2017 Kbb.com 10 Best Luxury Cars Under 35 000
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Luxury car insurance is designed to deliver additional benefits above and beyond what's available with a standard policy to protect your valuable wheels. You might need an agreed value policy to cover the full replacement cost of your ride, high liability limits if you cause damage to someone else or even an umbrella policy to cover all of your assets in case of a lawsuit.
How can I get the best value on luxury car insurance?
To get the best value, compare luxury car insurance companies and see what rates, coverage options and perks they offer. Depending on the make and model of your car, there may be some national insurance companies that will insure your vehicle. Consider starting with those companies first to see if you can get a lower rate than you would with a specialized company that deals only with exotic cars.
- Pay attention to your deductible. Taking a higher deductible will lower your annual premium, but it could leave you on the hook for a hefty amount if you're in an accident.
- Check for bundling perks. Most insurance companies offer discounts if you take out multiple insurance policies or combine policies for multiple cars.
- Look for safety and anti-theft discounts. High-end luxury cars usually come with a number of safety features and antitheft devices, which could help you save on insurance.
- Look for low-mileage discounts. If you have multiple vehicles and one of them isn't used much, try getting a quote from a company that offers a low-mileage discount or telematics program. This could be especially useful if you have a classic or luxury car that typically stays parked.
- Consider umbrella insurance. If you don't want to pay high-end car insurance prices, you could open an umbrella policy to extend your liability coverage beyond what your car insurance covers. An umbrella policy typically costs $150 to $300 a year for coverage around $1 million.
How much does luxury car insurance cost?
Luxury cars can cost well above average and can be in the $3,000 to $5,000 annual range for car insurance, based on Finder's analysis of luxury car insurance rates. For reference, the national average for car insurance is around $1,300 a year.
Your car insurance rates depend on many factors, such as:
- The car you drive. A luxury car's MSRP can cost well above a standard car's value, leaving your insurer with a higher bill to replace your car if it gets totaled in an accident or stolen.
- Expensive parts and labor. If you have an exotic foreign car, it might be difficult and expensive to get replacement parts for it. This leads to more expensive repairs and higher insurance rates.
- The coverage you need. If you're looking to buy a $10-million auto policy with several luxury cars listed on it, you might pay several thousand dollars a year. You might also need to raise your maximum coverage limits if you want umbrella insurance.
- Your driving history. Aside from your car, your past record of driving accidents or violations show your insurer how likely it is to pay a claim for you.
- Your demographics. Your age, gender and location statistically have affected your risk in your insurer's eyes. Also, if you work in a high-risk or stressful job or have a long commute, you can expect higher car insurance premiums.
Average annual cost of luxury car insurance
Take a look at some examples of what you might pay to insure a luxury car in California and Florida per year, compared to the average state minimum coverage costs in those states.
Model | California | Florida | MSRP |
---|---|---|---|
Lexus LS 600H L Hybrid | $4,155 | $2,677 | $79,960 |
Maserati Gran Turismo MC | $4,424 | $2,536 | $295,000 |
Mercedes S65 AMG | $4,450 | $2,654 | $235,600 |
Average annual state minimum costs | $945 | $1,663 |
What's the difference between luxury car insurance and standard car insurance?
If your car turns heads, luxury car insurance coverage might be for you.
Luxury car insurance is a special type of car insurance that covers expensive high-end vehicles to protect if you're in an accident or are sued due to an accident. It's usually pricier than your average car insurance policy, as luxury cars are more expensive to own and repair than your normal daily driver. Plus, they're usually a higher target for theft and vandalism.
When it comes to insuring your luxury car, it's often more difficult to find an insurance company that offers the higher coverage options you want. For example, many traditional insurance companies cap liability coverage around $300,000 to $500,000 per accident. But for a luxury car, this might not be enough to cover the cost of damages. Car insurance companies offering luxury car insurance policies have higher coverage limits.
Who should consider luxury car insurance?
