Minivans and sport utility vehicles dominated the list.
DETROIT, MI - Four of Fiat Chrysler's vehicles and two of Ford Motor Co.'s cracked a list of the top 10 least expensive cars to insure in 2015, according to a report by Insure.com.
Minivans and sport utility vehicles dominate the rankings. A large factor in determining the average annual premiums came down to the cost of repairing the vehicles.
"Insurance rates are all about claims - how many and how big," Penny Gusner, consumer analyst at Insure.com, says in the report. "Cars that are cheapest to insure typically are easy to repair or have fewer claims or both."
The report by Insure.com, an independent website for consumers, looked at insurance rates for more than 1,500 model vehicles for six major insurers in every state.
Related: Nissan GT-R tops 10 most expensive cars to insure in 2015
The company enlisted Quadrant Information Services to calculate average rates for 2015 model vehicles from six of the largest carriers - including Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm - in 10 zip codes for each state.
It used these metrics:
"... full coverage for a single 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage."
The Jeep brand came out on top, placing three vehicles in the top 10, with the Wrangler Sport named the least expensive car in the U.S. to insure this year.
Full vehicles rankings are below (and above).
Scott Oldham, editor-in-chief of car-buying site Edmunds.com, said Jeeps are prevalent on the list because they are relatively inexpensive to repair or replace after accidents or theft.
"You can get a lot of image, versatility, performance and frankly a heck of a lot of fun for a very low price (with certain Jeeps)," Oldham said.
Especially of note for Michihganders: Insure.com said the rankings stay about the same, but car insurance varies widely state-by-state:
"The Chevrolet Traverse LT 2WD sport-utility, for example, would cost the same driver as much as $2,290 to insure in Michigan and as little as $766 in Maine," the report says. "Its national average was $1,282."
Michigan has higher auto insurance rates, in large part, because of its poor road conditions and a unique, no-fault insurance system that has no cap on what insurance companies are required to pay for medical damages in the event of an accident. That system is fiercely guarded by advocacy groups.
In 2013, Michigan lawmakers began an attempt to change Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system but failed to pass any legislation. One bill, backed by Gov. Rick Snyder, sought to cap Michigan's unlimited personal injury protection coverage at $1 million. The legislation would have also created an authority to combat insurance fraud.
Crime also plays a role in higher rates of insurance claims, and subsequent rates, and cities such as Detroit add significantly to the state's average insurance premium. Detroit recorded nearly 29 auto thefts per day in Detroit in 2014, a total of 10,564, nearly 20 percent less than the year prior.
The least expensive vehicles to insure in 2015 include:
Rank/Vehicle/Average Annual Premium (national)
1. Jeep Wrangler Sport 2-door - $1,134
2. Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD - $1,136
3. Honda CR-V LX 4WD - $1,160
4. Dodge Grand Caravan SE Plus 2WD - $1,162
5. Honda Odyssey LX - $1,163
6. Jeep Compass Sport 2WD - $1,164
7. Subaru Outback 2.5i AWD PZEV - $1,176
8. Ford Edge SE 2WD - $1,176
9. Smart FORTWO Pure 2-door - $1,186
10. Ford Escape S 2WD - $1,190
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter