How Much Do Self-Driving Cars Cost to Insure?

Last Updated on October 18, 2026

By James Shaffer Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 18, 2026 How we fact-check

“Self-driving car” can mean anything from basic lane-keep assist to vehicles that can handle certain driving tasks with minimal input. Either way, the big question for most shoppers is practical: how much do these high-tech cars cost to insure?

In most cases, cars with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are insured like any other vehicle—but they can cost more to insure because repairs are often pricier (think cameras, radar, sensors, and calibration). The Highway Loss Data Institute, which studies insurance claims for IIHS, found that on 2017 to 2022 models the crash-avoidance features that cut collision claims by about 10% also raised the cost of each collision claim by about 10%. Some safety tech reduces crashes, and a few features earn small discounts, but no insurer promises that automation lowers your premium.

Most “self-driving” cars sold to consumers today are driver-assistance vehicles, so they’re insured like normal cars—but repair costs can push premiums higher.
The biggest driver of higher rates is often claim severity: cameras, radar, sensors, and calibration can make even minor repairs much more expensive.
Some safety features earn small discounts, but no insurer promises that automation lowers your premium, and Tesla’s own program can raise the monthly price as well as lower it.
The best way to estimate cost is to quote multiple insurers before you buy and compare identical limits, deductibles, and coverage add-ons.

Table Of Contents

First: most “self-driving” cars you can buy today aren’t fully autonomous
What self-driving features are common right now?
So how much do “self-driving” cars cost to insure?
How to shop for insurance on a self-driving / ADAS-equipped car
Will fully driverless cars change car insurance in the future?
FAQs on Insuring Self-Driving Cars
Bottom line
Sources

First: most “self-driving” cars you can buy today aren’t fully autonomous

Most consumer vehicles on the road today fall into the “driver assistance” category. That means the car can help with steering, braking, or speed in certain conditions, but you’re still responsible for driving and staying alert. NHTSA puts it flatly: no vehicle for sale in the United States today is fully automated, and every one requires the driver’s full attention at all times.

Tesla is the best-known example because of Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” branding, plus the company’s own insurance, sold in 15 states. Outside California, Tesla sets your premium each month from your mileage and a Safety Score built from your driving data, and in 14 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia) miles driven with FSD (Supervised) engaged count toward that score. Tesla’s own pages say a higher score means a lower premium, and also that the premium can rise with a lower score, more miles or at renewal. It is a usage-based program, not a discount for owning the software (see our Tesla insurance review if you’re comparing policies). Many mainstream brands now offer similar driver-assist packages across a wide range of price points.

What self-driving features are common right now?

Many modern cars include ADAS features that can make driving easier and help prevent certain types of crashes. These features can also influence insurance pricing because they change both crash frequency and repair costs.

The results differ by feature. IIHS found that forward collision warning with automatic braking cuts rear-end crashes in half, and that blind spot detection reduces lane-change crashes by 14%. Lane departure warning, on the other hand, has not brought down insurance claim rates in HLDI’s data. For the systems that steer and keep speed for you, IIHS says it does not know whether they improve safety: in police-reported crash data, cars with partial automation showed no crash-reduction advantage over the same automakers’ cars that had only the crash avoidance features.

Lane departure warning + lane keeping assist (alerts and gentle steering to help keep you in your lane)
Lane centering (helps keep the vehicle centered in the lane on supported roads)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to keep a following distance and may work in stop-and-go traffic)
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) (can brake if a forward collision is detected)
Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts

If you’re shopping for a car and hoping for an insurance discount, focus on widely adopted safety tech (like AEB and lane-keeping) rather than marketing terms. Here’s a deeper breakdown of safety features that may qualify for auto insurance discounts.

So how much do “self-driving” cars cost to insure?

There isn’t one price because insurers don’t rate “self-driving” as a single category. They price the risk based on the vehicle and driver—plus repair severity. For a sense of scale, MoneyGeek’s August 2026 full-coverage averages for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record, good credit, 100/300/100 liability limits and $500 deductibles came to $3,268 a year for a Tesla Model 3, $3,343 for a Model Y, $4,347 for a Model S and $4,469 for a Model X, against $1,962 for a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and $2,064 for a Nissan Leaf. Those are sample-rate averages, not quotes, and your own price can land far from them. Here are the biggest forces that typically push premiums up or down.

1) Higher repair costs (the #1 reason premiums can be higher)

ADAS hardware is expensive, and even minor collisions can require sensor and camera calibration. IIHS says the sensors are expensive and often require calibration after replacement, so an equipped car costs more to repair after the same front-to-rear crash. In HLDI’s comparison of 2017 to 2022 models, collision claims on equipped cars cost about 10% more each and property damage liability claims about 15% more. Because those cars also had fewer claims (about 10% fewer collision claims and almost 40% fewer property damage liability claims), total losses still came out about 5% lower for collision and almost 30% lower for property damage liability. Insurers price for the higher claim severity, which can raise premiums on vehicles with lots of embedded tech or expensive replacement parts, and IIHS notes that average repair prices have risen more than 40% since 2020 on Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

This is one reason your vehicle choice matters so much for pricing. If you want a quick refresher on the rating factors insurers use, here’s how your type of car affects your insurance rates.

