BMW i3 Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

Quick Facts

• Insuring a BMW i3 costs about the same as insuring the average car.
• Full coverage auto insurance for an i3 averages around $179 monthly, on average, while liability only insurance normally tends to be about $61.
• Commonwealth Casualty offers the most affordable average rates for an i3 with liability only coverage offered for sometimes as low as $33 per month.

i3 Overview

Coming in at $44,450 for 2021 models, the BMW i3 is a great mid-level option for any driver. You'll have your choice of four different trim levels, so you'll be sure to find an option to fit your style.

We analyzed thousands of insurance quotes on Compare.com, and we've determined that average BMW i3 car insurance premiums run around $149 a month. But how does that compare to other cars on the market?

How Much is Car Insurance for a BMW i3?

Based on the table above, compared to other vehicles on the road, BMW i3 insurance rates are about average. On average, i3 drivers will pay around $179 per month for full coverage, which has comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability, and about $61 monthly for liability only insurance (our guide, "State Minimum vs. Full Coverage", can provide more details on the difference between these types of insurance).

Compared to other models, the i3 is more affordable, with prices more than 10% lower than BMW's other vehicle offerings. Compared to offerings from other brands, insurance for an i3 runs close to average, with liability insurance rates 27% cheaper than other cars and full coverage insurance premiums coming in 1% higher.

The BMW i3 also has average prices when comparing it to vehicles of any body type, no matter what make, model, or body style they are.

Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a BMW i3?

Shopping around for an auto insurance policy for your BMW i3? You're likely wondering which carrier offers the most affordable premiums. Although there will never be one company that offers the cheapest rates for everyone, the lowest average rates for liability only insurance are sometimes just $26 a month from MetroMile. With car insurance as low as just $30 per month, Hugo is the next lowest car insurance carrier.

The third, fourth, and fifth companies on the list are Commonwealth Casualty, Amica, and Infinity. However, just because these five carriers offer the lowest average rates doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the cheapest for you.

After all, your results might be different, since auto insurance companies look at a variety of things when calculating rates. By getting quotes from quite a few insurance carriers at once, you can be sure you're finding the cheapest rate.

What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates for a BMW i3?

There are a wide array of factors that car insurance companies take into account to choose how much to charge you for auto insurance -- and every company weighs certain attributes more than others, so there's not just one carrier that's the lowest for each driver.

The following sections show many variables insurance carriers use to calculate rates:

Vehicle Age

BMW has been making the i3 for quite some time, so the car's age may make a difference in how much you'll pay for auto insurance. Normally, older cars will be cheaper to insure because they're worth less than newer models, and as time goes on and i3s begin to depreciate, insurance costs will gradually go lower.

Based on the information in the above table, the BMW i3 is an outlier, as the most expensive models to insure are those that are 6 to 7 years old, while the cheapest i3s are 2 to 3 years old, on average.

Your Age

Your age is another variable that makes a big difference in how much you pay for car insurance. As you can see above, drivers with more experience pay less than younger drivers. BMW i3 drivers 18 to 24 actually pay $37 more than those 25 or older.

Auto insurance prices continue to get lower as you get older, with drivers aged 55-64 making up the cheapest age group for the i3.

Your Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. Surprisingly, when it comes to i3 drivers specifically, men and women pay about the same rates a month for insurance.

Where You Live

You may think it's obvious that factors like how old you are and what vehicle you drive play a role in your car insurance rates, but you may not realize that where you live can matter just as much. Insurance is regulated on a state-by-state basis, so prices differ quite a bit depending on what state you reside in.

For example, the average BMW i3 owner from New York pays around $60 monthly for liability coverage. Meanwhile, on average, the same Californian driver will pay $8 less than that price.

BMW i3 Car Insurance Discounts

Regardless of which car you drive, what state you call home, or how old you are, using as many discounts as possible when it comes to your auto insurance policy is always the smart move.

Even though all car insurance companies offer their own unique discounts, there are a few different ones that you'll find with most carriers. These include discounts like:

• Pay-in-full discounts for agreeing to pay your entire policy premium up front, rather than by monthly payments
• Multi-policy discounts for bundling your home and auto policies with the same company
• Multi-car discounts for having more than one vehicle on your auto policy
• Defensive driving discounts for taking a defensive driving class through an accredited school or institution

These discounts are great, but sometimes, it's actually your insurance profile and driving history that get you the best rates.

Of course, you can't control every single aspect of your auto insurance profile (like some of the variables we mentioned above), but there is quite bit in your control. Below are just a few of the ones you can use in your favor when it comes to cost savings:

Your Driving Record

You've almost certainly noticed ads from insurance companies posting big discounts for safe drivers. It makes sense that your auto insurance premiums will get higher if you get into a collision or get speeding tickets. But exactly how much is it going to cost you for these infractions?

Based on the table above, accidents will usually cost i3 drivers more than tickets, but both will result in a raise in rates. BMW i3 drivers with one ticket will pay an average of $45 a month, while drivers with a single accident on their record pay about $54 each month. The rates only go up the more tickets you get or collisions you have.

How Much You Drive

The total distance you drive each year affects your insurance prices. Drivers who are on the roads less are more likely to go accident-free, so they'll typically end up paying less for car insurance. In the above table, you can see that BMW i3 owners who drive 10,000 miles or more pay $66 for auto insurance, while those who drive fewer than 2,500 miles every year pay about $56 per month.

