Are Fast Cars More Expensive to Insure?

Even just a decade ago, cars weren’t nearly as fast as they are today. In fact, 300 horsepower was expected only from V-8 engines, writes Forbes. But because of “direct fuel injection, turbocharging and other advances in engine technology and design, power and speed can be bought in a range of body styles, vehicle sizes and powertrain configurations.”

Speed — as measured by quickness of acceleration and pure engine power, and not top speed, which only matters on race tracks — is now more accessible than ever, and as Tesla just proved, as cars move to electric power, we might see faster and faster cars on the road. Tesla’s Model S is now the third fastest car in the world, writes The Verge (behind just the Ferrari LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder — both million-dollar hypercars). Upgrades to the battery allow the Model S to go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, making us wonder: Do the fastest cars cost more to insure?

We looked at cars people might actually drive (we’ll save concept cars and supercars for another list and another day) and calculated insurance premiums based on a standard profile: a 30-year-old single man living in Austin, Texas (ZIP: 78702), who rents his home, owns his car, has a good driving history, a good credit score, and has had consistent insurance coverage for a basic level of insurance with a national carrier. (You can view two of your credit scores, with helpful updates every two weeks, for free on Credit.com.)

Keep in mind, the time it takes for a car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph can vary widely based on each driver’s skill, so results may vary. In no particular order (because their specs and model years differ), here are 10 of the fastest cars on the road and their stats.

1. 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
MSRP: $37,900
Engine Details: 6.2-liter V8, 455 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 4.0 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium for a Chevy Camaro: $1,620

2. 2016 Jaguar XJR
MSRP: $118,000
Engine Details: 5.0 Liter V8 550 HP Supercharged
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 4.4 seconds
Average Insurance Premium: $2,148

3. 2017 Cadillac CTS-V
MSRP: $85,995
Engine Details: 6.2-liter V, 640 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60, 3.7 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $2,112

4. 2016 BMW M5
MSRP: $94,100
Engine Details: 4.4-liter V8 TwinPower Turbo, 560 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 4.2 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $2,112

5. 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
MSRP: $67,645
Engine Details: 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8, 707 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 3.7 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,512

6. 2017 Audi RS 7
Engine Details: 4.0-liter V8 with two turbochargers, 560 horsepower
MSRP: $110,700
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 3.7 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $2,268

7. 2017 Volkswagen Golf R
MSRP: $39,375
Engine Details: 4-cylinder turbo, 292 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 4.5 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,560

8. 2017 Ford Mustang GT Fastback
MSRP: $33,195
Engine Details: 5.0-liter V8, 435 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in the mid-4 second range
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,512

9. 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack
MSRP: $39,995
Engine Details: 6.4-liter V8, 485 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in the low-4 second range
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,608

10) 2017 Volvo S60 Polestar
MSRP: $60,000
Engine Details: 3.0-liter Turbocharged inline 6-cylinder 345 horsepower
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 4.7 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,428

Compare these insurance prices with the prices of the five most popular sedans for 2017, based on our new State of Auto Insurance Report, for the same insurance customer profile.

Chevrolet Cruze
MSRP: $16,975
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 7.6 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,056

Honda Accord
MSRP: $22,455
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 6.1 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,176

Hyundai Elantra SE
MSRP: $17,150
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 8 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,344

Nissan Altima
MSRP: $22,500
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 7.7 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,260

Toyota Camry
MSRP: $23,070
Acceleration Speed: 0-60 in 8 seconds
Average Yearly Insurance Premium: $1,236

Final Word: Do Fast Cars Cost More to Insure?

Our assessment: We can’t say for sure whether or not all cars with more powerful engines that can accelerate faster always cost more to insure than their slower counterparts, but all of the faster cars above come with more expensive insurance premiums than all of the slower cars we looked at.

Another potential insurance price factor: All of the faster cars also cost more (in some cases, a lot more) than all of the slower cars. We know that price has something – though not everything – to do with insurance pricing (which is still somewhat of a mystery, even to us).

As we’ve seen, equating insurance rates with one definable feature is tough: Insurance rates weren’t strictly correlated with safety rating, either. But while we might not be able to say with absolute certainty that faster cars will mean more on your monthly premium, we do have proof that using that speed illegally is practically guaranteed to cost you.

The Insurance Consequences of Speeding Convictions

If you drive a certifiably fast car, always remember to follow the rules of the road, not only because it’s safer for you and everyone driving near you, but because beyond any traffic citations you might receive for speeding, speeding also has some pretty detrimental effects on insurance rates.

In 2016, if you were convicted of speeding, your insurance rates went up by the following percentages (national U.S. averages from The Zebra’s State of Auto Insurance Report):

Speeding in a School Zone: 18%
Speeding 6-10 MPH over the limit: 17%
Speeding 11-15 MPH over the limit: 18%
Speeding 16-20 MPH over the limit: 19%
Speeding 21-25 MPH over the limit: 20%
Speeding In 65 MPH Zone: 23%

That means if we’re looking at the national average premium of $1,323, a single speeding ticket could raise your rates from $225 to $304. (And that continues for three years after the violation occurs.)

Fast cars with great handling make for excellent driving – but stay safe (and under the speed limit!) – or you could pay in more ways than one.

Image: mevans