Coupe Car Insurance
A coupe is any car that has a fixed roof with limited rear space. Coupes often have sloping rear rooflines and only come with two doors. While four-door coupes exist, these are believed to be marketing tricks and not ‘real’ coupes.
A coupe is often considered to be a more exciting version of a car than a sedan. They’re sometimes referred to as sports cars and purchased by enthusiasts who want a fun, yet practical ride. Some coupes are simply two-door variants of four-door family sedans, like the Ford Focus series. Others exist as a single line of cars without any four-door version.
A Brief History About Coupes
The word ‘coupe’ is derived from the French coupé or “cut.” The first coupes were horse-drawn carriages that were shorter and had no rear-facing seats. They were mainly marketed towards women as the best way to go shopping or make social calls.
The first motor vehicle coupe was a two-door automobile that had space for a driver and one passenger, but no space for passengers in the back. An exception was made for the coupe de ville, which had an open driver’s seat in the front.
The term “coupe” was formalized in 1916 by the Society of Automobile Engineers. They classified coupes as an “enclosed car operated from the inside with seats for two or three, and sometimes a backward-facing fourth seat.”
In the 20th century, the term solidified into any car with a fixed roof and two-doors. Examples of coupes include the Audi R8, the BMW i8, the Nissan GTR, the Porsche 911 series, the Fiat 500, and many others.
In the 21st century, some four-door cars have been marketed as coupes, though there is resistance to this usage. Some car enthusiasts go as far as to say that the four-door coupe doesn’t exist and that four-door coupes should simply be called sedans.
Average Insurance Rates for Coupe Vehicles in Canada
There is a common misconception that coupes cost more to insure than sedans. Much of this comes from the coupe’s sporty reputation, which tends to attract more aggressive drivers. However, insurance companies look at lots of factors when determining rates for motor vehicles. While the type of vehicle is one of these factors, it isn’t actually the most important.
Car insurance companies also look at:
- Safety features – Features that protect the driver and passengers, or that prevent damage to other vehicles. Many companies will offer insurance discounts on extra safety features. These features can include ABS, stability control, and airbags.
- Cost of repairs – Some car manufacturers will charge more for repairs than others. Your insurance will factor this into your monthly rate.
- Performance – Insurance companies will tend to charge more for higher-performing cars. It doesn’t matter if the car is a sedan or coupe. What matters is the engine size and overall reputation of the car.
Insurance companies will also look at your driving history. If you’re an established driver with a safe driving record, you’ll pay less for your premiums. If you’re a new driver or have been in multiple accidents, you’ll pay higher rates.
Most Popular Coupe Vehicles
According to J.D. Power, the five most popular coupes of 2018 were:
- Chevrolet Corvette
- BMW 4-Series
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Dodge Challenger
- Ford Mustang
While these coupes aren’t nearly as popular as SUVs, they still managed to sell over 300,000 models in 2018.
Do Coupes Have a Good Safety Rating?
Car manufacturers have become very serious about safety. Coupes will perform differently in safety tests than their four-door counterparts. This is mainly seen in side collisions, where coupes and sedans differ significantly. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re less safe than sedans. For instance, the two-door Ford Focus coupe did better in safety tests by the IIHS than the four-door model.
Ultimately, the safety rating depends on the car model. Many coupes, such as the Ford Mustang and Hyundai Veloster have 5/5 ratings from the NHTSA. Others have lower safety ratings, so it’s always a good idea to shop around and do your research.
The two main safety ratings you should pay attention to are the IIHS and NHTSA ratings. NHTSA rates cars out of five stars for front and side collisions, as well as for rollovers. The IIHS has a more complicated system with different ratings for crash tests and collision-mitigation features.
Compare & Save on Car Insurance Today!
Getting a new coupe is definitely an exciting time. If you want to make the most of your first drive, you need to have your car insured before you leave the lot. To get the best deal, we recommend getting at least three different quotes from insurers. You can use our MyChoice aggregator to help you find the best insurance for your coupe today.
