Sometimes insurance makes no sense

[Mike_TX]

I know there was once a thread about insurance costs, but I couldn't find it.

Anyway, I went to my insurance agent and priced full coverage for the Stinger. They didn't have full details for the 2019's yet, so they priced it on a 2018 Premium.

To my surprise, the insurance for the 2018 Stinger was LESS than for my 2017 Optima. In spite of the fact the Stinger is a year newer and is a slightly higher-cost vehicle.

When I asked why, I was told it was because of safety features in the Stinger. Huh??? The 2018 Premium doesn't have lane departure, collision mitigation, smart cruise, blind spot, 360 camera, rear cross traffic, and some other things I can't think of right now ... all of which my Optima has. Yet, the Stinger is cheaper to insure!

Since my 2019 DOES have that stuff, I'm interested to see what it costs when the company gets their rating info in. I'd like to think it would be even less, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Luminary]

I had a 2018 Premium, and it does have all the safety features you listed other then the 360 camara. So that could be why.

 

[Phil L]

My stinger GT was a few dollars cheaper than my outgoing 2107 Audi A4

 

[MerlintheMad]

Don't offer full disclosure. You don't want to screw with a good deal. If "they" say it has safety features, don't argue.

 

[Alagos]

Here the insurance is all the same .. 2017/2018/2019 3.3/2.2/2.0
It’s about 150€ a year higher than my Lancer Sportback - if I need to compare them I don’t get the sense behind it 13.500 € vs 46.000 € but that is the thing which made me buy the 2.0 - if insurance would be much higher i would have gone with another car
(3,3 is just too much power and fuel consum and too much cost for me.. would work only to hold the car ^^)

 

[falanger]

Insurance is indeed very weird. I remember back in 2012, I got a quote on a BMW M3 coupe and a 335is coupe. To my surprise the M3 was actually cheaper.

In this case I wonder if part of reason the Stinger is lower is the fact that there are fewer stingers than optimas, thus fewer claims? Who knows with insurance companies....

 

[OliverNuther]

You may have been thinking of this thread but that was specific to us in Australia.


Stinger Insurance in Melbourne

From memory, I think most of us here were paying around 800 AUD. A good point was made that this cost may well rise in the future as claims start occurring and insurers realise how expensive replacement parts are. In Australia anyway.

 

[Mike_TX]

I had a 2018 Premium, and it does have all the safety features you listed other then the 360 camara. So that could be why.

Yes, I think you could add those things back in with an optional package, but the one she quoted on didn't have the package.

 

[MekstingerGT]

So you rather pay more?? I would just keep my mouth shout and be on my way. I'm paying more on the Stinger than my Evo 10!

 

[Doel]

yeah, it's odd. My 2016 Maxima was $250 more a year than my Stinger GT1, and I don't have drivewise. I'll take it.

 

[Mike_TX]

So you rather pay more?? I would just keep my mouth shout and be on my way. I'm paying more on the Stinger than my Evo 10!

Lol, no. It just seemed odd to me.

In that same vein, I traded a 2015 Acura TLX for my first Optima SXL, and I was surprised to have to pay about $200 more a year for insurance. The Optima cost a little less, and was a 4-cyl vs. the V6 in the Acura. The explanation was that parts for the Optima cost more. So it's not all about the price of the vehicle and the power plant.

 

[eflyguy]

You think this is nuts, you should look at the discrepancies for motorcycles between different companies.

 

[Jeaddi]

I actually think it was because all of the safety features in the Optima and with those added safety features the cost of repair is higher. I just had my Front collision sensor replaced due to an accident and the sensor itself was the highest cost in the whole repair.

So since you no longer have the added safety features, the cost to repair your Stinger is less than the cost to repair your optima in the event of an accident.

 

[ScottE]

I had pretty much the same experience - insuring my GT2 was within 10 dollars of my Optima SXL. It didn't make any sense to me...

 

[CincyEagleFan]

My 2015 Optima was more expensive than my 2019 Premium, which was more expensive than my 2018 GT2. I'll take it!

 

[Waynerm002]

My Optima got hit and a hole dug out of the bumper and the Blind Spot Sensor was showing through it. The sensor still worked but when they ordered the other parts, they noticed one of the brackets was broken and had to order a new one, I think it was $1500. I remember the quote was for $1500+ but the final cost was over $3k, then I noticed the part on the invoice. I would think that after all this time these things have been out, the cost would be less. Might be because H/K uses their own stuff than going outside. I recall an Autoline video saying a left front end damage on the K900 would cost $34K to repair due to all the technology in it, a typical repair cost is around $8K. That's about half what that car costs! I can understand why the insurance companies would want to charge more in premiums.

 

[rocket23]

I saved a few bucks on the stinger ,Had a RAM 1500........go figure......went to a much faster bike as well.....cheaper insurance there too!

 

[Mike_TX]

My Optima got hit and a hole dug out of the bumper and the Blind Spot Sensor was showing through it. The sensor still worked but when they ordered the other parts, they noticed one of the brackets was broken and had to order a new one, I think it was $1500. I remember the quote was for $1500+ but the final cost was over $3k, then I noticed the part on the invoice. I would think that after all this time these things have been out, the cost would be less. Might be because H/K uses their own stuff than going outside. I recall an Autoline video saying a left front end damage on the K900 would cost $34K to repair due to all the technology in it, a typical repair cost is around $8K. That's about half what that car costs! I can understand why the insurance companies would want to charge more in premiums.

Wayne, I know when my 2016 Optima got rearended, I found out Kia doesn't supply parts like some other brands.

For instance, they needed to replace the floor pan in the trunk, but Kia sells that part only as a complete assembly with both fender liners attached, whether you need it or not. And needless to say it is more expensive than just replacing the pan. Apparently some other parts are like that, too.

But I assume they do something similar with Stinger parts, so I'm still puzzled why it's a little cheaper to insure than an Optima. <shrug>