But if you don't drive much because you work from home or have a second vehicle, you might consider getting a usage-based or pay-per-mile car insurance policy. With these policies, you pay a small monthly amount, and your final monthly bill is calculated based on how many miles you drove.

How Do BMW i3s Compare to Other Vehicles?

If you're considering purchasing a BMW i3, it might be helpful to do your due diligence. Car insurance is just one cost that's associated with buying a new car, but it's certainly one that's worth thinking about carefully.

Review the table below to see how the BMW i3 compares:

Overall, the BMW i3 has an MSRP that's on par with the going rate for a new vehicle. The i3 goes for $44,450, close to the national average vehicle MSRP of $46,296.

Although the purchase price is right in the middle of the spectrum, insurance premiums are lower when compared to other vehicles on the market. Full coverage insurance for a BMW i3 is about $19 a month cheaper than average, while liability only coverage is $11 cheaper monthly.

When it comes to usage, BMW i3 drivers are much lower than the national average in annual miles driven, with 8,293 miles per year compared to 11,617 for all vehicles.

BMW i3 Car Insurance Costs by Model Year

We've gone over many of the things that can have an impact on what you'll pay for car insurance. If you're thinking about buying a new vehicle and the i3 is one you're considering, having a good idea of exactly what you'll pay can be extremely helpful as you weigh your options.

2021 BMW i3 Car Insurance

2021 i3 drivers can expect to pay an average of $70 a month for liability or $150 for full coverage.

DirectGeneral has prices as low as $70 monthly for the 2021 BMW i3.

If you want to know just how much your rate will be, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

2020 BMW i3 Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 2020 BMW i3 can expect to pay $61 to $173 per month for liability only and full coverage insurance, respectively.

With premiums sometimes as cheap as $41 monthly, SafeAuto offered the most affordable policy we found for the 2020 BMW i3.

If you want to find the best rates for auto insurance for a 2020 BMW i3, enter your ZIP code below and compare multiple personalized quotes in just a few minutes.

2019 BMW i3 Car Insurance

You can expect full coverage for a 2019 i3 to run around $242 per month, while liability only coverage will average about $49 a month.

With prices sometimes as little as $28 monthly, Mercury offered the lowest policy we found.

What could your car insurance price look like? Enter your ZIP code below to get a variety of personalized quotes for free.

2018 BMW i3 Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 2018 BMW i3 with liability only coverage is $48 per month, while full coverage runs around $153 a month.

DirectGeneral offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates as cheap as $23 monthly.

If you want to find the best rates for insurance for a 2018 BMW i3, enter your ZIP code below and compare a whole bunch of personalized quotes in just a few minutes.

2017 BMW i3 Car Insurance

It costs about $55 a month for liability or $162 for a full coverage policy for the 2017 i3.

If you're looking for the most affordable 2017 BMW i3 insurance policy, Clearcover offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates as little as $21 per month.

Want something more accurate than national averages? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several free customized quotes.

2016 BMW i3 Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 2016 BMW i3 can expect to pay $50 to $159 monthly for liability only and full coverage auto insurance, respectively.

We found Mercury offered the lowest policy, with rates as little as just $23 per month.

If you're looking for a more exact figure on what you should pay for insurance for a 2016 BMW i3, you can get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

2015 BMW i3 Car Insurance

2015 i3 drivers can expect to pay an average of $72 a month for liability or $202 for full coverage.

Looking for the cheapest policy? Clearcover offered liability only coverage for as cheap as just $29 per month.

Interested in just how much you'll pay? Enter your ZIP code below to get lots of free customized quotes.

2014 BMW i3 Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 2014 BMW i3 with liability only coverage is $65 a month, while full coverage runs around $160 monthly.

If you're looking for the cheapest possible 2014 BMW i3 insurance policy, Mercury offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates as low as just $27 a month.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

BMW i3 Insurance FAQs

Is a BMW i3 expensive to insure?

Liability insurance runs an average of $61 monthly, while full coverage will cost you around $179. The cost of car insurance for the BMW i3 is about the same as insuring the average car.

How can I get the best price on car insurance for my BMW i3?

There's only one way to confirm you're getting the cheapest rates -- regularly shopping around and comparing quotes from a whole range of carriers. Over time, your driver profile changes, which could change your rates, so it's recommended that you get quotes every 6 months or so. Luckily, sites like Compare.com let you compare premiums from a multitude of companies at once, meaning you can find the lowest rates (or guarantee you already have the best deal) in just a few minutes.

Does the color of my BMW i3 affect my insurance prices?

Have you heard the old adage that red cars cost more to insure before? Well, that's actually not the case. There are multiple variables insurance carriers examine when they calculate how much you'll pay, but the color of your BMW i3 is not on that list.

Do I need to have insurance before I buy a BMW i3?

Before you can legally drive your new (or new to you) car off the dealership lot, you'll need to have an insurance policy in place. Some dealerships will offer you one during the purchase process, but your best bet is letting your car insurance company know ahead of time.

What car insurance discounts can I get for my BMW i3?

You will find a ton of discounts out there for auto insurance. Many of them (like "pay-in-full discounts" and "multi-policy discounts") are based less on your vehicle and more on you, but if your i3 has safety features like anti-lock brakes, anti-theft systems, airbags, and other features, it may be eligible for certain discounts. The only way to find out is to get in touch with your insurance carrier and ask about their discounts.