Prestige and luxury car insurance is for collectors, enthusiasts, businesses with high-end company cars and anyone who wants a higher level of car insurance to effectively protect their valuable wheels or other assets. Typically, you can get it through specialized insurers that focus on extra-valuable cars including vintage vehicles, modified cars, imported cars and other valuable cars.
Ask an expert: How do I save on luxury car insurance?
Steve Pritchard
Founder of Cuuver.com, UK insurance website
Luxury cars are always more expensive to insure for a number of reasons. Replacement parts for luxury cars are often more difficult to source and more expensive to purchase, and the cars themselves are also a target for thieves, who know that they're more valuable.
While luxury cars are often fitted with high-quality security systems, adding additional security systems will help you fight the threat of thieves and make your car more secure, which will consequently reduce your insurance premiums. Check which devices your insurer recognizes and then look into installing them onto your car. Good devices to look at include alarms, immobilizers, vehicle trackers and locking steering wheel devices.
What's included with luxury car insurance?
Luxury car insurance typically covers the basics required by your state, like collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage. Compare some additional perks you might consider looking for or adding to your luxury car insurance policy.
- Liability coverage. Covers the costs of personal injury and property damage caused by your vehicle. This is required in most states, but if you have an expensive car, you'll want higher liability coverage options. You can get additional liability coverage if you have an umbrella policy, which kicks in once you reach your car insurance liability coverage limits.
- Collision coverage. Covers the cost of damages to your vehicle in an accident. This coverage is typically optional, but it's good to have if you own a luxury car, since repairs after an accident could be costly.
- Comprehensive coverage. Also optional, this covers the cost of damages to your car caused by anything other than an accident — including theft, vandalism and storms. Since luxury cars are a higher target for theft and vandalism, this is a smart add on.
- Uninsured motorist coverage. Keeps you covered if you're in an accident with a driver who either has no insurance or not enough insurance coverage to cover the high costs of your repairs.
- Agreed value. Agreed value policies guarantee that you'll receive the full amount that the car is worth, rather than your car's market value which factors in depreciation.
- Roadside assistance. Often, luxury car insurance companies throw in freebies you'd normally pay extra for on a standard policy, like roadside assistance, pet insurance or gap coverage.
- New car replacement. Certain policies will offer a full new-for-old replacement if your vehicle is written off within a specified period.
- OEM parts. Your insurance company pays for your car to be fixed using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, rather than cheaper aftermarket ones.
- Change of vehicle. Many prestige policies make it easy to move your coverage between cars as you upgrade or change. Typically, your insurance policy is automatically transferred to a new vehicle for a limited period of time, so you don't have to go uninsured when changing cars.
- Carjacking coverage. Your high-end insurance policy might offer medical care or counseling after car theft, which is a bigger concern for drivers of exotic cars than the average Honda or Toyota driver.
- Storage and limited use. If you're not using your car every day, you can choose to pay as you drive. Many specialist insurers extend limited-use discounts, or don't charge premiums for storage periods when you know you won't be using the vehicle.
- Top-tier rental coverage and perks. Use a rental for as long as you need while your car is being repaired, without having to worry about limits. Your coverage may also follow you when you rent a car internationally.
Cheapest luxury cars to insure
Brand | Model | Monthly Cost | Base Price |
---|---|---|---|
Audi | S5 | $98 | $53,100 |
Porsche | 911 | $105 | $89,400 |
Porsche | Boxster | $105 | $52,100 |
Porsche | Panamera | $105 | $85,000 |
Porsche | Cayman | $108 | $53,900 |
Jaguar | XJL | $110 | $76,395 |
Jaguar | XJR | $110 | $123,395 |
Porsche | Cayenne | $115 | $59,600 |
Audi | A7 | $124 | $68,800 |
Audi | A5 | $127 | $41,200 |
Audi | TT | $128 | $43,500 |
Audi | A4 All Road | $132 | $44,000 |
Audi | S3 | $132 | $42,900 |
Audi | S6 | $132 | $70,900 |
Audi | SQ5 | $132 | $53,300 |
Audi | A6 | $136 | $47,600 |
Audi | Q5 | $138 | $40,900 |
Mercedes-Benz | SL-Class | $140 | $86,950 |
Is luxury car insurance worth it?
