Find out about discounts, safety ratings, and other important information which can save you money on car insurance.
Probably one of the biggest vehicles you have seen driving on the road (other than trucks) is the Hummer. While it is no longer in production for the American consumer, it has a long and proud history. These vehicles were first designed and created under a contract with the U.S. Armed Forces. AM General, the original manufacturer, was awarded a $1.2 billion contract from the military in 1983 to produce 55,000 Humvees over a two year period. This was later increased by another 15,000 vehicles for a total of 70,000 vehicles.
AM General had long wanted to market a civilian version of the Humvee. The famous story is that Arnold Schwarzenegger saw a convoy of military Humvees while filming a movie and wanted to own one of the iconic vehicles. He supposedly persisted in his talks with AM General and became one of the first civilians in the world to own a Hummer when it hit the automobile market.
The Hummer brand of trucks and SUVs was first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee, a famous military vehicle. In 1998, the Hummer brand name was bought by General Motors. The models GM introduced were the original Hummer H1 (based on the Humvee) and the H2 and H3 models which were smaller in design and geared more towards the civilian consumer market.
Unfortunately, many factors led to the discontinuation of the Hummer vehicles. One was the overall economic downturn in 2008. Add to this the sharp increase in fuel prices and it was not surprising that when GM itself was forced to declare bankruptcy, it decided to retain the brand but sought a buyer for the troubled Hummer division. After several futile attempts over a few years, GM was unable to find a legitimate buyer. The Hummer inventory was depleted and dealerships began closing down in 2010. The last Hummer H3 rolled off the production line on May 24, 2010.
Throughout its short civilian history, all Hummer models were criticized for obvious and various reasons. Foremost was the size of the vehicles. All versions of the Hummer were larger than most SUVs and caused numerous problems with regards to parking, driving, and even fitting in a garage. Their massive size and weight also raised concerns about the threat to smaller vehicles on the road. Environmentalists had no love for the Hummer as they considered it a symbol of ecological irresponsibility. And lastly, the Hummer’s poor fuel economy was another issue that the brand had to contend with.
If you own a Hummer or are considering buying a used one, you will be pleased to know that insurance for these vehicles is normally in line with the cost to insure other large SUVs. All Hummer models are extremely tough and durable and therefore are less likely to sustain damage in the event of an accident. It’s always smart to shop around so contact several different insurance companies and compare quotes. Insurance carriers use various criteria to determine what you will pay for an annual premium. The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring are taken into account but most companies give more weight to your personal information- your age, your driving record, where you live, and your credit history.
You can help keep the cost of your insurance premiums down by driving safely and keeping a good credit score. Also take advantage of the numerous discounts that insurance companies offer. Remember that the more safety features your vehicle has, normally the less you will pay for an annual premium.
Hummer safety results
Most of the Hummer models did not perform well in crash test situations. Specifically, the Hummer H3 received a poor rating for rear-end crash test results. You should be aware that the Hummer models are considered a Class 3 Truck and as such they are exempt from many Department of Transportation safety regulations.
On a positive note, Hummer models are not a favorite of car thieves so your insurance rates should not increase due to a risk of theft.
Hummer auto insurance rates
What you pay for an annual insurance premium can vary greatly depending on the type of vehicle you are insuring and also your personal information. Buying insurance for a Hummer is generally about the same as for other types of large SUVs. The quotes listed here are strictly an estimation of what a yearly policy might cost. The cost of your personal auto coverage will be determined by many factors. The amounts shown here are meant to be used only as a guideline when planning your car insurance expenses.
The Hummer H2 generally costs around $2,140 for an annual premium. A Hummer H3 will run about $1,380 and you can expect to pay around $1,425 a year for a Hummer H3T.