Choosing the Right Car for Cheap Car Insurance

When people look at cars to buy, they often focus on the design. They become infatuated with the fancy rear spoiler, the pointed front end, the dazzling taillights, or they may be impressed with the luxurious seats, the spaciousness, the advanced technology... but they seldom think about the insurance until they call their agent and announce they have a new car.
Sticker Shock
You hear about sticker shock when you see the price of something you want to buy, but sticker shock can also apply to the price of insurance for a car you just bought. You didn't realize that sporty new vehicle sitting in your driveway was going to set you back an extra hundred dollars a month besides the auto loan.
While many people have the idea that all new cars are more expensive because of the new parts, or less expensive because they are safer, neither statement is true. You can't lump "all cars" in one category. Some new cars will actually be less expensive to insure than the used one you had. Other new cars will be more expensive because of specialty parts or the likelihood of theft.
If you want to avoid sticker shock on your new car when it comes to insurance, find out the price before you buy. Look for cars that offer cheap car insurance to help you save money. These vehicles are usually rated well for safety and include the latest features, including:

• Airbags
• Antilock brakes
• Rear backup camera
• Forward collision warning
• Electronic stability control
• Brake assist
• SOS post-crash alert

Some of these features are standard in all new models while others are extras.
If you decide to purchase a much older car, you should know that it may not have even some of these basic safety features. Many insurance companies won't even cover you and those that do could have extremely high rates.
What to Consider
The first thing to look at when buying a car is what types of safety features are included. While not all safety features have been proven to reduce the likelihood of an accident, many insurance companies like to see as many on the vehicle as possible.
Consider how the vehicle has scored in crash tests. The severity of damage to the vehicle will impact your rates. To get cheap car insurance, the vehicle should hold up well in these tests. This means that there will be less damage to be repaired, but more importantly, the injuries of the driver and passengers will be less severe.
Don't forget to check if your preferred make and model is on the list of the Most Wanted - vehicles, that is. A car that is considered a hot ticket for thieves may have steeper insurance premiums, especially if you live in an area that has high theft statistics.
The time to think about cheap car insurance is before you buy a vehicle, not after. This ensures that you get the lowest rates possible. And if you really love that hot red sports car, at least you know should realize it's going to cost you - and keep costing you every mon