Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

Quick Facts

• A Pontiac Sunfire is more affordable to insure compared to the average car.
• Liability only insurance rates for a Sunfire average about $72 monthly, while full coverage generally comes in at around $129 per month.
• The most affordable car insurance company for a Sunfire is ACG, who offers Sunfire owners prices as cheap as $41 monthly.

Sunfire Overview

The Pontiac Sunfire is a great budget-friendly car for drivers of all types, with base prices starting at just $10,895 for 2005 models.

Based on reviewing thousands of auto insurance quotes from Compare.com, we've found that Pontiac Sunfire car insurance premiums average out to about $83 per month. How do insurance rates for the Sunfire compare to prices of other similar cars?

How Much is Car Insurance for a Pontiac Sunfire?

If you look at the table above, you'll find that when you compare the Pontiac Sunfire to other vehicles, insurance premiums are lower than average. On average, Sunfire drivers will pay around $72 a month for liability insurance, and about $129 monthly for full coverage, which has comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability (discover more about the difference with our guide "State Minimum vs. Full Coverage").

When compared to other Pontiac models, the Sunfire is less expensive, with prices more than 10% lower than the rest of the automaker's vehicle lineup. Similarly, compared to other vehicles of a similar body style, Sunfire coverage is more affordable than average, with both liability only and full coverage insurance averaging less expensive premiums than other cars.

Impressively, they're overall more affordable to insure than the average vehicle, no matter what make, body style, or model they are.

Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Pontiac Sunfire?

If you're searching for a new car insurance policy for your Pontiac Sunfire, you may be wondering which carrier offers the most affordable premiums. Although there will never be one company that has the cheapest rates for everyone, the lowest average rates for liability only insurance are sometimes just $37 a month from Premier. With car insurance as little as just $38 per month, Hugo is the next lowest auto insurance carrier.

Finishing off the rest of the top 5 are Oasis, Commonwealth Casualty, and ACG. That being said, just because these five carriers offer the lowest average rates doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the cheapest companies for you and your unique insurance profile.

Insurance carriers take many things into consideration when calculating monthly premiums. By getting quotes from a variety of car insurance companies at once, you can be confident you're finding the most affordable rate.

What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates for a Pontiac Sunfire?

There are a whole range of attributes that auto insurance carriers take a look at to choose how much they charge for insurance -- and each company uses a different formula, so there's not a singular carrier that's the cheapest for everyone.

The following sections show lots of factors auto insurance companies use to calculate rates:

Vehicle Age

Pontiac has been making the Sunfire for quite some time -- and that means the car's age may make a big difference in how much you'll pay for car insurance. Generally, it costs more to insure newer cars because they're worth more, but as they get older, insurance costs will gradually get lower.

A new Pontiac Sunfire model hasn't been added to the market for over 5 years, so there isn't data to analyze this trend. However, as you can see in the table above, the cheapest Pontiac Sunfires to insure are those that are 11 to 14 years old, while the most expensive models are Sunfires that are 15 years old or more, on average.

Your Age

Age is another factor that makes a difference in how much you pay for insurance. As you can see in the table above, drivers under 18 pay more expensive rates compared to drivers who have more experience on the road. In this case, drivers under 18 pay more than twice as much as those 25 or older.

Car insurance prices continue to go down as you get older, with drivers aged 55-64 making up the cheapest age group for the Sunfire.

Your Gender

Women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of an insurance claim. The Pontiac Sunfire sticks to the norm, where men pay around $7 more than women a month for insurance.

Where You Live

You may already know that variables such as what vehicle you drive and how old you are play a role in your car insurance prices, but did you know that where you live is just as important? Since auto insurance is regulated at the state level, premiums change quite a bit depending on what state you reside in.

For example, the average Pontiac Sunfire driver in New York pays about $157 monthly for liability coverage, while the same owner from California will pay less than half of that price, on average. The table above shows average rates for the 10 largest states by population, just to give you a good idea of how much prices can change depending on where you live.

Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance Discounts

No matter your home state, your car, or your age, using as many discounts as possible when it comes to your car insurance policy is always a good idea.

Not every insurance company will offer the same discounts, but there are a few that are relatively common. These include things like:

• Defensive driving discounts for taking a defensive driving class through an accredited school or institution
• Multi-car discounts for insuring more than one of your vehicles with the same carrier
• Vehicle safety discounts for having a vehicle with higher than average safety ratings or one with certain safety features (like air bags or anti-lock brakes)
• Multi-policy discounts for bundling your home and auto policies with the same insurance company

These are just a few of the discounts out there. Often, the best way to get great rates is to work on your overall insurance profile.

Even though you can't control every variable auto insurance carriers reference to calculate premiums (like some of the ones mentioned above), there are quite a few that you can influence. Below are just a few of the ones you can use in your favor when it comes to saving money:

Your Driving Record

It's no secret that insurance companies offer the lowest rates to drivers with a history of responsible driving. And you probably wouldn't be surprised that your car insurance prices will increase if you get into an accident or get tickets for speeding. But you still might be left wondering exactly how much collisions and moving violations will cost you.

As you can see from the table above, accidents will usually cost Sunfire drivers more than tickets, but both will result in above average rates. Pontiac Sunfire drivers with a single ticket will pay about $85 per month, while drivers with one accident on their record pay an average of $86 each month (up $14 from the $72/mo. overall average). Drivers with multiple kinds of either violation will end up paying even more.

How Much You Drive

The total amount of miles you drive annually impacts your auto insurance premiums. Drivers who are on the roads less often have fewer opportunities to get into an accident, so they'll usually get cheaper rates. In the above table, you can see that Pontiac Sunfire owners who drive fewer than 2,500 miles a year pay an average of $71 a month for insurance, while those who put 10,000 miles or more on their cars pay $73.

If you don't drive much because have a second vehicle or you work from home, it may be worth reviewing usage-based or pay-per-mile car insurance. With these policies, you pay a small base rate each month, with your final monthly bill being calculated based on how many miles you drove.

How Do Pontiac Sunfires Compare to Other Vehicles?

If you're thinking about buying a new vehicle and a Pontiac Sunfire is on your shortlist, it can pay off to do your research. Auto insurance is just one cost that comes with a new car purchase, but it's guaranteed to be one that's worth thinking about carefully.

Take a look at the table below to see how the Pontiac Sunfire stacks up:

With an MSRP that's less than half of the going rate for a new vehicle, the Pontiac Sunfire is a fantastic value when it comes to price. The Sunfire starts at $10,895, which is quite a bit lower than the national average vehicle MSRP of $30,630. And since it's been awhile since a new Sunfire model has been on the market, used prices will be even lower.

In the same fashion, insurance premiums run below average when compared to the rest of the vehicle market. Liability insurance for a Pontiac Sunfire is around $10 per month less than average, while full coverage is more than $20 cheaper monthly.

When it comes to usage, Pontiac Sunfire drivers are far from the national average in annual miles driven, with 11,617 miles for all vehicles per year compared to the Sunfire's 10,565 every year.

Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance Costs by Model Year

Thus far, you've seen how different things have an impact on what you'll pay for car insurance. But if you're considering buying a new Sunfire, having a good idea of exactly what you'll pay can be helpful as you consider your choices.

2005 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

You can expect full coverage for a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire to run about $149 per month, while liability only coverage will average around $71 a month.

With rates as cheap as just $23 per month, Liberty Mutual offered the most affordable policy we found for the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Sunfire, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.

2004 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

It costs about $64 monthly for liability or $118 for a full coverage policy for the 2004 Sunfire.

Liberty Mutual offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates sometimes as low as $19 a month.

Want to find the best rates? Enter your ZIP code below to get several customized quotes for free.

2003 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire can expect to pay $89 to $129 per month for liability only and full coverage insurance, respectively.

