6. Your Vehicle’s Paint and Trim Level, Not Its Color
While the popular myth about red cars costing more to insure is false, the specific trim level and factory options on your vehicle can genuinely affect your premium. A higher trim level often includes more expensive components, upgraded technology, or performance features that cost more to repair or replace after an accident.
Higher trim levels often come bundled with larger wheels, upgraded sound systems, or advanced technology packages, all of which can raise the cost of repairs after even a relatively minor collision.
Why it matters: Two versions of the exact same car model, differing only in trim level, can have meaningfully different insurance costs. This is worth keeping in mind if you are choosing between trim levels primarily based on features rather than price, since the insurance cost difference over several years of ownership can sometimes rival the original price difference between trims. What you can do: When comparing vehicles to purchase, request insurance quotes for the specific trim level you are considering rather than assuming the base model pricing applies across every version.