If you’re thinking of buying a new or used car, then one of the costs to consider is insurance. Even if you’re not planning to go out and buy an official sports car, it’s good to know that insurance companies often consider two-door motor vehicles to be “sports car status” when determining rates.
So you may wonder, “Do two-door cars cost more in insurance than other cars?”
The answer is yes, usually – but that doesn’t mean you should skip every two-door auto. While the car you drive has a significant impact on your premiums, there are many other factors at play.And if you’re looking for new insurance with competitive rates for your two-door car, our team of experts reviewed and ranked some of the best car insurance companies in the industry. Enter your zip code below to start comparing free auto insurance quotes from local insurers.
Why 2-Door Autos Cost More to Insure
Many people correctly assume that two-door cars cost more to insure than four-door ones – but without understanding why. It comes down to the reputation of the drivers they attract.
Insurance companies put coupes and two-door autos in the same category as sports cars, because all of these cars tend to attract drivers who are more likely to speed and drive recklessly. That unsafe driving causes insurance companies to think of two-doors as higher risks, so they compensate by charging higher premiums on insurance policies.
Two-door cars also incur higher insurance costs because they are often more expensive to buy, which means they are often more expensive to repair. They also tend to have fewer safety features than four-door vehicles and are more likely to get stolen.
But Not All 2-Door Cars Cost More Than 4-Doors
The important thing to remember is that while it generally costs more to insure a two-door than a four-door, this is only absolutely true for otherwise identical autos. The auto you drive affects your premiums in a lot of ways, and not just because of the number of doors it has.
If you get a two-door car loaded with safety and security features, it may cost less to insure than a high-quality expensive four-door car with just the bare minimum features. A two-door from a non-luxury brand may also cost less to insure than a four-door from a luxury brand.
How Your Car Affects Your Premiums
The reason that not all two-doors will cost more to insure than four-doors is that insurers consider a long list of factors. This includes whether the vehicle is new and its:
- Body style
- Horsepower
- Overall value
- Road safety features
- Security and anti-theft systems
The safety features can include daytime running lights, airbags, rearview cameras, blind-spot monitoring technology, anti-lock brakes and more. Remember that the value of the auto has a significant impact on your cost of insurance. If your auto is totaled, your insurer will need to pay you its value – so that value money will be reflected in your premiums.
Other Factors That Also Affect Your Premiums
Your driving history has a significant impact on your car insurance premiums. The more speeding tickets and other traffic violations you have, the higher your rates. If you have a DUI or have had a suspended license in the past, your premiums will be even higher.
But your driving history is far from the only one of your traits to affect your car insurance costs. Your rates are also affected by your:
- Age: If you’re under 25, you’re likely going to pay higher rates for your two-door, but drivers in their 30s and 40s pay the best rates when it comes to age.
- Gender: Providers use the gender listed on your driver’s license to determine rates. If you’re a young male driver, you can expect to see higher insurance costs.
- Credit score: Insurers use your credit history to determine how likely you are to pay your insurance premiums.
- Location: If you live in a highly populated urban area with high rates of car accidents and theft, expect to pay more for insurance.
- Marital status: Married drivers often get lower rates than single ones.
- Amount of driving: The more you’re on the road, the more likely you are to get into an accident, so providers compensate for this with higher rates.
- Claim history: If you are prone to filing claims, insurers may wonder why you frequently get into situations where this happens.
Opportunities to Save on Insurance
Most auto insurance companies will offer certain discounts based on your car, driving habits or other traits. Some potential discounts include those for:
- Good students
- Home owners
- Active military and veterans
- State and federal employees
- Specific organization members
- People in certain professional occupations
- Policyholders who take defensive driver training
- People who insure multiple cars on the same policy
- Those who bundle multiple types of insurance
The bottom line is that yes, a two-door car is usually more expensive to insure than a four-door one. But your insurance for a two-door car may not be that high if it’s a new car loaded with safety and security features.
If you have a clean driving record and qualify for other discounts, it will also be lower. So, don’t rule out a two-door auto just because of the potential car insurance rates.
Our Recommendations for Auto Insurance
No matter the type of car you have, we suggest considering insurance from USAA, Progressive or State Farm. We have evaluated each of these providers carefully, and have given them ratings out of 10 points for certain categories.
After looking through customer reviews, offered coverage, insurance rates and other research from other reputable sources such as J.D. Power, here are our official ratings for each provider:
| Provider | Industry Reputation | Coverage | Cost | Customer Experience | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 9.3 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.6 |
| Progressive | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 9.1 |
| State Farm | 9.9 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 9.1 |
Whether you choose one of these insurers or another, the best way to compare multiple quotes is via a free comparison tool. Just enter your zip code to use get free auto quotes with our quote box.
USAA: Best Military Provider
USAA is known for having some of the cheapest car insurance in the country and a high customer satisfaction score in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping StudySM. While only available to active military, veterans and their families, USAA also offers great discounts to keep premiums low, such as:
- New vehicle discount
- Driver training discount
- Defensive driving discount
- Vehicle storage discount
Progressive: Best for High-Risk Drivers
Progressive is known for offering more affordable rates to drivers who have multiple speeding tickets, DUIs and at-fault accidents in the past few years. Some of Progressive’s add-on coverages include accident forgiveness, loan/lease payoff and roadside assistance. Here are some (but not all) of the discounts that Progressive offers:
- Teen driver discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Multi-policy discount
- Homeowners discount
Read more: Progressive insurance review
State Farm: Best Student Discounts
State Farm is a great provider for young drivers under 25, because it has the best good student discount in the industry, with up to 25% off premiums. In addition to the company’s safe-driving Steer Clear® program (which can discount rates by 15%), State Farm also features these discounts and more:
- Distant student discount
- Anti-theft discount
- Multi-car discount
- Passive restraint discount
Do 2-Door Cars Cost More in Insurance: FAQ
Why are two-door cars more expensive to insure?
Two-door cars are more expensive to insure because owning one is associated with risky driving, whether or not the connection is true. They are also likely to have higher price tags, higher top speeds and some may have fewer safety features.
Is a two-door car insured as a sports car?
Yes, in most cases, an insurance company will consider a two-door car like a sports car. Technically, a sports car is an auto designed to optimize the thrill of driving, performance, handling, top speed or acceleration. But the term frequently extends to autos that have similar appearances as performance cars, such as coupes and two-door autos.
What are the benefits of a two-door car?
Two-door cars tend to perform better because they are lighter and more rigid. This improves handling as well as performance. Many two-door cars also have shorter wheelbases, improving their turning radius and quickening their steering.
Why do coupes cost more than sedans?
Two-door coupes cost more than four-door sedans because people are willing to pay more for coupes. Sometimes, they also have additional power or other sporty features that can command a higher price. Coupes often cost more to insure, as well.
Our Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car insurance provider to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Our in-depth rating system takes into account market share, coverage, auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each insurer is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto insurance companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
