Most people understand that buying a new car will be a big investment, since they will be saddled with a new car payment bill each month. But did you know that your auto insurance bill will likely go up considerably as well? You would think that a new car would be cheaper to insure, since it comes with more safety features — but it is also more expensive to replace should it get hit or stolen. Here are a few tips for finding reasonable auto insurance rates on your new ride.

Safety Features

No matter which vehicle you decide upon, look for car features like…

• Side & Head Air Bags
• Passive Restraint Seat Belts
• A Security System
• Anti-Theft Etching
• Anti-Lock Brakes
• Traction Control

Safety Ratings

Also, be sure to check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual crash test scores. Their list of Top Safety Picks For 2012 includes vehicles like: the Fiat 500, Toyota Yaris, Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, Scion, Audi A3, Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, Volvo S60, Buick LaCrosse, Mitsubishi Outlander, Chevy Equinox, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Town & Country, and Ford F-150. Better scores mean better auto insurance rates.

Cheap Repairs

You will also want to look for a car that is inexpensive to repair. The cars you see the most of on the street tend to be the ones that are have the highest number of parts available — Cobalts, Corollas, Cruzes, Focuses, F-150s, Malibus, Tauruses, Impalas, Camrys, Ultimas, etc. Check out Automobile.com’s list of Cheapest Cars To Repair. 

While you’re considering which new vehicle to buy, why not peruse a couple quotes to compare how much you would pay for your top 2-3 choices? You can do it right here — FREE!