Insuring a Jeep

For a company whose roots originate with the U.S. Army, Jeep has managed to carve out an impressive niche for itself with everyday drivers. When most people think of the company's name, rugged, off-road adventures still spring to mind. However, today's vehicles are decked out with top-notch amenities and are designed to compete with popular SUVs and crossovers. Compared with many comparable vehicles, most models are actually useful off the road and have surprisingly affordable price tags. Another thing that's sure to raise an eyebrow is the average policy costs. It costs an average of $1,250.71 per year to insure one, which ranks the make second on a list of 36 brands. You will not only spend less to buy one, but you will spend less to keep it protected too. Find out why these automobiles are so cheap to cover below.

Model Statistics

GRAND CHEROKEE

What type of Coverage do Grand Cherokee Owners Choose?

$831

Average Annual Cost to Insure

LIBERTY

What type of Coverage do Liberty Owners Choose?

$897

Average Annual Cost to Insure

WRANGLER

What type of Coverage do Wrangler Owners Choose?

$474

Average Annual Cost to Insure

CHEROKEE

What type of Coverage do Cherokee Owners Choose?

$468

Average Annual Cost to Insure

PATRIOT

What type of Coverage do Patriot Owners Choose?

$1,148

Average Annual Cost to Insure

COMMANDER

What type of Coverage do Commander Owners Choose?

N/A

Average Annual Cost to Insure

COMPASS

What type of Coverage do Compass Owners Choose?

$818

Average Annual Cost to Insure

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Brief History of the Company

In the beginning, Jeeps were designed to be strictly utilitarian. They were basically the first SUV, and many people use the terms "Jeep" and "SUV" interchangeably. Willys-Overland and the Ford Motor Company developed the first Jeep for the U.S. Army. The first model for civilians was produced in the 1940s. The automaker really hit its stride during the 1950s, when its vehicles became popular with drivers around the country. The 1960s saw the debut of the Wagoneer, which held the distinction of being the first four-wheel-drive vehicle to have an automatic transmission.

Low Theft Rates Barely Make a Dent on Policy Costs

Vehicles that are targeted by car thieves tend to have higher premiums. Fortunately, this isn't the case with these vehicles. These cars are not stolen very often. There is one exception: the Grand Cherokee, which appears on top-ten lists for individual states by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. In states like Connecticut, Alaska and Colorado, 1990s-era Grand Cherokees appear to be popular with car thieves. Despite that, though, rates for certain SUVs tend to be very, very low. Clearly, there are other factors at play here.

Mediocre Safety Ratings don't Impact Rates Too Much

It's surprising to learn that these automobiles, which are considered to be tough, rugged and durable, don't always have the best safety ratings. The Wrangler, for instance, has mixed ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It earned a few perfect "Good" ratings, but it also received several "Marginal" and "Poor" scores as well. The Liberty is in the same boat and has received so-so safety ratings from the IIHS. Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee has received "Good" ratings across the board. Safety ratings impact premiums, but they don't affect coverage prices too much.

Affordable MSRPs Keep Policy Prices Low

As the second-cheapest make to insure in the United States, this automaker clearly has something going for them. In this case, it is pricing. They generally have very affordable price tags, especially when you consider how rugged they are. These vehicles are unlikely to be damaged in collisions, so their rates stay even lower. The Grand Cherokee has a starting MSRP of $26,995 while the Wrangler has a starting MSRP of $22,045. At $23,395, the starting MSRP for the Liberty is also quite affordable.

The average cost to protect various models is as follows:

• Grand Cherokee 6-Cylinder - $1,192.00
• Liberty 6-Cylinder - $1,202.00
• Wrangler 6-Cylinder - $1,184.00