Generally SUVs and pickups stand up pretty well in major collisions with passenger cars because they are taller and heavier, which would tend to be advantageous for insurance purposes. But SUVs also have a higher likelihood of rolling over than cars, and most have less sturdy bumpers than are typically found on cars. Hazelbaker said this drives up the cost of insurance, particularly on large SUVs. Liability coverage on an SUV or pickup costs more because SUVs and pickups tend to do more damage when they strike another vehicle. An SUV or pickup that strikes another vehicle from behind can do more damage than a car would.
Medical costs play a role as well.
New claims data show that passengers in SUVs are injured more frequently, largely because of rollovers, according to Dick Luedke, a spokesman for State Farm Insurance Cos. Trucks and SUVs also account for an increasing share of new vehicles sold in the U.S., and they generally are more expensive passenger cars. Switching to a more expensive vehicle tends to boost the rate a consumer pays for insurance, said Robert Hartwig, chief economist for the Insurance Information Institute. Auto insurance underwriters are revising their premiums to reflect the higher costs of insuring SUVs and pickup trucks. Insurance company representatives, however, insist they aren't raising premiums on SUVs across the board.