Hot Take15 Cars With the Highest Insurance Rates in 2026. Here's Why.
The SUV geek's latest video lists 15 cars with the most expensive insurance premiums in 2026, and it's racked up over 166,000 views. The list includes some expected names and a few surprises.
Our Take
Insurance cost is one of the most overlooked factors in car buying. People will spend weeks negotiating the purchase price and never check what the car costs to insure until after they've signed. That's backwards. For some models on this list, the annual insurance premium is high enough to meaningfully change the total cost of ownership equation. But the video's list only tells part of the story. What actually drives insurance rates is more nuanced than which car you picked.
The Questions That Matter
1. Which cars made the list and how much are we talking?
The video highlights models including the Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, Kia Optima, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Telluride, Nissan Altima, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Hyundai Palisade among others.
The numbers are significant. The Toyota Land Cruiser averages around $2,536 per year for full coverage with a clean record. The GMC Yukon hits roughly $2,900 per year nationally, and in high-cost states like Louisiana or Michigan, that can climb above $4,500.
For context, the national average for full-coverage auto insurance is roughly $2,000 to $2,300 per year. So these models are running 25 to 100% above average depending on where you live.
2. What actually makes a car expensive to insure?
It's not just about the sticker price. Insurers base rates on claims data from every driver with that model. Three factors dominate:
Repair costs. Vehicles that require specialized repair processes, proprietary parts, or limited shop availability cost more to fix after accidents. Full-size SUVs with aluminum body panels, advanced driver assistance sensors, and complex lighting systems drive up claim costs significantly.
Collision damage potential. Large, heavy vehicles like the Yukon, Expedition, and Armada cause more damage in collisions, which means higher liability exposure for the insurer. That risk gets priced into your premium.
Theft rates. Some models are disproportionately targeted for theft or catalytic converter theft. Hyundai and Kia models in particular have seen elevated theft rates due to a widely publicized security vulnerability, which has pushed premiums higher across those brands.
3. How much does your location actually matter?
More than the car itself in many cases. The same GMC Yukon that costs $2,900 to insure nationally could cost $4,500+ in Michigan (which has unique no-fault insurance laws) or Louisiana (high litigation rates). In states like Maine or Vermont, that same car might be $1,800.
Your ZIP code determines your exposure to theft, accident frequency, weather damage, and the legal environment for insurance claims. Moving across town can change your rate. Moving across state lines can change it dramatically.
4. Can you actually lower your insurance on an expensive-to-insure car?
Yes, but it takes work:
Shop around aggressively. Rates for the same car and driver can vary by 50% or more between insurers. Get at least 5 quotes.
Increase your deductible. Going from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible can cut your premium by 15 to 25%. Just make sure you can cover the deductible if you need to.
Bundle policies. Home and auto bundling typically saves 10 to 15%.
Ask about discounts. Safe driver, low mileage, paid-in-full, and anti-theft device discounts add up. Most people don't ask, so they don't get them.
Check your credit. In most states, your credit-based insurance score significantly affects your rate. Improving your credit can lower your premium more than switching cars.
5. Should insurance cost change which car you buy?
For cars at the top of this list, absolutely. If the Yukon costs $2,900 per year to insure and a comparable Toyota Sequoia costs $2,400, that $500 annual difference is $2,500 over 5 years. Add that to the purchase price when comparing options.
The smartest approach is to get insurance quotes for your top 2 to 3 choices before you go to the dealership. It takes 15 minutes per quote and can save you thousands over the life of ownership.
What You Should Actually Do
Before you buy any car, get an insurance quote for it. Not after. Before. Factor the annual premium into your total cost of ownership alongside the payment, fuel, and maintenance. For the cars on this list, the insurance premium is a meaningful line item that can tip the math on whether a car is actually affordable for you.