The rankings, which the insurance information and shopping site publishes annually, are based on the premium that a 40-year-old man with a good driving record, a good credit record and a 12-mile commute would pay annually.

The insurance data firm Quadrant Information Services calculated the average premiums for Insure.com by averaging car insurance rates from six large carriers across 10 ZIP codes in each state. According to the results, the national average annual premium for the Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 is $2,943.78, and other high-end sports cars like the Dodge Viper tended to dominate the list of the most expensive premiums (see the chart below for more). Amy Danise, senior managing editor at Insure.com, said the results didn’t surprise her since insurance policies are based on claims history. The Porsche Carrera GT2 “would have a really high claims history, meaning the drivers of that model have submitted a lot of very expensive claims. They crash a lot, and the cars could be very expensive to repair,” she said.

(In 2007, I wrote an article for The Wall Street Journal called “Honey, I Wrecked the Porsche,” about the spate of owners crashing expensive sports cars, including Porsche Carrera models. One reason for the crashes: inexperienced or reckless drivers getting behind the wheel of increasingly powerful and light cars.)

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, minivans dominated the list of those least expensive to insure (see the chart below for more). Ms. Danise said minivans and smaller sport utility vehicles tended to be the least expensive to insure.

One surprise on the least expensive list? The Jeep Wrangler, which Ms. Danise said must not have a lot of claims attached to it. “It’s hard to speculate” why it’s on the least expensive list, she said. “But it could be cheaper to repair or have fewer injury claims.”

The particular car insurance policy that the survey examined contained uninsured motorist coverage, coverage of $300,000 for all injuries, coverage of $50,000 for property damage in an accident and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.

The study covered about 2,400 2010 models. Those left out were ones for which there wasn’t enough data, including exotic cars like Bentleys and Lamborghinis, which Insure.com said probably carried hefty insurance bills.

While actual premiums will vary based on individuals’ characteristics, including age, driving record and the chosen policy, Ms. Danise said vehicles’ placement in the rankings should stay relatively consistent from driver to driver.

Among categories of vehicles, according to Insure.com, the Dodge Caliber is the least expensive passenger car to insure, the GMC Canyon WT (2WD 2 Door 2.9L) is the least expensive pickup to insure and the Honda Odyssey LX (5 Door 2WD SOHC) is the least expensive minivan to insure. Click here for the full list and a new tool from Insure.com that lets you search the rankings by vehicle and location.

When have you been surprised (positively or negatively) by the price an insurance company quoted for coverage for your vehicle?

The Five Least Expensive 2010 Vehicles to Insure

Rank Make and Model Style & Type Cylinders Average National Premium
1 Mazda Tribute I 2WD, 4-door utility 4 $1,070.25
2 Honda Odyssey LX 5-door 2WD SOHC van 6 $1,095.26
3 Mazda Tribute I 4WD 4-door utility 4 $1,103.29
4 Chrysler Town & Country LX 2WD 4-door 3.3L wagon 6 $1,119.83
5 Jeep Wrangler X 4WD 2-door 3.8L Utility 6 $1,124.38

The Five Most Expensive 2010 Vehicles to Insure

Rank Make and Model Style & Type Cylinders Average National Premium
1 Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 2-door coupe 6 $2,943.78
2 Mercedes S65 AMG 4-door sedan 12 $2,863.03
3 Dodge Viper SRT-10 2-door coupe 10 $2,851.89
4 Porsche Panamera Turbo AWD 4-door sedan 8 $2,837.39
5 Dodge Viper SRT-10 2-door convertible 10 $2,815.90

Source: Insure.com, from a study commissioned by Insure.com from Quadrant Information Services

By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ

“If Toyota drivers experience any issues with their accelerator pedal, they should contact their Toyota dealer without delay,” said Robert Passmore, senior director of claims for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks or returns slowly to idle position, Toyota says the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.

“Consumer safety is a top concern for the insurance industry and we are encouraged that Toyota dealers nationwide are beginning to make repairs on the vehicles involved in the recall,” said Passmore.

Insurers want consumers to know that if Toyota’s recalled part causes an accident, the driver’s automobile liability or physical damage insurance will provide coverage.

“This type of unforeseen event is what insurance is for,” said PCI’s Passmore. “If the pedal is a factor, the insurer will pay the claim for the driver and then likely seek to be reimbursed by Toyota. This is one less thing for the consumer to worry about.”

There is also good news for consumers because a vehicle recall by itself will generally not cause insurance rates to increase, Passmore said. “Looking forward, it is unlikely that rates would be affected by the recall.”

Over the years Toyotas have had a good safety record as evidenced by their popularity, so it is unlikely that there will be enough accidents caused by the faulty pedals that rates will increase, according to Passmore.

“Insurers look at the cost of claims over a period of time for vehicle,” he added. “They are interested in how much it costs to repair a vehicle and how often the vehicle is involved in an accident.”

While Toyota is pursuing repairs to recalled vehicles, the nation’s largest auto insurer says Toyota vehicle safety has been a concern for some time.