Insuring a Mercedes-Benz

Almost since their inception, Mercedes-Benz vehicles have served as prominent status symbols. Their exceptional craftsmanship, dramatic styling and impeccable designs have helped them rise to the top in the world of luxury vehicles. To get your hands on one of these gorgeous vehicles, you must be prepared to part with a great deal of money. Anyone who owns a top-quality Mercedes-Benz will agree, however, that it's money well spent. With price tags that stretch well into the six-figure rage, these cars cost a pretty penny. They aren't cheap to insure either. Even if you have an impeccable driving record, you're going to have to pay a lot to buy car insurance for a Mercedes-Benz. The average annual cost to insure one of these vehicles is $2,248.68, and the brand ranks 32nd on a list of 36 vehicles. Find out why Mercedes-Benz vehicles are so costly to insure below.

A Look into the History of Mercedes-Benz

In 1886 in Germany, Karl Benz created the first automobile. It's fitting that his last name is featured in the name of such a distinguished luxury brand. The other part of the brand's name, Mercedes, was the name of a daughter of one of the suppliers. From practically the very beginning, Mercedes-Benz used Daimler engines. The actual brand didn't make its debut until 1926, however. These vehicles were always known for their superior styling, design and performance. The brand produced the first production car with four-wheel suspension. Beyond that, the most innovative thing about these vehicles has been their impeccable appearances and amazing performance.

Low Theft Rates Reduce Insurance Costs

Mercedes-Benz would probably appear in the top three of the most expensive cars to insure if it was a popular target for car thieves. Luckily that's not the case. The National Insurance Crime Bureau keeps track of the most-stolen vehicles in the United States. In the overall top-ten list, you won't find a single Mercedes-Benz. No Mercedes-Benz vehicles show up in the top-ten lists for any of the 50 states either. This factor helps to keep insurance costs at least a little lower than they'd otherwise be.

High Safety Ratings Soften the Blow Too

Insurance companies offer lower premiums for vehicles that have been shown to be safe. Safety ratings and crash test results play significant roles in the premium-calculation process. Mercedes-Benz vehicles are, in general, very safe. However, the U.S. government has not performed regular tests on these vehicles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has conducted extensive crash tests on Mercedes-Benz E-class vehicles. They received top scores of "Good" nearly across the board. A few second-best "Acceptable" ratings were also sprinkled into the mix, but it's clear that these cars are very safe.

Exorbitant Price Tags Cause Astronomical Insurance Rates

The biggest reason for the high cost to insure the typical Mercedes-Benz vehicle is its price tag. These luxury vehicles do not come cheaply. As an example, the E63 AMG sedan has a starting MSRP of $88,900. That is actually on the more affordable end of the scale when you're talking about a Mercedes-Benz. The G550 SUV has a starting MSRP of $107,100. Finally, the SL63 AMG convertible, which is one of the most gorgeous examples out there, starts at just over $140,000.

The typical cost to insure Mercedes-Benz vehicles includes:

• E63 AMG 8-Cylinder Sedan - $2,310.00
• G550 8-Cylinder SUV - $2,322.00
• SL63 AMG 8-Cylinder Convertible - $2,615.00