Luxury car insurance is worth the extra cost because it bolsters your protection in case of a lawsuit, while insuring your high-dollar ride with plenty to cover repairs or replacing it after an accident. Luxury cars tend to cost thousands of dollars more than standard cars, leaving you with more to lose if a car insurer doesn't pay a value that you agree with for your coverage.
In addition, if you're in a severe accident, the injured party could seek as much compensation as possible, which could include compensation for medical bills, lost wages or pain and suffering. If your liability limits are too low, you'll be responsible for paying the difference with your assets.
Most standard insurance companies offer a maximum of $500,000 liability limits on their auto policies, with some offering up to $1 million or $10 million from some specialty insurers. If you need even higher limits, consider buying an umbrella policy, which would cover you up to $10 million.
Who should avoid luxury car insurance?
If your vehicle doesn't cost more than your current insurance company's highest coverage limit, then you probably don't need luxury car insurance. However, even if you drive a luxury car, you might be able to find an umbrella policy that works for you, depending on the value of your car and your budget.
An umbrella policy is essentially extra liability coverage. If you have significant assets, an umbrella policy can help protect you if you're in an expensive accident or if someone tries to sue you because of your high net worth. It's probably cheaper to add umbrella coverage to your existing coverage than go with a full-on luxury car policy.
What should I watch out for?
When shopping for luxury car insurance, there are a few things to be on the lookout for.
- Ultra-strict driving requirements. Some private luxury car insurance providers will require a squeaky clean driving record before they'll approve you, and you might have to meet certain age requirements. You might also need to have the car registered to you and not a business or LLC.
- Aftermarket modifications. If you've made any upgrades or improvements to your car and you don't have an agreed value policy, these won't be covered under your standard insurance policy. You can insure the full value of aftermarket mods and custom equipment through an add-on.
- Agreed value vs. actual cash value. Before settling on a coverage amount that insures your car, do your research and know what your car is worth.
- Bait-and-switch scams. Watch out for companies that try to lure you in with seemingly too-good-to-be-true rates, and then turn around and skyrocket your rates to accommodate the higher coverage options you need.
How do I buy luxury car insurance?
Buying luxury car insurance is very similar to buying regular insurance, but the prices are likely significantly higher. When shopping for high-performance car insurance, follow these steps to help you find the best rate.
- Compare rates for car insurance providers that offer luxury car insurance.
- Check coverage options. A cheaper rate might come with less coverage.
- Get a quote that factors in the make and model of your car, plus your driving history. Some companies will want to speak to you over the phone or in person, rather than provide an online quote.
- Choose the option that gives you the best value and fits within your budget.
Bottom line
If you drive an expensive car and want to make sure the cost of repairs is covered after a wreck, theft or vandalism, luxury car insurance could be for you. Otherwise, you still have some options, such as getting an umbrella policy or negotiating an agreed value with your regular insurance company.
To get the most bang for your buck, make sure you compare insurance providers first.
Frequently asked questions about luxury car insurance
Gabrielle Pastorek is the shopping and travel publisher at Finder, helping readers to round up the best deals, coupons, retailers, products and services to make sound financial decisions. She's contributed more than 800 articles to the site and is a quoted expert in Best Company and DealNews. She earned an MFA from the University of Pittsburgh, with essays and short stories published in The Collagist, Blue Monday Review, Blotterature and others. When she's not writing, Gabrielle can be found out in the barn with her horse, Lucy.
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2017 Kbb.com 10 Best Luxury Cars Under 35 000
Source: https://www.finder.com/luxury-car-insurance