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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 7+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

Ross h…

Credentials
  • 5+ years in the Insurance Industry

Does car insurance get more expensive when you buy a pickup truck?

The average sedan costs $102 less per six-month policy to insure than does a truck — and costs nearly $9,000 less upfront. This cost difference occurs as a result of their varying attributes and the way insurance companies interpret the risk involved with covering each. Because they may cause more damage in an accident — and cost more to repair or replace — trucks pose a substantial financial risk to an insurance company. Thus, the insurer protects itself by charging a higher premium for these vehicles. Let’s outline the average cost of insuring some of America's most popular sedans and pickup trucks.

 

Which is cheaper: car or sedan?
  1. Trucks vs cars: MSRP comparison
  2. Trucks vs cars: insurance price comparison
  3. How to save on auto insurance

 

Is it cheaper to buy a truck or sedan?

On average, it is nearly $9,000 cheaper to buy a sedan than it is to purchase a truck. The average prices of popular sedans range from $12,360 (Nissan Versa) to $27,800 (Ford Taurus), giving sedans an average cost of ownership of $19,667. 

The cheapest pickup truck is the Nissan Frontier, with a price tag of $18,990. The Chevy Silverado has the heftiest MSRP: $37,600.

Sedan MSRP Pickup Truck MSRP
Ford Fiesta - $14,260 Chevrolet Colorado - $21,300
Chevrolet Sonic - $15,420 GMC Sierra - $29,600
Volkswagen Passat - $25,295 Toyota Tacoma - $25,700
Volkswagen Jetta - $18,745 Ford F-Series - $28,155
Nissan Versa - $12,360 Chevrolet Silverado - $37,600
Ford Focus - $17,950 Nissan Frontier - $18,990
Ford Fusion - $22,840 Honda Ridgeline - $29,990
Ford Taurus - $27,800 Ram P-U - $33,190
Nissan Altima - $23,900 Toyota Tundra - $31,520
Mazda 3 - $18,095 Nissan Titan - $30,590

 

Upfront costs aren't the only sacrifice required to purchase a truck. Pickup trucks commonly cost more to insure than do their smaller counterparts. We'll dive into the data below.

Ready to see insurance rates for sedans and trucks?

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Is car insurance cheaper for a truck or sedan?

As you might expect, trucks are more expensive to insure than a sedan. The monthly gap in car insurance costs between pickup trucks and cars is $102. If you’re looking for a cheap sedan to insure, consider the Ford Fiesta. In addition to boasting the second-lowest MSRP among popular sedans, the Ford Fiesta costs just $114 per month to insure.

Sedan 6-Month Premiums Truck 6-Month Premiums
Chevrolet Sonic - $687 Chevrolet Colorado - $707
Nissan Versa - $705 GMC Sierra - $737
Volkswagen Passat - $703 Toyota Tacoma - $738
Ford Fiesta - $683 Chevrolet Silverado - $766
Ford Fusion - $713 Nissan Frontier - $769
Ford Taurus - $725 Ram - $893
Nissan Altima - $750 Ford F-Series - $758
Volkswagen Jetta - $704 Honda Ridgeline - $873
Ford Focus - $710 Nissan Titan - $1,016
Mazda 3 - $772 Toyota Tundra - $908

 

The Ford Fiesta and the cheapest truck, the Chevy Colorado, have a difference of just $3 in monthly auto insurance expenditure. 






How to save on insurance

The best way to save on car insurance is to shop around every six months. If you’re not sure whether you want to buy a sedan or a truck, you can find a bargain by comparing insurance prices by make and model, then getting quotes based on your driving profile.

Compare car insurance online today.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.