10 Cheapest Trucks to Insure

2017 Nissan Titan ・ Photo by Nissan

The 10 cheapest trucks to insure in the current automotive marketplace are quite easy to pick out. After all, there are only 11 light-duty pickups available right now, and one of them — the 2017 Nissan Titan — is at a clear disadvantage. True, that so-called “disadvantage” is a standard 390-horsepower V8, which probably sounds pretty good for most truck lovers.

Yet the fact of the matter is that, for today’s gallery, the more premium the pickup, the higher the insurance rates. As a result, the vehicles below are all the most basic models from each brand’s lineup, although some do have their fair share of upscale technologies and convenience features.

2017 Nissan Frontier

An all-new model is supposed to be in the works, but the midsize 2017 Nissan Frontier remains a relatively old-school choice for pickup shoppers right now. Of course, that does provide some benefits: With its relatively old-school coverage rates, the Frontier is among the cheapest trucks to insure.

Just remember that we are talking about the entry model, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that trails newer rivals in terms of both output and fuel efficiency. Nor does the truck come with a radio, power amenities or air conditioning. On the other side of the ledger, the entry-level Frontier does deliver a 3,760-pound tow rating from its 152 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Toyota Tundra

Many of the cheapest trucks to insure only provide regular- or extended-cab layouts, with little or no second-row space. This gives the 2018 Toyota Tundra a nice advantage, since its least-expensive body style is a crew-cab setup.

Yet what’s more impressive here is that the Tundra not only features serious capability — thanks to a standard V8 engine and a 6,800-lb towing maximum — but it also has standard safety technologies such as a pre-collision system, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and a rearview camera. And the standard infotainment system comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen. Moreover, the full-size Tundra sets an interesting pattern as being a bit less expensive to insure than Toyota’s midsize pickup.

Photo by Toyota

2017 Toyota Tacoma

Despite the high value offered by the full-size Tundra, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma does, in fact, join its bigger sibling on our list of cheapest trucks to insure. The Tacoma also checks in with a similar standard infotainment system that has all the same content, from a 6.1-inch touchscreen and rearview camera and to voice recognition and Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming.

That said, the standard powertrain for the Tacoma is a bit of a mixed bag. The truck’s 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine makes 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, and it isn’t especially economical, but it is paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission and can pull up to 3,500 lbs.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Ram 1500

It isn’t quite as inexpensive as the Tundra, but the full-size 2018 RAM 1500 stands out as among the cheapest American trucks to insure. Again, part of this has to do with the Ram’s somewhat dated platform, but don’t worry, much about this truck is quite modern, too.

The Ram's standard powertrain, for example, combines an award-winning 3.6-liter V6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Its advantages include 305 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque, 25 mpg on the highway and the ability to tow 7,270 lbs. Also, though the base body style is with a regular cab, it does have a standard rearview camera, air conditioning and a six-speaker audio system.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Chevrolet Silverado

While the rate differences between the cheapest trucks to insure from Chevy are fairly small, it’s actually the larger pickup that’s slightly less expensive to cover — as long as you stick to the work-friendly starter model for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, which puts functionality ahead of fancy content.

The Silverado, however, still retains a key advantage with a surprisingly well-connected cabin: Standard is a MyLink system that combines Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration with an also-standard mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming, and voice recognition. Meanwhile, the standard Silverado engine is a robust 4.3-liter V6 that supplies 285 horsepower, 305 lb-ft of torque, and a three-ton towing capacity.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

The midsize selection from the Bowtie brand’s cheapest trucks to insure is the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. As with the Silverado, customers are limited to a high-function, low-feature base model if they want the absolute lowest rates, yet the Colorado does match its full-size stablemate with a comprehensive infotainment system that packages a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and so on.

Further, the entry-level Colorado showcases more power and higher fuel economy than the midsize competition, backed by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that serves up 200 horsepower, 191 lb-ft of torque and EPA ratings of 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The Colorado’s tow rating is competitive, too, at 3,500 lbs.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Ford F-150

Yes, even with its military-grade aluminum bed and body panels, the 2018 Ford F-150 is among the cheapest trucks to insure. All that lightweight aluminum also helps to boost the truck’s fuel efficiency and capability, which has been improved once again for the new model year.

Along with a major upgrade in design, the entry-level F-150 — the lineup’s leader for low-cost insurance rates — gets a brand-new engine. It’s a 3.3-liter V6 that furnishes 290 horsepower, 265 lb-ft of torque and a 10 percent jump in combined fuel economy over the rating for the 2017 entry engine. The standard tow rating then jumps as well, to 5,100 lbs. Standard equipment of note for the F-150 includes a rearview camera, air conditioning and a removable tailgate.

Photo by Ford

2018 GMC Sierra

Because there are only 11 pickups currently on the market, the list of cheapest trucks to insure even includes a pair of more upscale entries. One is the 2018 GMC Sierra, and as the "Professional Grade" counterpart for the Chevrolet Silverado, it boasts the same big-time standard infotainment technologies. A mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a 7-inch touchscreen/rearview-camera display are all in the mix straight from the factory.

Also, as with the Silverado, standard capability features include a torquey V6 and a high-utility tailgate. The former provides 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, and that latter is both lockable and easily accessed with the standard CornerStep rear bumper.

Photo by GMC

2018 GMC Canyon

If you’re interested in the cheapest trucks to insure from the midsize pickup segment, the 2018 GMC Canyon is another impressive next-gen alternative. Now, as you might guess, the Canyon puts a professional spin on Chevrolet's smaller pickup, the Colorado, and therefore combines a more sophisticated ownership experience with those class-leading standard connectivity technologies — and a standard rearview camera.

The Canyon also is just as ready for action as the Colorado, bolstered by a 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine and integrated bumper steps for easier bed access. The GMC difference is evident in standard content such as LED signature lighting for the Canyon’s halogen projector-beam headlights, a four-way power-adjustable seat for the driver and carpeted floormats.

Photo by GMC

2018 Honda Ridgeline

Basic insurance costs for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline tend to be higher than for the other cheapest trucks to insure, but here’s what you have to keep in mind: Most of those pickups are at their very cheapest when ordered in their smallest regular- or extended-cab configurations. The Ridgeline distinguishes itself with a standard crew cab and roomy rear seating.

Consider: Compared to the Toyota Tacoma, the Ridgeline delivers a whopping 12.1 more inches of second-row legroom and an extra 3.9 inches of second-row headroom. And unlike midsize pickups that start with a four-cylinder engine, the Ridgeline rocks a standard V6 that’s good for 280 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque and a 3,500-lb base towing capacity.

Photo by Honda