Just because a car is cheap doesnt mean the insurance will be. High-cost cars arent always the most expensive to insure either. If you are concerned about high insurance rates, you probably shouldnt go out a buy a new $33,000 Honda S2000 convertible. And that little inexpensive Volkswagen GTI, listed at $22,000, will cost you as much in insurance as its bigger cousin, the Passat, which costs twice as much.

Looking for cheaper insurance rates? The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo and the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado are among the cheapest 2004 models to insure.

The main factor in the cost of insurance for certain vehicles is not in the price, but its claims history. For example, certain cars are proven to be stolen more often. Some have high repair costs or are in more accidents than other cars. There are many factors, not just the cost of the car, that affect the premiums.

Insurance premiums are based on several factors, including:

The sticker price: a car that costs more to buy, costs more to replace.

Repair costs: Repair costs are skyrocketing at nearly double the overall rate of inflation. There are so many technological advance included in cars that they are more expensive to repair.

Theft and fraud patterns: Cars that are frequently stolen are more expensive to insure. Thieves have their favorites based on market demands and interchangeability of parts. The Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry are the most frequently stolen cars. If you live in an area where there are high auto theft rates, you could pay more in premiums. Insurance fraud is also on the rise and will result in higher insurance costs, especially if you live in New York, Massachusetts or Florida.

Model year, weight and vehicle type: The more power you have the higher premiums you will pay. Sports cars, high-performance vehicles and luxury cars have the highest losses for vehicle damage and small, light vehicles have the highest death rates. Passenger vans and station wagons have the lowest losses for vehicle damage. SUVs and trucks will generally sustain less damage in a collision, but will cause more damage and higher liability claims.

Driver demographics: Your age, where you live, your gender, driving record and credit history will affect your premiums. If you have a bad driving record, you will pay a lot in insurance premiums. If you have a good clean driving record, youll pay less for insurance.

Technological progress: New gadgets and doodads in cars will make your premiums higher. This is because the cost of repairs is more expensive.