Insuring a GMC

GMC specializes in producing top-quality trucks, SUVs and vans. Although their offerings are virtually indistinguishable from those of Chevrolet these days, they still tend to be on the higher end of the quality scale. People who are looking for top-quality, well-appointed SUVs, vans and trucks often turn to GMC. In terms of pricing, GMC vehicles run the gamut. When it comes to insuring a GMC vehicle, you can expect to pay average prices. The average cost to insure a GMC car for one year is $1,513.75, which ranks it 17th on a list of 36 makes. You can certainly do worse, but there are plenty of cars that are more affordable to insure as well. Learn more about the factors that affect the cost to insure a GMC vehicle below.

Brief History

Almost from the very beginning, GMC has been a division of General Motors. Few people realize that the company began with the name Rapid Motor Vehicle Company and was founded in 1902 by a man named Max Grabowski. Grabowski sold the company to General Motors in 1909, and the division was initially called GMC Truck. For a considerable part of its history, GMC produced utilitarian trucks and vans. Fire trucks and dump trucks were among its retinue. After World War II, the division started producing cars that everyday people would actually want to drive. Since then, it has become best known for manufacturing SUVs, trucks and vans that include upscale features and exceptional quality.

Low Rates of Theft Keep Insurance Costs Down

Insurance companies take theft rates into account when calculating insurance rates. There is not a single GMC vehicle on the top-ten list of popularly stolen cars across the U.S., which is compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That is good news for drivers because it means that insurance rates are kept in check. GMC pickup trucks appear in a few top-ten lists in states like Mississippi and Kansas, but there does not appear to be a nationwide problem with the theft of GMC vehicles.

Reasonable MSRPs Help Too

GMC vehicles are not budget vehicles. At the same time, they are not the most expensive cars on the road today either. The GMC Canyon, for example, has a reasonable starting MSRP of $17,490. SUVs aren't quite as popular as they once were, but the GMC Terrain has a starting MSRP of $25,560, which makes it a reasonable affordable option in that segment. On the higher end of the price scale, the GMC Yukon has a starting MSRP of around $40,000. It's vehicles like this that drive up insurance costs among GMC cars.

Strong Safety Ratings Drive Down Insurance Costs

Insurance companies are very concerned about vehicle safety ratings. After all, a car that is more likely to be seriously damaged is more likely to result in claims. GMC vehicles are known for their superior safety ratings, although some of today's most popular models have not been rated by the government or by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The GMC Terrain, however, received top "Good" ratings across the board by the IIHS. The government awarded it with five-star and four-star ratings, which highlight its overall safety.

The following costs to insure popular GMC vehicles will give you a feel for how price affects insurance:

• Yukon 8-Cylinder - $1,598.00
• Canyon 4-Cylinder - $1,191.00
• Terrain 6-Cylinder - $1,221.00