Find out about discounts, safety ratings and other important information which can save you money on car insurance.
Buick, which is a division of General Motors, has long been thought of as a conservative car brand. But over the past decade, it has been working hard to re-shape its image. Buick’s new slogan is “Premium vehicles. Without the premium price”. It uses this updated slogan when advertising three of its major models: the Enclave, the Lacrosse, and the Lucerne. The Enclave is a sleek crossover vehicle while the other two models are front-wheel drive sedans.
Buick was founded in 1903 and by 1923 it had already produced one million cars. The first automobiles which were produced had 4-cylinder engines, but Buick increased their engine capacity by creating 6-cylinder models in 1925. The 8-cylinder models were introduced in 1931. During the time period of the Second World War, Buick shifted its wartime production to the manufacturing of 2,500 Hellcat tank destroyers which were contracted for by the U.S. Army. Over its history, Buick has created some signature brands such as the Roadmaster, LeSabre, Century, and the Super. In 1970, Buick delivered its first coupe, the Buick GS. Buick entered the sports utility vehicle market at the beginning of 2000 with the introduction of the Buick Rendezvous.
In 2008, according to some auto insurance sites, the Buick Lucerne was the least expensive vehicle to insure. The Lucerne is marketed as a full-size family car. The weight and size of the car provide additional safety while a quality design makes it very easy to handle. One reason for the reasonable cost of insurance was that this model is not flashy or sporty and therefore has less chance of being recklessly driven by younger drivers. Plus, if it does happen to be involved in an accident, replacement parts and labor costs are not as expensive as those for similar full-sized sedans. The Lucerne also comes with other safety features, such as blind zone alert which uses radar sensors to warn the driver when another vehicle is in its blind spot. It also features a lane departure warning system that uses cameras to track lane markings and warns the driver if the car begins to wander into the other lane.
The Buick LaCrosse was considered the next least expensive car to insure by many insurance companies. It was first introduced in 2004 and features lots of curved edges, which originally was aimed at attracting younger car buyers. It is available with a 300 HP V-8 engine but because it includes a total safety package, the powerful engine does not necessarily bump up the cost of insurance.
Since Buick is a part of the General Motors family of cars, insurance is relatively easy to obtain. GMAC insurance is promoted by Buick for all of its vehicles. But no matter which insurance company you decide to go with, the size and safety features of all Buick models make them some of the cheapest cars to insure.
Buick crash test considerations
Most Buick models earned high marks during crash tests. Frontal and side impacts were measured and scored and most models received at least a 4 out of 5 rating. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the Buick Lacrosse did not score well on the side impact of a front occupant, earning only a 3 out of 5 rating.
Risks that affect Buick insurance rates
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that only 5% of the top 100 most stolen cars were Buicks and these were predominately older models with less safety features. These included the Buick LeSabre, the Century, the Regal, the Electra, and the Skylark. If you need to insure an older Buick model, your insurance premiums may be slightly higher.
As with all car insurance, the amount you are charged for a yearly premium is calculated using many factors. These include the make and model of the car, along with your driving history and other personal data. The quotes listed here are simply a guideline and reflect what you might pay for a yearly insurance premium. The Buick Lucerne can cost around $1440 per year to insure, while the Buick Lacrosse is sometimes a bit less expensive at around $1200. The Buick Enclave normally carries the highest price tag for coverage, averaging about $1450 for an annual premium. No matter what type of car you are insuring, remember to ask about discounts and apply the ones for which you qualify.