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Written by:
Penny Gusner
Consumer Analyst/Insurance Expert
Penny has been working in the car insurance business for more than 10 years and has become an expert on procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has seen it all, and working with CarInsurance.com from its inception, she researches the routine and the bizarre with equal enthusiasm. She has three very active children and a husband with a zeal for quirky cars.

Question: One of my favorite car shows (BBC’s Top Gear) had a segment on how the Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ are basically the identical car but sold under different names. I’m interested in maybe purchasing one or the other. My question is: Do they cost the same to insure because they are twin vehicles, or is one cheaper to insure than the other?  Finding this out may help me decide which to buy.

Answer: Top Gear is one of my family’s favorite car shows as well. You’ve asked a great question, since cars that are identical except for their manufacturer’s badging aren’t uncommon. The best way to find out which is more expensive to insure is to compare quotes for both vehicles using identical information, except for the car model.

I ran quotes for the 2013 Scion FR-S (the Toyota GT 86 is sold under the Scion brand in the U.S.) and the 2013 Subaru BRZ 2.0 Limited for a 35-year-old male with a clean driving record living in Dallas, Texas.

I chose the industry recommended liability coverage limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $50,000 property damage liability coverage. I added in collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible each. The annual rates came back as: 

  • Scion FR-S: $1,110 (Esurance), $1,370.04 (21st Century), and $1,510 (Travelers)
  • Subaru BRZ: $1,110 (Esurance), $1,350.04 (21st Century), and $1,560 (Travelers)

As you can see, Esurance calculates identical rates for both, while 21st Century charges $20 more for the Scion and Travelers is the opposite and charges $50 more for the Subaru.

Keeping everything else the same, I moved our driver to Los Angeles to show you how rating factors such as ZIP code make a difference to how much you will pay for car insurance. There the annual rates came back as:

  • Scion FR-S: $1,049.90 (Esurance), $1,778 (21st Century), and $1,562.80 (Travelers)
  • Subaru BRZ: $1,049.90 (Esurance), $1,899 (21st Century), and $1,564.80 (Travelers)

Again, costs are close. Esurance gives the same rate for both cars, while 21st Century now charges $121 more for the Subaru and Travelers charges only $2 more for the Subaru.

Why the differences?  It really is up to the rating systems of each auto insurance carrier. They have different rates filed with the different states due to state laws and other issues. It could be that Scions have higher rates of theft or higher repair costs in California than they do in Texas for 21st Century, and that makes it more costly to insure in Los Angeles than in Dallas.

Who’s buying these hot new cars will make a difference in their insurance rates as well. It could be that, over time, a more mature buyer goes for the Subaru, which means BRZ owners will file fewer claims, resulting in lower rates down the road. Or vice versa.

This is why it’s important to comparison shop for car insurance – especially when buying a new one. You don’t want to buy a car only to find that you can afford the monthly payments but not the insurance premiums.

The car itself is only one factor in many used to calculate your rates. Your own driving record, credit history (if your state allows that as a rating factor), and ZIP code can make a big difference as well.  

Remember that if you finance a vehicle your lienholder will require you to carry full coverage (collision and comprehensive), in addition to state minimum liability requirements, but you would want this coverage on a new vehicle, even if you bought it with cash, to have it fully protected.

If you lease a car, the leasing company can require higher liability limits be carried, typically 100/300/50.  And both a leasing and finance company can dictate what deductible amount you choose.

Laura Longero

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Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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author image
Penny Gusner
Consumer Analyst/Insurance Expert

Penny has been working in the car insurance business for more than 10 years and has become an expert on procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has seen it all, and working with CarInsurance.com from its inception, she researches the routine and the bizarre with equal enthusiasm. She has three very active children and a husband with a zeal for quirky cars.