Insurance companies use no universal definition to define what are and aren't sports cars.
However, the general understanding is that sports cars share the following characteristics that distinguish them from everyday cars:
Insurance companies may differ in terms of which makes are considered sports cars, which makes shopping around for car insurance quotes even more critical. For example, some models of Mini Coopers are considered sports cars.
It's generally thought that sports cars cost more than average to insure. They require special labour and parts, and they're also capable of reaching high speeds, increasing the chance of a collision. Sports cars are also attractive to thieves and are expensive to replace.
However, there are several subclasses of sports cars, and the difference in cost rises dramatically the more upscale you go.
Since sports cars are more at risk of getting into a collision or being stolen, purchasing optional insurance products like collision and comprehensive insurance may be worthwhile. The former helps pay for damage caused to your car. The latter provides compensation if your vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision with another car (animals, falling objects, severe weather, for instance).
Adding optional insurance products to your insurance policy will increase your bill exponentially if you insure a sports car.
The same discounts for commuter, all-purpose vehicles apply to sports cars.
Buying home and auto insurance from the same company will reduce your premiums.
Investing in anti-theft devices could lower your car insurance rate. Options include:
Parking your car in a garage can also detract thieves. Private garages are the gold standard, but apartment dwellers are better off using their building's lot than street parking.
Delaying purchasing a sports car until middle age or later — all the while building a claim and conviction-free insurance history — will also produce a discount. Insurance rates for people 50 and over are much lower, especially for sports cars.
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Cheapest Rate | $1,274 |
Average Rate | $1,674 |
Savings: $400 (24%) |
Cheapest Rate | $2,863 |
Average Rate | $4,207 |
Savings: $1,344 (32%) |
Cheapest Rate | $1,428 |
Average Rate | $1,813 |
Savings: $385 (21%) |
We ran sample quotes for various types of sports cars to see how they measure up. We ran quotes for different ages since it's a significant risk indicator for insurance companies.
The Mini Cooper and Chevrolet Camaro fit more in the first rung of sports cars. Thanks to the ‘sport mode’ feature, they can switch between being an everyday car and a sports car with the touch of a button.
The Chevrolet Stingray belongs in the next tier. A high-performance car, it boasts a powerful 6.2-litre, eight-cylinder engine (most car engines are four-cylinders). While the first two models are more commonly seen on the road (especially the Mini), the Stingray is a rarer sight, with many owners bringing it out on weekends or special occasions.
The quote data shows that while these sports cars cost several thousands of dollars to insure when you’re under 20, insurance for a sports car isn’t always prohibitively expensive. Choosing a passenger vehicle that transforms into something sportier with sport mode may be the more economical option from a financing and insurance perspective.
However, these premiums are based on a male driver who owns his car, lives in Ontario, has a full license and a clean driving record, and drives 10,000 km/year.
If you don’t fit this profile, your mileage may vary. If your insurance history includes at-fault collisions, it will adversely affect your rate as this vehicle class costs more than average to repair.
Age | 2023 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2 Dr | 2023 Chevrolet Camaro LS 2Dr | 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe |
---|---|---|---|
18 | $3,809 | $3,233 | $4,524 |
19 | $3,529 | $2,999 | $3,566 |
20 | $2,573 | $2,222 | $3,031 |
21 | $1,960 | $1,722 | $2,291 |
22 | $1,925 | $1,685 | $2,251 |
23 | $1,818 | $1,587 | $2,130 |
24 | $1,782 | $1,550 | $2,018 |
25 | $1,462 | $1,474 | $1,361 |
26 | $1,456 | $1,390 | $1,355 |
27 | $1,417 | $1,386 | $1,316 |
28 | $1,408 | $1,308 | $1,308 |
29 | $1,398 | $1,314 | $1,298 |
30 | $1,387 | $1,319 | $1,287 |
40 | $864 | $870 | $804 |
50 | $695 | $699 | $647 |
60 | $658 | $660 | $613 |
Rates vary a lot by insurance company. Each one uses slightly different criteria to calculate your insurance rate. For example, InsuranceHotline.com data showed an average $922 difference between an Ontario driver's lowest and highest quote. Comparing insurance companies before you buy a policy can translate into hundreds of dollars in savings, especially given that insurance companies don't have a universal classifying system for sports cars. This is especially important to remember if you're driving a vehicle that can toggle between a standard driving mode to sports mode.
It's not hard to imagine why a young person would want a sports car. However, waiting until middle age to buy one will result in more affordable premiums.
The surefire way to keep your insurance costs low is to practice safe driving and limit making claims. To protect against theft claims, investing in security features is a good idea. The temptation to speed is great when you're in a sports car, but public roads are not safe places to test your car's abilities. Keep your record conviction-free by restricting racing to motorsports parks. To avoid damage claims, learn how to drive a powerful car; it's not an intuitive skill. Ease into it: knowing how to accelerate safely, switch gears, and brake takes time for drivers new to performance cars.
Allow your insurer to monitor your driving habits, and they will reward you with a reduced rate, sometimes as much as 25% off the standard price. However, the device the insurer installs in your car's port is always on, so if you intend to bring your sports car to a track on occasion — to open 'er up, as they say — then signing up for usage-based insurance is likely not the right move.
You can save 5 to 15% off each policy when you bundle your home and car insurance under the same provider.