Insurance rate & Hummer data

[PARAGON]

I did a little research in the recent past that crossed paths with this and other auto insurance issues. My 2001 Yukon XL Denali and my year old H2 have roughly the same insurance costs. They may differ by about $200 annually and I am with State Farm with no culpable accidents but I do have a ticket for speeding on my Harley.

The biggest payouts for insurance companies are more related to personal injury rather than vehicle damage. If you look at the break down on your insurance you'll probably see it reflects this. Some insurance companies try to justify higher premiums on SUV's because they inflict more damage on the occupants of other vehicles in crashes and therefore have to pay out more. I think it's absurd since you have never seen this same line of thinking with pickups simply because they are viewed as more useful vehicles and SUV's are deemed to be simply driveway bling-bling.

I think it is far-fetched to think that one's H2 insurance rates are affected by claims resulting in off-road accidents. I have always owned a 4WD vehicle since I was 15 and have always gone off-road. Going off-road is not something new and if there were effects from off-roading accidents on insurance costs it would have already been reflected in the current premium amounts. I think it's logical to assume that the percentage of owners of H2's who off-road would be in the same ball-park as the percentage of owners of most other off-road capable 4WD vehicles. Insurance is a numbers game and if the companies get together and think they can charge more for one vehicle (because you have to have insurance), even though there is no reason that their costs would be higher, they can gouge the consumers and make them pay whatever they want because its a necessary evil and the consumer wants the vehicle.