Is car insurance cheaper when you own or finance?

Asked by: Newton Bashirian  |  Last update: June 7, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (52 votes)

Bottom line. Both leased and financed cars usually require full coverage auto insurance. But because coverage requirements for leased vehicles are greater, you'll probably end up paying more. The monthly payments on a lease, however, are usually lower.

Is car insurance cheaper when you own vs finance?

A financed vehicle is typically considered more expensive than an owned vehicle because most finance companies require comp/collision on the vehicle. The ownership status of the vehicle has no bearing on the cost of the insurance premiums , the additional coverage does.

Is car insurance cheaper when you own the car?

Is car insurance cheaper if you own your car? Car insurance premiums don't automatically go down when you pay off your car, but you can probably lower your premium by dropping coverage that's no longer required. Banks and financing companies who loan you money for your car are called lienholders.

Does car insurance go down when you own?

While your car insurance rates won't automatically decrease once your car is paid off, your coverage requirements will change in ways that could result in premium savings.

Is car insurance more expensive when you lease or finance?

Since the insurance requirements for a leased car are typically greater, it can cost more to insure a leased vehicle than a financed or owned vehicle. However, leasing a vehicle may give you lower monthly payments than financing, so car payments and insurance rates are a trade-off.

7 mistakes people make when purchasing car insurance

29 related questions found

Is it cheaper monthly to lease or buy a car?

Monthly payments to lease a vehicle tend to be lower than monthly payments on a car loan, but financing a vehicle purchase may cost less in the long run. Drivers who lease also need to consider their mileage: Exceeding the mileage specified in their lease terms can cost them extra at the end of the lease.

How much higher is insurance on a leased car?

Some leasing companies require full coverage policies and/or higher limits, so the cost to insure a leased vehicle depends on several factors. Value Penguin reports that the cost of the insurance policy isn't impacted by whether you own the car or lease it.

At what point is car insurance not worth it?

If your vehicle is paid off, there are only a few instances that justify dropping collision coverage: Your vehicle's value is less than a few thousand dollars: If your car holds minimal value, collision coverage may not be worth carrying. This is especially true when a large car insurance deductible is involved.

At what age does car insurance get cheaper?

States Where Age Does Not Affect Rates

In the following states, insurance companies cannot take age into account when calculating insurance premiums: California.

What happens if you take off full coverage on a financed car?

Lender Requirements: Many lenders mandate full coverage to protect their financial interest in the vehicle. If you fail to maintain the required coverage, the lender may impose force-placed insurance, which is often more expensive and offers minimal coverage.

Does credit score affect car insurance?

How credit-based insurance scores work. Most U.S. insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores along with your driving history, claims history and many other factors to establish eligibility for payment plans and to help determine insurance rates. Again, except in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.

Is it cheaper to not own a car?

Yes, it is cheaper not to own a car. You will save money on the cost of a car, interest if there would have been a loan involved, gas, insurance, and maintenance. That being said, it depends on the specific situation.

Is a paid-off car cheaper to insure?

These things could all make your insurance cheaper. You've paid off your car. Simply paying off your car won't lower your premiums, but getting rid of some of the required coverage might.

What happens after you pay off your car?

Once you've made the final payment on your car loan, the first and most crucial step is to obtain your car title. Your lender should send you an official release of lien letter, which you must take to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to transfer the title into your name.

Do you get a better price if you finance a car?

A: Paying with cash doesn't automatically mean the dealer will give you a killer deal. If anything, the dealer would prefer you finance the car so it could make a little profit from securing the loan.

How to get car insurance to go down?

If you're wondering how to get a lower car insurance rate, use these methods for lowering your premium:
  1. Qualify for insurance discounts. ...
  2. Increase your deductible. ...
  3. Reduce your coverage. ...
  4. Compare rates. ...
  5. Try usage-based insurance. ...
  6. Take a defensive driving course. ...
  7. Get a car that's cheaper to insure.

Which gender pays more for car insurance?

On average, young men pay much more for car insurance than young women. This is because car insurance providers find men to be riskier drivers than women, especially when they are younger. When they are older, women start to pay slightly higher rates.

How long do accidents stay on your record?

In the state of California, most vehicle accidents will stay on your record for around 3 years. However, more serious traffic violations will follow you for longer. For example, a DUI conviction will stay on your record for 10 years.

When should you drop full coverage insurance on your car?

For example, you might want to drop comprehensive coverage if: You park your car in the garage and protect it from animals, falling objects, and severe weather. You plan to replace your car next time it needs big repairs. Your car is worth less than the deductible on your comprehensive coverage.

Does your car insurance go down every 6 months?

Does car insurance go down after 6 months? It might. Most car insurance policies renew every six months. If something has changed in that time period to improve your rates, you might see a reduction.

How often should you look for car insurance?

Though you might review your policies annually, that doesn't mean you'll always need to make a change that often. In many cases, your current coverage may still be adequate. But generally, it's a good idea to review all of your insurance needs at least once a year.

Is insurance cheaper on a financed car?

While your insurance rate reflects many factors, it doesn't increase or decrease only on the basis of the car's financed or leased status; it may instead be pricier — especially if you're used to carrying just the state-mandated minimum — due to your lender's requirement that you carry full coverage insurance for your ...

What is the 1 percent rule for leasing a car?

What's the One-Percent Rule? The concept is pretty simple, you take the vehicle's monthly lease payment and divide it by the vehicle MSPR (before taxes and fees). The closer the result is to one percent (1.00%), the better the lease offer.

Who pays for repairs on a leased car?

In most cases, it will be the lessee. However, many leasing companies offer maintenance packages that can help ease the burden of repair costs. If you're thinking about leasing a car, be sure to ask about maintenance packages. They can save you a lot of money in the long run.