Buying a flashy sports car will cost you an arm and a leg, insuring your new purchase is no different. A word to the wise, you can expect to pay a small fortune in insurance premiums. Before we go any further let’s first take a look at how insurance companies define sport cars!

Defining whether a car is a sports car or not is not as complicated as you might think. Below are a few things insurance companies take into consideration when defining a car as a sports car.

  • What is the horsepower of the car, if it is turbo charged or super charged then it will be classified as a sports car.

  • If the car has only two doors it will likely be classified as a sports car.

  • If the car has manual transmission it may be classified as a sports car.

  • If you have an antique vehicle that meets one or more of the above mentioned criteria it will be classified as a sports car!

With sports car insurance you can expect to pay higher monthly premium, your monthly premium will be higher for three reasons:

  1. Sports cars draw unwanted attention, it is a well know fact that sports cars are top targets amongst thieves as well as vandals.

  2. Sports cars are high power vehicles. Statistics show that drivers of sport cars are more likely to be involved in an accident.

  3. The cost of replacing sport car parts is substantially higher than that of a regular car!

You may attempt to reduce your risk and lower your insurance premiums by:

  • Resisting the urge to add flashy modifications to your sports car.

  • Fitting your sports car with the appropriate anti theft device.

  • Keeping your sports car in a locked garage.

Unfortunately there is no sure fire way to reduce you sports car insurance premium either way your flashy new toy is going to end up costing you a bundle!

Insurance Definition of Sports Car
They usually go by horsepower, stock and aftermarket modifications (i.e. turbo or superchargers), etc. They will usually know if you have a sports car or not. You can also have a car classified as rare or collectable that might be a sports car. If a car has two doors its almost always classified as a sports car no matter what. Also if the car is equipped with a manual transmission its also most likely a sports car. It also depends how on the replacement cost of the auto and location.
Insuring sports cars has always been a niche market, so it more often than not pays to do your homework and contact the specialist companies rather than the general insurers. If you have a classic sports car in mind, there are a specialist companies for these vehicles too.
More Information:

  • I drive a ’94 T-Bird. Some companies say it’s a sports car (with the V6? Yeah right), some luxury (almost passes as that), and some just as a plain old car.

  • I have a Firebird, 2 doors, manual and it’s still not considered a sports car.

  • I have a 2 door 2004 Dodge Stratus SXT that is only a 4-cylinder but rated a 19 which is a sports car rating with high premiums.