Car shoppers are paying more than ever for new models, and the cost of insuring them has also been going up in recent years.
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in the United States in August 2026 was $2,922 annually, or $243 per month, according to Experian data that the group said was based on policies sold through its automotive insurance marketplace. That’s down from the average annual payment of $2,899 that Experian reported in September 2025, but up significantly from the average payment of $2,613 that the group reported in September 2024.
The findings come as consumers paid an average of $50,089 for new cars in August 2026, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.
Individual drivers’ insurance rates are set based on factors such as driving record, location and sometimes even the type of model they drive and how prone it is to being broken into or stolen.
With all of that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team reviewed Compare.com’s list of the top 10 2025 and 2026 model cars that had the biggest drops in average insurance cost and compiled information for consumers about those vehicles.
10 Cars With Lower Average Insurance Costs
1. Hyundai IONIQ 5Starting price: $35,000Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $2,990Change from 2025: 19% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $704
2. Nissan LEAFStarting price: $29,990Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $3,096Change from 2025: 18% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $687
3. Dodge ChargerStarting price: $49,995Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $4,146Change from 2025: 18% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $917
4. Subaru ImprezaStarting price: $26,595Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $2,392Change from 2025: 18% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $509
5. Toyota SequoiaStarting price: $65,725Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $2,714Change from 2025 to 2026: 17% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $561
6. Lexus UXStarting price: $37,455Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $3,040Change from 2025 to 2026: 17% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $616
7. Toyota HighlanderStarting price: $46,270Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $2,606Change from 2025 to 2026: 17% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $522
8. Subaru WRXStarting price: $37,750Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $2,845Change from 2025 to 2026: 16% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $561
9. Audi A3Starting price: $40,100Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $3,700Change from 2025 to 2026: 16% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $725
10. BMW 2 SeriesStarting price: $40,000Average annual full-coverage insurance cost: $3,255Change from 2025 to 2026: 15% lowerAverage insurance savings from 2025 to 2026: $579
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at [email protected].
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