2) EVs often cost more to insure (and many “self-driving” cars are EVs)

Many vehicles marketed as “self-driving” (or loaded with automation features) are electric or tech-heavy trims. EV insurance tends to run higher than comparable gas cars largely due to repair complexity and parts costs. Insurify’s figures, updated October 17, 2026 and covering every coverage level, put the median EV premium at $3,159 a year against $2,218 for gas vehicles, about 42% more. That doesn’t mean every EV is expensive to insure (MoneyGeek’s averages above show mainstream EVs near $2,000 a year for full coverage), but it’s common enough that it should be part of your budgeting.

3) Discounts are possible—but not guaranteed

Some insurers offer discounts for certain safety features, while others price the vehicle based more heavily on repair costs and claims patterns. The published discounts are small: GEICO’s discounts page, for example, lists a 5% discount for anti-lock brakes and nothing for driver-assistance systems. In other words: a car can be safer and still be more expensive to insure if it costs more to fix after a crash.

4) Your driving profile still matters a lot

Even with advanced tech, your premium still hinges on traditional rating factors: age, location, driving history, annual mileage, and prior claims. A “self-driving” feature doesn’t cancel out riskier behavior behind the wheel—especially if you have major violations on your record. (For example, here’s how much reckless driving can affect auto insurance.)

How to shop for insurance on a self-driving / ADAS-equipped car

If you’re buying a vehicle with advanced automation features, the best approach is to quote insurance before you purchase. A small model change (or a higher-tech trim) can shift premiums more than people expect.

Quote multiple companies at the same limits and deductibles. Rates can vary widely by insurer (start here if you’re price shopping: cheapest auto insurance companies).
Don’t underinsure a high-tech car. If the vehicle is newer or financed/leased, minimum limits may leave you exposed. Learn the tradeoffs of minimum coverage before choosing the cheapest possible policy.
Consider higher deductibles if you can afford them. This can help offset higher premiums on tech-heavy vehicles.
Ask how the insurer handles calibration and OEM parts after a claim. These details can matter a lot with ADAS repairs.
Use telematics if you’re a careful driver. Usage-based programs can lower premiums for drivers who brake gently, stay off the phone and avoid late nights, but they can also work against you. Progressive says a Snapshot rate could increase with high-risk driving (about two in ten participants see an increase), and Tesla’s Safety Score pricing moves the premium up as well as down.

Will fully driverless cars change car insurance in the future?

As automation improves, insurance may evolve—especially around liability (driver vs. automaker/software) and how claims are handled. But for now, most consumer “self-driving” systems still require an attentive driver, so personal auto insurance remains the primary coverage.

If you’re curious about the long-term impact, here’s a bigger-picture look at whether driverless cars will end the car insurance industry.

FAQs on Insuring Self-Driving Cars

Are self-driving cars more expensive to insure?

Often, yes—but not because the car is “fully autonomous.” Many vehicles marketed as self-driving are packed with ADAS hardware that can be expensive to replace and calibrate after even minor damage. Higher repair costs can translate into higher premiums.

Do insurers give discounts for self-driving features?

Sometimes, for specific safety equipment, and the published ones are small. GEICO’s discounts page, for example, lists a 5% discount for anti-lock brakes and nothing for driver-assistance systems. Ask each insurer which features earn a discount and how much, and expect any savings to be offset if the vehicle is expensive to repair. No insurer promises that automation lowers your premium.

What “self-driving” features matter most for insurance?

Insurers tend to care about two things: (1) whether the feature reduces common crashes, and (2) how expensive it makes repairs. Widely adopted features like AEB and lane-keeping may help with crash frequency, while complex sensor suites can increase repair severity.

Why can repairs be so expensive on ADAS-equipped cars?

Modern driver-assist systems rely on cameras, radar, and sensors that may need replacement and calibration after a collision—or even after certain glass, bumper, or mirror repairs. That added complexity and labor can increase claim costs.

Does having “Full Self-Driving” mean I don’t need as much insurance?

No. Even with advanced driver-assist features, you’re typically still responsible for the vehicle, and accidents can still happen. In most cases, you should insure the car based on its value, how expensive it is to repair, and your liability exposure—not marketing terms.

What coverage is most important for a high-tech vehicle?

For newer or tech-heavy vehicles, collision and comprehensive are often important because repairs can be costly. Consider higher liability limits as well, and review deductibles so you can afford them if you need to file a claim.

How can I lower insurance costs on a self-driving/ADAS vehicle?

Shop multiple insurers at the same limits and deductibles, ask about safety-feature and telematics discounts, consider a higher deductible if you can afford it, and avoid coverage gaps (especially if the car is financed or leased).

Bottom line

Cars with “self-driving” features can be more expensive to insure mainly because they’re often pricier to repair—especially after even minor damage that requires sensor/camera replacement and calibration. Some safety features do reduce certain crash types, and a few earn small discounts, but no insurer promises that automation lowers your premium.

Before you buy, get quotes from several insurers, compare coverage details, and pick the right policy for how you drive and what the car will cost to repair. If you want help understanding your choices, this overview of auto insurance types is a good place to start.

My advice is to get insurance quotes on the exact trim before you sign for the car, because the sensor package on a higher trim can cost you more every month than the options did. If a quote is far above the sample averages above, ask the insurer what the car’s repair claims look like and whether a higher deductible brings it back in line.

Sources

Checked October 18, 2026

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