Insuring a Bentley

The name Bentley is synonymous with luxury and refinement. Bentley vehicles are almost entirely made by hand, and a very limited number of them are produced each year. As a result, these vehicles come with astronomically high price tags. Of course, those who are in the market for high-end, ultra-luxury vehicles don't bat an eyelash when presented with MSRPs that are well into the six digits. The price of a vehicle has a profound influence on how much it costs to insure it, so Bentleys tend to be among the most expensive cars to insure and join Aston Martins and Rolls-Royces at the priciest end of the list.

Brief History

Bentley Motors is headquartered in Crewe, Cheshire in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Walter Owen Bentley in 1919, but the first Bentley vehicle was not produced until 1921. Ownership of the company has changed hands several times through the years. Volkswagen owned the automaker for a while, and the brand is currently owned by BMW. The brand's distinctive style was revived by the Mulsanne Turbo in the 1980s. In addition to being revered for its exceptional attention to detail, Bentley is famous for producing vehicles that are equipped with extremely powerful engines. 12-cylinder engines that are capable of more than 600 horsepower are prominently featured.

Ultra-High MSRPs Drive Up Insurance Prices

Insurance companies charge higher premiums for more expensive vehicles because they come with more expensive claims. Although official figures about the average cost to insure Bentley vehicles are not available, it is safe to assume that insuring them is in the same ballpark as insuring Rolls-Royce vehicles. The average yearly cost to insure a Rolls-Royce vehicle is around $2,800, so you can expect to pay around that amount to insure a Bentley, should you be lucky enough to buy one for yourself.

Theft is Not a Contributing Factor

Very few Bentley vehicles are produced each year. The ones that are produced are snapped up by people who generally have the means to keep them safely under lock and key. As a result, theft rates for Bentley vehicles are very low. In fact, no Bentleys were stolen in 2009, at least according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA. As a result, it is safe to say that theft rates do not play a role in the average price to insure a Bentley.

Safety has a Negligible Effect on Insurance Costs

In most cases, a vehicle's safety ratings and safety features play huge roles in how much they cost to insure. That isn't the case with Bentley vehicles because they are in an entirely different class than most vehicles. Bentleys are typically enhanced with a broad array of important safety features. However, the most important factor in the cost of insuring these vehicles is their price. The 2012 Bentley Mulsanne, for example, has a starting MSRP of $290,000. On the "cheaper" end of the scale, the 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur has a starting MSRP of $184,200.

Although it costs a lot of money to buy car insurance for a Bentley, those who can afford these exceptionally luxurious vehicles are typically more than happy to pay their monthly insurance premiums. The high cost of insuring these vehicles can be lowered with a good driving record and enhanced anti-theft devices.