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.

Model Statistics

ION

What type of Coverage do Ion Owners Choose?

$2,032

Average Annual Cost to Insure

VUE

What type of Coverage do Vue Owners Choose?

$1,409

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SL2

What type of Coverage do Sl2 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SL1

What type of Coverage do Sl1 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

AURA

What type of Coverage do Aura Owners Choose?

$650

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SL

What type of Coverage do Sl Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

L300

What type of Coverage do L300 Owners Choose?

$720

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SC1

What type of Coverage do Sc1 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

S-Series

What type of Coverage do S-series Owners Choose?

$620

Average Annual Cost to Insure

L-Series

What type of Coverage do L-series Owners Choose?

$668

Average Annual Cost to Insure

L200

What type of Coverage do L200 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SC2

What type of Coverage do Sc2 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

OUTLOOK

What type of Coverage do Outlook Owners Choose?

$667

Average Annual Cost to Insure

LS

What type of Coverage do Ls Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

L100

What type of Coverage do L100 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

LS1

What type of Coverage do Ls1 Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

RELAY

What type of Coverage do Relay Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

SKY

What type of Coverage do Sky Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

ASTRA

What type of Coverage do Astra Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

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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 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. Insurers largely base premiums on value, so premiums for most Saturn vehicles are pretty low.

Decent Theft Rates Prompt Low Rates 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 Expenses

Saturn vehicles have very strong safety ratings. Insurers 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 insurer 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.