Good2Go has premiums sometimes as little as $222/mo a month for the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Sunfire, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

2002 Sunfire drivers can expect to pay an average of $66 monthly for liability or $134 for full coverage.

With rates sometimes as cheap as $13 a month, ACG offered the lowest policy we found.

Interested in just how much you'll pay? Just enter your ZIP code below to get a variety of personalized quotes for free.

2001 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire with liability only coverage is $72 per month, while full coverage runs around $119 monthly.

Looking for the most affordable policy? Jupiter offered liability only coverage for as low as $20 a month.

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

2000 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

It costs about $77 monthly for liability or $112 for a full coverage policy for the 2000 Sunfire.

We found Safeco offered the cheapest policy, with rates as little as $20 per month.

These average prices are a great starting point if you're in the market for a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, but there are a range of variables that go into calculating your policy rates. If you want to figure out exactly what you'll be asked to pay, get customized quotes by entering your ZIP below.

1999 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire with liability only coverage is $72 a month, while full coverage runs around $110 per month.

If you're looking for the most affordable 1999 Pontiac Sunfire insurance policy, MetLife offered the lowest policy we found, with rates as low as just $21 monthly.

Want to know exactly what your car insurance price will be? Just enter your ZIP code below to get multiple customized quotes for free.

1998 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

You can expect full coverage for a 1998 Sunfire to run about $130 a month, while liability only coverage will average around $72 monthly.

With rates as low as $21 per month, Mercury offered the cheapest policy we found for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire.

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

1997 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

1997 Pontiac Sunfire drivers can expect to pay an average of $62 a month for liability or $115 for full coverage.

Kemper offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates as cheap as $18 monthly.

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

1996 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

On average, drivers who own a 1996 Sunfire can expect to pay $73 to $152 per month for liability only and full coverage auto insurance, respectively.

With premiums sometimes as low as $18 monthly, Elephant offered the lowest policy we found.

If you want to know just how much your price will be, just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes in minutes.

1995 Pontiac Sunfire Car Insurance

The average cost to insure a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire with liability only coverage is $91 per month, while full coverage runs about $129 a month.

Looking for the cheapest policy? Liberty Mutual offered liability only coverage for as little as $26 monthly.

What will your insurance premium be? Get lots of personalized quotes for free by just entering your ZIP code below.

Pontiac Sunfire Insurance FAQs

Is a Pontiac Sunfire expensive to insure?

It costs less to insure a Pontiac Sunfire when compared to the average car. Liability insurance runs an average of $72 per month, while full coverage will cost you around $129.

How can I get the best price on car insurance for my Pontiac Sunfire?

The only way to be sure you're getting the lowest price on car insurance is to regularly shop around and compare quotes from a range of carriers. A good rule of thumb is to get quotes every 6 months or so. Luckily, sites like Compare.com let you compare prices from several companies at once, meaning you can find the most affordable rates (or guarantee you already have the best deal) in just a few minutes.

Does the color of my Pontiac Sunfire affect my insurance rates?

Have you heard the old adage that red cars cost more to insure before? Well, that's just a myth. While there are many factors auto insurance carriers look at when they calculate your prices, your car's color is not one of them.

Do I need to have insurance before I buy a Pontiac Sunfire?

You'll need to have valid insurance for your vehicle before you can legally drive your it off the dealership lot. Some dealerships will offer you an auto insurance policy as part of the buying process, but the best thing to do when buying a a new car is to talk with your car insurance company before you buy.

What car insurance discounts can I get for my Pontiac Sunfire?

You will find all sorts of discounts out there for auto insurance. Many of them (like "pay-in-full discounts" and "safe driver discounts") are more based on you than the Sunfire you drive, but if your Sunfire has safety features like anti-theft systems, anti-lock brakes, airbags, and other features, it may qualify for certain discounts. The best way to find out is to get in touch with your insurance carrier and ask about which discounts they offer, since they fluctuate quite a bit from company to company.