the most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure

A look at the most and least expensive 2011 vehicles to insure.

A new car is one of the biggest purchases you make, even before you consider how much the insurance is going to cost. Generally speaking, the more expensive the car, the more likely it is to come with a hefty insurance bill. Insurance rates for a vehicle, irrespective of the driver, are determined primarily by how much agencies have paid out for repairs on that model in the past.

"Rates could be high because there are lots of claims on the car or because the few claims that do exist are high since the parts are so expensive," Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com, told MainStreet. This is why luxury cars like Mercedes and BMW models cost more to insure. Driver behavior also contributes to the cost of insuring, say, a convertible. "People are buying these cars to go fast and that's why they're crashing them," Danise explains.

Conversely, family cars like station wagons or sedans with low horsepower generate lower insurance rates since they're used more often to commute than to drag race. Which 2011 models specifically present the best (and worst) insurance deals?

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services, which monitors insurance rates, to calculate the average premiums for a single 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work each day. This theoretical driver has a clean driving record and good credit. All policies considered had limits of $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident. They also had a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.

Quadrant Information Services used car insurance rates from six large carriers (State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide) in 10 ZIP codes per state.

Not all models are available for calculating average rates, especially some exotic cars, which is why you won't see Lamborghinis on the list, though, according to Insure.com, you can assume those carry hefty insurance bills. Note also that a person's rate may vary depending on their actual driving record.

Most Expensive

1. Mercedes SL65 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,544

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 12

2. BMW 750i

Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8

3. BMW 750Li

Average National Annual Premium: $3,281

Style: Four-door sedan hybrid

Cylinders: 8

4. Mercedes SL63 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,263

Style: Two-door convertible

Cylinders: 8

5. Mercedes S65 AMG

Average National Annual Premium: $3,221

Style: Four-door sedan turbo

Cylinders: 12

Least Expensive

1. Chrysler Town and Country

Average National Annual Premium: $1,092

Style: Four-door wagon

Cylinders: 6

2. Sienna 4 Cylinder

Average National Annual Premium: $1,101

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4

3. Toyota Sienna LE

Average National Annual Premium: $1,108

Style: Five-door wagon

Cylinders: 4

4. Honda Odyssey LX

Average National Annual Premium: $1,115

Style: Five-door hybrid, two-wheel drive, single overhead Camshaft engine

Cylinders: 6

5. Nissan Murano SL

Average National Annual Premium: $1,128

Style: Two-wheel drive, four-door utility

Cylinders: 6