Why 2-door cars tend to have higher insurance costs
Two-door cars, or coupes, tend to have higher insurance costs because most car insurance companies consider them more high-risk vehicles than sedans. Coupes are usually sports cars, or performance cars, which means they’ll have more powerful engines, and they could be more likely targets for theft than a comparable four-door sedan. This can make them some of the
Another factor that often leads to increased insurance costs for coupes is their drivers. Coupes aren’t exactly a top choice for families. Their drivers are usually young and single, which makes them a higher risk to insure than married drivers with children—drivers with families tend to be more stable and are often thought to drive more safely as a result.
MORE: How different kinds of cars affect your car insurance rates
Other vehicle factors that impact car insurance rates
As you probably know, there’s a lot more than just the number of seats or doors that goes into calculating your insurance costs. Let’s take a look at some additional vehicle factors that could lead to higher premiums.
Horsepower
If your car has a V-6 or V-8 under the hood, it’s probably going to have quite a bit more horsepower than a four-cylinder. This means higher top-speed potential and faster acceleration. Together, these translate into a higher likelihood for accidents—and a greater potential for costly insurance payouts.
Vehicle age
Remember our 15-year-old coupe example from earlier? No matter how powerful your coupe, a used car will generally cost less to replace than a new car if it gets totaled.
are also likely to be less expensive on an older model car than a new vehicle.
Safety features
Safety features can go a long way toward both preventing accidents and preventing major injuries when an accident occurs. That’s why cars with lots of safety features will tend to cost less to insure than those without them. In fact, many providers offer discounts for drivers whose cars are equipped with safety features, such as:
The only thing that affects auto insurance rates as much as the vehicle type is the person driving it. Now that we know how vehicle factors can impact your insurance rates, let’s take a look at the driver factors that could cause your rates to increase.
Driving history: It should go without saying that if you have a
, you’ll pay less for insurance than someone with multiple tickets and accidents.
Credit score: Yes, your credit score can affect car insurance costs. Typically, a higher credit score correlates statistically to less risk. That’s why, in states that allow insurers to use credit score as a factor in calculating your rates, a higher score will usually translate to lower insurance costs.
Age: Young drivers have less driving experience. This makes them more prone to accidents and risky driving behaviors, which makes them more expensive to insure.
Gender: Statistically, male drivers are viewed as riskier by insurers than female drivers.
Occupation: While it often has more to do with discounts than rate increases, some insurers do consider certain occupations to be more risky than others.
Location: If you live in a high-crime area or a location with a higher than average accident rate, it could translate into higher costs for car insurance.
Marital status: Married drivers tend to be less risky to insure than single drivers.
Mileage: If your job or daily habits require you to spend a lot of time on the road, that means you have more chances to wind up in an accident. This increased risk will lead to increased insurance premiums.
If you’ve already got a coupe and you’re paying high insurance premiums, here are some things you can do to help make your insurance policy more affordable:
Drive safely—Getting and keeping a clean driving record is one of the most impactful things you can do to lower your insurance premiums, no matter what you drive.
Raise your deductible—The higher your deductible, the lower your premium.
is often the highest one you can afford that still keeps your rates low. Keep in mind that a high-deductible will mean bigger out-of-pocket costs in case of accidents, but even if you hit your deductible, you’re still likely to pay less in insurance costs annually.
Take advantage of discounts—Whether it’s bundling,
, or good student discounts, make sure you’re taking advantage of all the money-saving opportunities offered by your provider.
Take a driver-safety course—Many insurance providers offer discounts to drivers who successfully complete a state-approved driver safety course.
Lower your insurance coverage—Simply put, the more insurance you have, the more you’ll pay for it. Especially if you’re driving an older coupe, you may be able to save money by opting for
Don’t be afraid to switch—Experts recommend you should shop for car insurance every six months to make sure you already have the best policy at the best price. Often, saving money on coverage for your coupe is as simple as comparing