Buying a high-tech car? Check insurance costs first

You know how easy it is to get caught up in a new car. The giant screen lights up, the cameras give you a view all around the vehicle, and the driver-assistance features start making your current car feel about 20 years old. Then comes a number you may not have checked: the insurance premium. Insurance is clearly playing a bigger role in car shopping. LexisNexis reported in May 2026 that 56% of 3,000 auto insurance customers surveyed said insurance costs were a key factor in their vehicle purchase decisions.

High-tech car insurance costs deserve a place in your budget before you fall in love with a vehicle. A car packed with cameras, radar, computerized headlights and other electronics can be more expensive to repair after a relatively small collision. EVs can bring their own repair considerations too. That does not mean you should avoid the technology. Some of these systems can help prevent crashes. However, knowing what the vehicle costs to insure before you buy it can save you from an unpleasant surprise every month.

Why a minor crash can turn into a major repair bill

A bumper used to be mostly a bumper. Now it may also be home to radar sensors and parking technology. Your windshield may hold a forward-facing camera. A side mirror can contain electronics tied to blind-spot monitoring or a surround-view camera system. Damage one of those areas and the repair may go beyond replacing the visible part. Technicians may also need to recalibrate the vehicle so its safety systems know exactly where the road, lane markings and surrounding vehicles are.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported in August 2026 that the average price of vehicle repairs has increased more than 40% since 2020, citing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. IIHS says sophisticated headlights, advanced powertrains and increasingly complex vehicle equipment have all contributed to rising repair costs.

Newer data shows that more collision repairs now involve recalibrating a car’s cameras and sensors so they work correctly after a repair. CCC Intelligent Solutions found that this type of work appeared on 28.3% of repairable estimates in 2025, up from 21.8% the year before. That is about a 30% increase. CCC also found that the average repair cost reached $4,818, while vehicles six years old or newer averaged $5,721. Recalibrating those cameras and sensors can add roughly $486 to the bill, depending on the vehicle’s age.

Even a new windshield can involve high-tech work

A cracked windshield may look like a simple glass repair, but many newer vehicles have a forward-facing camera mounted behind it. That camera can support features such as automatic emergency braking and lane keeping.

If the windshield is replaced, the camera may need to be recalibrated afterward so those systems can accurately read the road. AAA also notes that recalibration may be required after certain suspension repairs or wheel alignments. That means a windshield replacement can involve more than swapping out the glass, adding extra time and cost to the job.

EV insurance costs deserve an extra look

Electric vehicles add another wrinkle. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says EVs may cost more to insure because of factors including higher vehicle values, specialized repair requirements, battery costs, parts availability and the number of repair facilities equipped to work on them. Your actual rate will still depend heavily on the specific vehicle, where you live, your driving history and the coverage you choose. The encouraging news is that the repair-cost gap is shrinking.

Mitchell’s Q2 2026 collision data found average repairable claim severity of $5,684 for battery electric vehicles, compared with $4,955 for gasoline-powered vehicles in the U.S. That is a $729 difference and the smallest gap Mitchell has recorded. The numbers cover repairable claims, so they do not include vehicles that were declared total losses.

Battery damage can make the decision more complicated. The NAIC says damage to an EV’s battery system can affect whether the vehicle gets repaired or declared a total loss. Specialized labor, replacement parts and the availability of qualified repair shops can also influence claim costs. So, simply seeing “EV” on the vehicle does not tell you what your insurance bill will be. The specific model still deserves its own quote.

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