Insuring a Saturn

Although it has been discontinued, the Saturn brand was a relatively popular one for awhile. The brand, which was a division of GM, was developed to compete against the influx of Japanese imports that started nabbing a lot of market share in the U.S. during the 1980s. In the beginning, they were designed to be quite similar to popular Japanese cars. They were compact, stylish and affordable. Over time, however, the brand was expanded to include SUVs, so it broadened its horizons considerably. If you'd like to buy a Saturn, you're going to have to buy a used one. The good news, though, is that you should be able to save a lot of money on car insurance. Although specific numbers aren't available, Saturn cars were named among the cheapest to insure by Forbes. You will probably pay anywhere from $1,000 to $1,300 per year to insure one.

Saturn's History

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Saturn was developed to compete against the tiny Japanese imports that were beginning to gain ground in the U.S. auto marketplace. When the brand was launched in 1990, the sky seemed to be the limit. It was fairly popular from the start, so it seemed like it would have lasting power. In addition to offering small, affordable cars, Saturn offered a no-haggling policy. At the dealership, car buyers paid the sticker price, so no negotiating was required. Unfortunately, Saturn didn't take care to expand or enhance its lineup. By the time it started scrambling to do so, the damage was done. The brand was officially discontinued in 2009.

Low Prices Equal Low Insurance Premiums

Saturn vehicles were designed to be affordable. They are even more affordable now because used models are the only ones that are available. The Saturn VUE, for example, costs an average of $14,000 to purchase. Keep in mind that it is a well-equipped SUV. The Sky Red Line, which was at the higher end of the offerings scale, costs around $20,000. If you're looking for a cheap sedan, the Aura's average price of $13,000 is sure to catch your eye. Insurance companies largely base premiums on value, so premiums for most Saturn vehicles are pretty low.

Decent Theft Rates Prompt Low Insurance Costs Too

In general, Saturn cars aren't stolen too often. The one exception is the Saturn SL, which appears on the National Insurance Crime Bureau's state-by-state stolen vehicle report. Early-to-mid-1990s models show up on the top ten lists of several states. Other than that, however, Saturns aren't popular with thieves. That's a relief because insurance companies consider that data when coming up with premiums. It's another reason that these cars are so cheap to insure, and it's why they will continue to be cheap to insure.

Great Safety Ratings Cause Lower Insurance Costs

Saturn vehicles have very strong safety ratings. Insurance companies assume a lot more risk when they provide coverage for unsafe vehicles. After all, vehicles that aren't safe are far more likely to result in serious injuries, deaths and damages. All of those things can cost an insurance company a lot of money. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the VUE across-the-board ratings of "Good," which is the top rating. Earlier models of the VUE that didn't have side airbags received a "Poor" rating for side impact safety.