The Honda Civic is a globally recognized platform that’s equally approachable for commuters and enthusiasts alike. Its fuel economy, affordability, and world-renowned reliability are the reasons why it’s one of the best-selling cars America has ever seen.
All of these factors contribute to the Honda Civic’s insurance rates. Because this car has been around for decades, there are several different model years and trim levels to choose from, depending on whether you’re buying it new or used.
Considering how old this platform is, and how popular it is in the aftermarket community, chances are that you’re looking at buying a used, possibly modified Civic. If that’s the case, the insurance process will have to be slightly different.
In this article, we’ll discuss all these points and take you through everything you need to know about getting your Honda Civic insured.
This includes costs, factors that influence your insurance premium, and cost-cutting strategies.
Let’s dive right in.
How Much Is Car Insurance for a Honda Civic?
The Civic is predominantly known as an economy car. This begs the question — why is the Honda Civic insurance cost so high compared to other economy cars?
You’d think that an economy car like the Civic would be cheap to insure but that’s not the case. On average, insurance for a Honda Civic can cost approximately $2,400 annually. Note that this rate is more relevant for adults over the age of 30.
For 18-year-olds, the rate per year is much higher. It can cost you nearly $8,400 if you belong to this age group.
It is interesting to note that insurance costs for the Honda Civic are way higher than those for other cars in the same segment. Of course, depending on the model year and the trim, the costs will differ even more.
For instance, a 2019 Civic will set you back by nearly $2,500 per year if you are well into adulthood. Older models, however, will cost less than that.
If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to find cheap car insurance for a Honda Civic Type R, you’re in luck because these cars are relatively affordable to insure — at least in comparison to other, more tame versions of the same car. On average, the Type R Civic insurance costs:
- $2,350 per year for an adult
- and $8,300 if you are around 18 years old.
It’s worth mentioning that you might have to jump through a few extra hoops if you want to get your hands on a proper JDM Civic, possibly an EK Type-R hatch straight from Japan.
Though there’s no such thing as “import car insurance”, know that once you purchase and register an imported car in your name, it’s like insuring any other car. However, there’s one important difference between insuring imported and domestic cars — imported cars might appreciate in value over time.
With that in mind, you’ll have to find a policy that covers the agreed value and not the book value. Be sure to not add your imported car to a standard policy; chances are that it won’t cover your car’s entire value.
Factors Determining Insurance Costs
There’s a lot that goes into calculating the optimal rate. Insurance companies consider many factors that are related to both you, and the car you’re driving.
The reason behind this is to mitigate financial risks for them and yourself. Here are some of the factors that influence insurance costs.
Driver’s Age
The way insurance companies see it; the younger you are, the less experience you have when it comes to driving unless you can prove otherwise by completing driving courses.
The older you get, the more time you spend driving, the less you have to pay. And the difference is usually significant. But don’t worry, there are several companies that might offer student discounts, so make sure you check those out before making a choice.
Car Trim and Model Year
There are hundreds of different types of Honda Civics out there available in several trim levels. The newer it is, the more expensive your insurance costs will be. So there’s some incentive in buying a used Civic.
The 2019 model Civic costs the most to insure — 6 percent more than other model years. The amount you’re charged will also depend on what type of body style you choose. For instance, the Civic coupe costs more to insure than the sedan.
Safety Ratings
The Honda Civic has garnered a reputation for being a very safe vehicle. The latest 2021 model was awarded the “top safety pick” badge by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These cars come equipped with advanced safety features and anti-collision aids.
Depending on the trim level you choose, you get multiple rearview cameras, active stability control, and Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System. Safety features like these help to offset some of the insurance costs.
Theft Rates
According to a survey published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Honda Civic was reported as the second most stolen vehicle of 2019. That’s not to say that it was the 2019 model year of the Civic that got stolen the most — it’s the older ones.
Insurance companies are aware of the vulnerabilities of these cars and so they adjust the rates accordingly.
Damage
The Honda Civic has a higher damage rate than other kinds of cars, even though it is not unnaturally high.
The fact that this car is often reported as damaged in accidents has more to do with there being a high number of them out on the road as opposed to the lack of safety features.
Things like these naturally drive up the insurance costs.
Company
Of course, the insurance company that you opt for can make a difference. Some companies offer extremely low rates (relatively) while some tend to charge higher than the average. Be sure to do enough research and choose a company that understands your requirements.
For example, if you’ve imported a JDM Civic, then you need to work with a company that can offer the right solutions for your specific needs.
Demeanor
If you have a bad history as a driver, it is possible that you might have to pay more for insurance.
A negative history could constitute speeding tickets, parking violations, driving under the influence (DUI), and more.
How To Save on Honda Civic Insurance Costs
One of the best ways to lower your insurance cost is to make sure you do your research when it comes to choosing an insurance company. Ensure that you compare quotes and find out if you’re eligible for any discounts. Most companies don’t disclose this information unless they’re asked to.
You can also opt for simpler packages that offer you minimum protection. Even though this is an effective way to save costs, we recommend against it as it can backfire.
If you are just starting out as a driver, you can choose to combine your policy with a parent or a guardian as this can help to offset some of the cost.
How To Find a Good Policy
It is clear by now that you need to find a good insurance policy and a company that can grant you that. How then, do you go about finding such a policy?
Finding a good policy will require you to compare prices and quotes from different insurance providers.
Apart from the insurance rates, you must also consider potential discounts, the type of coverage provided by the policy, hidden costs and limitations, and the warranty period of the policy.
Figuring all this out will make it a lot simpler for you to decide what makes an insurance policy good enough for its cost.
Final Remarks
The reliable and efficient Honda Civic is a car that anyone and everyone can drive. It can be a great family car, a grocery-getter, a daily driven beater, a tuner car, and even a track-missile if you want it to.
The only thing you can’t do with it is drift, unfortunately. Maybe one day Honda will bless this planet with an RWD Civic, who knows. (Kidding, if you want that, buy an S2000!)
Until then, we enthusiasts will keep rocking what we have now, and make sure to have it insured by a good company. Keep in mind that any modifications, such as installing coilovers in your Honda Civic, or an aftermarket exhaust will likely affect your premiums.
If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you know enough to get started with policy hunting. Keep in mind the factors that determine insurance costs and be sure to save some cash when you buy a policy — it will come in handy when you want to make some modifications.
Remember to compare online rates. To make things easier, you can also hire an agent to help you sort it all out.
Want to find out more about insurance rates? Feel free to use our quote generator form to get accurate estimates.