Find out about discounts, safety ratings and other important information which can save you money on car insurance.
Chevrolet, also known as Chevy, is a popular American brand of vehicles which is part of General Motors. It was founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, one of the original founders of GM who had earlier been ousted from the company. General Motors officially bought Chevrolet in 1918 and produced a lineup of automobiles that directly competed with Henry Ford’s popular Model-T. It became so successful that “Chevrolet” and “Chevy” became synonymous with GM.
In 1918 Chevy produced the Model D, a V-8 powered, four passenger roadster. It also began production of an overhead valve in-line six. Chevrolet’s success continued on into the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s as it competed with Ford Motor Company and the newly formed Plymouth automobile division of Chrysler. These three automobile lines were known as the “low-priced three”.
Chevy has always had a great influence on the American automobile market. With popular slogans like “See the USA in your Chevrolet”, “The Heartbeat of America” and “An American Revolution”, Chevy is forever linked to the red, white, and blue of America. It enjoys world-wide popularity and today is one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. The automotive giant that gave us the penultimate sports car, the Corvette, in 1953 continues to innovate and lead the way with reasonably priced, fuel efficient cars for the 21st century.
Today in North America, Chevy produces a wide variety of automobiles and trucks. In Europe, the Chevrolet brand is used on vehicles produced in Korea specifically for General Motors.
Here are some popular examples of Chevy brands along with model features and estimated prices. One of the most economical models is the Chevy Cobalt. It matches up nicely to many of the Japanese brands in terms of features and fuel economy. It comes with front wheel drive, a 4-cylinder engine, good gas mileage, and two transmissions to choose from. It is available in the LS, LT, or SS models and carries a sticker price starting around $19,000.
The next model is the Impala which generally starts at around $25,000. It is available in the LS model, the LT, 2LT, the fully loaded LTZ and the high performance SS. This Chevy model is a full-size sedan and features antilock brakes, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags, and traction control. The Impala comes with bench seats which allow you to seat 6 passengers comfortably, making it a great family car.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is priced around $30,000 and is designed primarily for construction workers, farmers and business owners. This truck is available in a wide variety of styles and trims and is known for its durability and long life when hauling heavy equipment and other items. The SS version comes with a V-8 engine and bucket seats. Different power trains are offered to suit just about any hauling requirement.
One of the benefits of purchasing and owning a Chevy is that insurance is readily available through General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC financing). GM offers this option through all of its automobile divisions. Of course, it’s always a good idea to shop around and get premium quotes from different companies. Remember to ask about discounts and take advantage of the ones you qualify for. They can significantly lower your annual premium cost.
Chevrolet theft risks
The National Insurance Crime Bureau indicates that Chevy is a relatively popular brand among car thieves. Of the top 100 car models to make the list, Chevy made up 21% of the vehicles named. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to pay higher rates for car insurance. The models which are most at risk are the Lumina, Impala, Beretta, Cavalier, and Caprice. As is the case in many instances of theft, older car models with less advanced (or no) security features make an easier target for the professional car thief. If you are insuring an older model Chevy, be sure to get quotes from several different insurance companies before signing on the dotted line.
Crash Test Results for Chevrolet
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named its Top Safety Picks for 2012 and Chevy had the following models included:
- Small cars: Chevy Cruze, Chevy Sonic, and Chevy Volt
- Midsize cars: Chevy Malibu
- Midsize SUVs: Chevy Equinox
- Large SUVs: Chevy Traverse
All cars were judged and awarded good performance ratings in all of these categories: front, side, rollover and rear crash tests and standard electronic stability control.
Insurance rates for Chevrolet
Insurance for many Chevy models continues to be reasonable despite the rising cost of insurance overall. Companies take many factors into consideration when determining what you will pay for an annual premium. While the make and model of the car you insure certainly is a part of the equation, your personal driving record, age, driving habits and location are generally weighed more heavily by insurance companies when pricing your policy. Be sure to ask about available discounts- these can add up to significant savings if you qualify.
Here are some average insurance costs for an annual premium on various Chevy models. Please remember these are only estimates and serve only as a guideline as to what you might personally pay.
- All Chevy Aveos models cost around $1425 to insure.
- The Chevrolet HHR, Impala and Colorado will run about $1340 for a yearly premium.
- A Chevy Avalanche generally will cost around $1475.
- The Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and Trailblazer all average around $1380 per year for insurance.
- As expected, the Chevy Corvette carries a high insurance rate and runs about $1550 for an annual premium.