insurance quote. And that’s what fuels hybrids’ higher insurance prices. “Data on insurance claims show that hybrid versions of vehicles typically have higher insurance losses for collision when compared to their gasoline-only counterparts,” says Russ Rader, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Rader explains that the price difference is mainly because hybrid vehicles are driven more miles. “A person with a long daily commute might purchase a hybrid to save on fuel cost. However, the increased time on the road increases exposure and the risk of getting into a crash, so insurance losses for those vehicles would be higher, resulting in higher premiums,” he says. Among all 2011 models, the most expensive hybrid to insure is the BMW 750i sedan, with an average annual premium of $3,281 – more than 2.5 times the premium of the Mazda Tribute hybrid. Rank Model Style Avg. annual premium Gas counterpart 1 Mazda Tribute 2WD 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,212 $1,163 2 Mazda Tribute 4WD 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,257 $1,182 3 Ford Escape 2WD 4 Door SUV Hybrid $1,301 $1,180 4 Ford Escape Limited 2WD 4 Door SUV Hybrid $1,301 $1,183 5 Mercury Mariner 4WD 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,335 $1,191 6 Ford Escape Limited 4WD 4 Door SUV Hybrid $1,346 $1,213 7 Mercury Mariner 2WD 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,348 $1,180 8 Toyota Prius 4 Door Hatchback $1,419 9 Honda Insight LX 4 Door Hatchback Hybrid $1,421 10 Mercury Milan 4 Door Sedan Hybrid $1,481 $1,350 11 Honda Civic 4 Door Sedan Hybrid $1,486 $1,308 12 Honda Insight EX 4 Door Hatchback Hybrid $1,489 13 GMC Sierra C1500 2WD 4 Door Crew Cab 143WB Hybrid $1,501 $1,319 14 Toyota Camry 4 Door Sedan Hybrid $1,517 $1,276 15 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4WD 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,537 $1,542 16 Toyota Highlander 4 Door 4WD Utility 3.5L Hybrid $1,538 $1,190 17 Lexus RX 450H 4 Door Utility Hybrid $1,558 $1,426 18 GMC Sierra C1500 4WD 4 Door Crew Cab 143WB Hybrid $1,560 $1,635 19 Lexus RX 450H 4 Door Utility AWD Hybrid $1,561 $1,412 20 Ford Fusion 4 Door Sedan Hybrid $1,564 $1,325 Methodology Insure.com commissioned a study from Quadrant Information Services that calculated the average premiums for a male driver (see full profile below) using car insurance rates from six large carriers (State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide) in 10 ZIP codes per state. Not all models are available for calculating average rates. Averages are based on a single 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. He has a clean driving record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes; your rate will depend on your personal factors. QuickTake Compare and shop auto insurance Determining which drivers should be listed on your car insurance policy Car insurance rates by state: The most expensive and cheapest states for car insurance in 2023 The most and least expensive trucks to insure in 2023 Factors that affect your car insurance rates How much is car insurance a month? 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