Is It Cheaper to Insure a Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4?
Last Updated on December 18, 2025
You’re shopping for a practical compact SUV, and you’ve narrowed it down to two of America’s most popular choices: the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. Along with price, reliability, and features, it’s smart to ask one very real budget question: which one is cheaper to insure?
The short answer: they’re usually close, but in many quote comparisons the CR-V comes in slightly cheaper than the RAV4 for similar drivers and coverages. Still, your ZIP code, driving history, trim (gas vs hybrid), and coverage choices can outweigh the “model difference.”
If you’re still deciding between a new vehicle and a used one—or wondering whether an SUV costs more to insure than a sedan—those factors matter too, and they can change your total cost more than the CR-V vs RAV4 matchup.
Key Takeaways
- The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are usually in the same insurance “tier,” but the CR-V often comes in slightly cheaper in many quote comparisons.
- When there is a price difference, it’s typically driven by collision/repair costs—not liability coverage.
- Your ZIP code, driving record, and coverage choices can outweigh the CR-V vs RAV4 difference and even flip which one is cheaper.
- The best way to decide is to quote both vehicles with identical limits/deductibles and then compare multiple insurers.
CR-V vs RAV4: Which is typically cheaper to insure?
Insurance costs vary, but many insurers rate these two SUVs in the same general tier. When there is a difference, it’s often driven by collision claim costs (how frequently claims happen and how expensive repairs are), not liability.
If you want model-specific context, start here: Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Example: national model-based averages (why your quote may differ)
To give you a general sense of direction (not a promise of what you’ll pay), some national datasets that compare average premiums by make/model show the CR-V slightly lower than the RAV4 for full coverage in recent model years. Your personal quote can be higher or lower depending on your state, insurer, garaging address, and driver profile.
| Vehicle (recent model year) | Typical result in model-based comparisons | Where differences usually show up |
|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Often slightly cheaper | Collision / repair costs |
| Toyota RAV4 | Often slightly higher | Collision / repair costs |
Why rates can differ between the CR-V and RAV4
Both models are known for strong safety performance, but insurers don’t price only on crash test scores. They look at real-world claim patterns: frequency, severity, and repair costs. Both vehicles (depending on trim and model year) may appear in top safety lists from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but premiums can still differ for reasons like these:
- Repair costs and parts availability: Even minor damage can be expensive with modern sensors, cameras, and calibration requirements.
- Collision claim patterns: If one model tends to generate slightly higher average collision payouts (even by a little), that can raise its collision premium.
- Theft risk: Theft rates vary by model year and trim. Higher theft claim activity can raise comprehensive costs.
- Driver mix: Insurers price based on historical claims. If a model is disproportionately driven in high-traffic areas or by higher-mileage drivers, averages can shift.
What matters more than the vehicle model
For many drivers, these factors move the price more than “CR-V vs RAV4”:
- Your driving history: Insurers price heavily based on violations/claims and your clean driving record (or lack of one).
- Your ZIP code and garaging address: Theft, weather, litigation, and crash frequency vary dramatically by area.
- Coverage limits and deductibles: Higher limits and lower deductibles cost more (but can protect you better).
- Hybrid vs gas trims: Hybrids can cost more to repair, which can push premiums up in some cases.
How to compare CR-V vs RAV4 insurance quotes the right way
If you want the most accurate answer for your situation, get quotes for both vehicles using the same driver info, ZIP code, and coverages. Here’s a common “apples-to-apples” coverage setup many shoppers use when comparing quotes (adjust as needed):
- Bodily Injury liability
- Property Damage liability
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (often inexpensive and valuable)
- Medical Payments (availability and usefulness vary by state)
- $500 (or $1,000) deductibles for physical damage coverages
- Comprehensive and Collision if you want “full coverage” protection for the vehicle
Then run two versions of your quote:
- Liability-only (to see whether the model changes your base price) — liability-only
- Full coverage (where the bigger difference usually appears) — full coverage
If the difference is small, choose the better overall fit
It’s common for CR-V vs RAV4 insurance differences to be small relative to the total premium. If your quotes are close, prioritize what you’ll be happiest driving—and focus your savings efforts elsewhere (bundling, telematics, higher deductibles, etc.).
If you’re trying to cut costs on an older vehicle, you may eventually consider dropping collision and comprehensive when the premium no longer makes sense compared to the car’s value (especially once it’s paid off).
FAQs on CR-V vs RAV4 Insurance Costs
Bottom line
In many comparisons, the Honda CR-V is slightly cheaper to insure than the Toyota RAV4—but they’re close enough that your personal rating factors can easily flip the result. The most reliable way to decide is to quote both vehicles with identical coverages and then shop the best rates among insurance companies.
If you like seeing how Honda vs Toyota matchups shake out across other popular models, this comparison is a good related read: Honda and Toyota.
