Is Car Insurance More Expensive for a Pickup Truck?

Car insurance for the four best-selling pickup truck models, the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Toyota Tundra, can be surprising affordable.

Consumers have long had a love affair with the pickup truck due to the versatility, the cargo space, and just the manly man feeling of driving one down the road.  The larger the tires, the more manly the driver, right?

Insuring your pickup truck is no different than buying insurance online for your car or motorcycle. You have the same coverages such as liability, comprehensive and collision, and similar optional coverages like towing coverage (good if you’re planning on actually USING those big tires) and rental reimbursement.

Pickup Truck Model Comparison

The Ford F-150 has been the most popular pickup truck for many years in the U.S.  Current models start at around $27,500 and fuel economy has improved with the new optional 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine. You can expect to get around 16 MPG around town and 22 MPG on the highway, with improved fuel economy using the EcoBoost engine.

Chevy’s entry-level Silverado 1500 will set you back around $26,935 and has an optional Vortec 5.3L SFI V8 Engine.  It generates considerably less horsepower with the standard 4.8L engine than the F-150’s 3.7L 6 cylinder, 315 hp vs 365 hp, and the maximum payload is 1,200 lbs less than the comparable F-150.  Fuel economy with the 4.8L engine is almost on par with the 3.7L used in the F-150 at a rated 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway.

Dodge sets the entry-level Ram 1500 pickup price at a low $21,110 with the standard 3.7L 6 cylinder power center.  An optional 5.7L V8 HEMI engine will give you enough power to pull larger trailers, as the Dodge Ram is well known as being the ultimate truck for pulling.  If you have a need to pull trailers over 10,000 lbs you may want to consider moving up to the 3/4 ton version of the Ram, the 2500.

The only import on the list (made in the USA however) is the Toyota Tundra. The standard 5.7L engine will set you back $26,910 and an optional 5.7L i-FORCE engine is available.  Fuel economy for the Tundra is similar to that of the Dodge Ram in the city at 14 MPG, while highway fuel economy is the lowest on the list at 18 MPG.

Cost to Insure Your Pickup Truck

Whether you own a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota, the cost to insure your vehicle depends a lot on the options you build into your vehicle and how you use it.

If you trick out your truck with all the options, you’ll be pushing $50,000 for any of the models.  When an insurance company insures your truck, a higher value means higher insurance rates due to the actual cash value used at claim time.  So if you roll your truck down the side of a mountain (the long wheelbase of trucks is not good for traversing mountain switchbacks) then your insurance company will pay you what the vehicle is worth at the time of the accident.

The higher the ACV or actual cash value, the more payment you will receive.  So the older the truck, the less it’s worth.  And the older the truck, the cheaper insurance is.

If your goal is to drive down the cost of insuring your truck, then consider buying the slightly less expensive model.  Using your truck for pleasure use will also be cheaper than using it for commuting to work.  If you just use your truck for weekend warrior activities, then you may be able to save some money on premiums since your annual mileage will be lower than if you drive it every day.

The deductible limit you set for comprehensive and collision will have a large impact on the price you pay for truck insurance.  The lower the deductible, the less you will have to pay out of pocket at claim time. So the more burden you place on the insurance company, the more they’re going to ding you for your pickup insurance.

If you just use your pickup truck for driving around town, you really don’t have a need to buy coverages for rental or towing.  These coverages may duplicate coverages you already have with a motorclub, or OnStar if you buy a Chevy.

The bottom line on the cost of insurance for your pickup truck depends on the model and trim level you buy, plus the coverages you select on your car insurance policy.  Some car insurance companies may offer lower rates than others in your area, so the best way to find the cheapest truck insurance is to do comparison quotes with multiple companies and compare apples-to-apples rates.

To get a pickup truck comparison rate, simply enter your zip code into one of the forms on this page and click the button. By completing the quick form, you’ll receive multiple quotes and can choose the rate that is best without having to contact all the different insurance agents in your area.

For custom buying guides on different pickup models, read about Ford F-150 insurance, Chevy Silverado insurance, Dodge Ram insurance and Toyota Tundra insurance.