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.
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Which is cheaper: car or sedan?
- Trucks vs cars: MSRP comparison
- Trucks vs cars: insurance price comparison
- How to save on auto insurance
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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.Â
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 |
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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?
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 |
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The Ford Fiesta and the cheapest truck, the Chevy Colorado, have a difference of just $3 in monthly auto insurance expenditure.Â
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.
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.