September 13, 2026

5 Performance Cars That Are Cheap to Insure

Everyone shops the sticker price and the monthly payment. Almost nobody shops the insurance quote before buying, and it is the line item most likely to ambush your budget. A BMW M4 Competition can cost up to $5,000 a year to insure. An Audi RS6 Avant can hit $6,500. That is a second car payment hiding inside your car payment.

So we ranked all 25 cars on the site by estimated annual premium. These five are the cheapest to insure, using national-average estimates:

1. Nissan Z Performance: $1,343-$2,916 per year

The cheapest performance car to insure in our data, and it is not close at the bottom of the range. 400 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, and premiums that start under $1,400 a year. Full Z breakdown.

2. Porsche 911 Carrera: $1,400-$3,100 per year

The surprise of the list. A 911 is cheaper to insure than a Honda Civic Type R. Why? 911 buyers tend to be older, crash less, and garage their cars. Insurers price the driver pool as much as the car, and the 911's owner demographic is insurance gold.

3. Porsche 718 Cayman: $1,500-$3,600 per year

Same story as its big brother: mature owners, low claim rates, reasonable premiums for a mid-engine sports car.

4. Chevrolet Camaro SS: $1,600-$3,800 per year

455 horsepower for well under $2,000 a year at the low end. The Camaro's long production run and huge parts availability keep repair costs, and therefore premiums, in check. Full Camaro SS breakdown.

5. Mazda MX-5 Miata: $1,650-$2,150 per year

The Miata does not have the lowest starting premium, but look at the ceiling: $2,150 tops. That is the narrowest range on this list, which means Miata quotes are predictably cheap no matter who is asking. Nobody is paying $5,000 a year to insure a Miata.

The honest caveat

These are national-average estimates. Your actual quote depends on your age, driving record, location, and coverage levels, and it can land anywhere inside (or outside) these ranges. That is exactly why our calculator lets you type in your real insurance quote: the estimate gets you in the neighborhood, your quote gets you the truth.

If cheap insurance is a priority, start your search with the Z, the 911, or the Miata, then get quotes before you fall in love with anything else.

Calculate with your real quote Bang for buck rankings

More from the blog

• The True 5-Year Cost of Owning a BMW M3
• BMW M3 vs Mercedes-AMG C63 S: Which Costs More to Actually Own?

Insurance figures are national-average estimates. Get a real quote for your situation before buying. Data last updated September 2026.