Truck vs. Car Insurance: What’s the Difference? Most policyholders have the impression that it is more expensive to insure trucks than cars. Car insurance premiums are calculated differently depending on the insurer. There are some factors to consider when comparing truck vs. car insurance. There are differences between truck and car insurance. It doesn’t matter if you own a car or a truck; auto insurance is gotten mainly to financially protect you in the occurrence of an accident.

Is There a Difference Between Car and Truck Insurance?
Car and truck insurance premiums cover both for personal use, eliminating the need for separate insurance for each vehicle. However, there are a few differences between truck and car insurance. Age, location, driving records, and others carry more influence when insurers determine your insurance rates.
Average Car Insurance Rates for Trucks vs. Cars
While the average cost of auto insurance is $1,771 annually for full coverage, there is a difference between the average rates for trucks and cars. Depending on the vehicle make and model, insurance rates are determined. The table below shows the differences between the rates of a truck and a car.
Vehicle | Average annual full coverage premium | Average annual minimum coverage premium |
Ford F-150 (Truck) | $1,442 | $499 |
Ford Focus (Car) | $1,633 | $535 |
Toyota Camry (Car) | $1,674 | $565 |
Chevrolet Silverado (Truck) | $1,682 | $585 |
Nissan Titan (Truck) | $1,867 | $521 |
Dodge Charger (Car) | $2,077 | $537 |
This table illustrates that there are not many differences between truck and car insurance rates.
Factors That Affect Your Truck vs. Car Insurance
Auto insurance rates are determined by considering various factors, including vehicle characteristics and driver information. When determining auto insurance rates, these factors are placed together to create a risk estimate. This estimate shows how presumably a driver would file a claim in the future. Below are some of the factors that affect your truck or car insurance.
- Make and model of vehicle: Different vehicles have their crash ratings and different cost levels for replacements and repairs.
- Age of vehicle: New vehicles are considered to be less prone to accidents but are more costly to repair, while old vehicles cost more for repairs.
- Gender: The average rate for men is slightly higher than that of women; this is because male drivers are more likely to get involved in accidents than female drivers.
- Driving record: A good driving record is likely to result in a lower auto insurance rate, as insurers consider you at a low risk of accidents or claims.
- Age of the driver: Age influences auto occurrence likelihood, with middle-aged drivers often cheaper to insure. However, some states prohibit insurance companies from considering age in rate determination.
- Location: Insurance rates can be influenced by your location, as the cost of living may affect vehicle repairs and parts, and insurance companies must adhere to state-specific rules.
- Insurance company: Insurance rates vary by company due to different premium determination processes, resulting in varying estimates for the same policy from multiple providers.
- Credit score: Good credit scores indicate low risk and a lower likelihood of policyholders filing claims.
- Car insurance history: Having a period when your car insurance lapses may increase your future insurance rates. If you just recently filed a claim, your insurance rates will be higher for the next three to five years.
Is it cheaper to insure a truck or a car?
Some of these factors include make or model, vehicle specifics, location, and the driver. Car insurance companies consider the driving record and age of the driver as crucial factors when determining rates.
Drivers with a bad driving record may be charged more for car insurance than a person with a good record. Likewise, age—younger and older drivers tend to be more expensive and have higher rates from insurers. Due to these factors and the number of those not based on the vehicle, you will need to gather more information when checking out the differences between truck and car insurance.
When are trucks more expensive to insure than cars?
There is no definite time when truck insurance is more affordable than car insurance. Truck insurance rates may be lower due to easy reparability and safety, as trucks typically have larger parts compared to cars. Cars are sometimes more expensive to insure.