A Ram 3500 costs less to insure than a Toyota Tacoma, according to a new Insurify study comparing average annual premiums for popular 2025 and 2026 pickups. The unexpected result shows why truck buyers should price insurance for the exact model and trim they are considering rather than assuming a larger truck will always cost more.
The data also identifies the lowest-cost choices in each truck category, with compact pickups leading overall and surprisingly narrow differences among conventional full-size models.
Cheapest Overall: Compact Trucks
Compact pickups set the insurance-cost floor in the study. The Ford Maverick averages $2,291 annually, only $5 less than the Hyundai Santa Cruz at $2,296.
That near tie gives the category a clear takeaway for cost-conscious buyers. Both trucks use unibody construction and have more in common with compact SUVs than traditional body-on-frame pickups, a distinction that helps explain their lower rates.
“Compact or midsize trucks are cheaper to insure because larger, heavy-duty trucks can cause more damage in a collision,” said Julia Taliesin, an Insurify economic analyst and licensed insurance agent. She said the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz have rates closer to sedans and SUVs because of their light-duty, unibody designs.
| Compact truck | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | $2,291 |
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | $2,296 |
For buyers who do not need maximum towing or payload capacity, the compact category offers the lowest and most consistent insurance costs in the study.
Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger Lead Midsize Trucks
Insurance prices vary more widely in the midsize category. The Honda Ridgeline is the least expensive midsize model to insure at $2,398 annually. The Ford Ranger follows at $2,413, making the two trucks just $15 apart.
The Jeep Gladiator sits in the middle at $2,545. The Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier and GMC Canyon all exceed $2,600, while the Toyota Tacoma has the category’s highest average at $2,731.
| Midsize truck | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Honda Ridgeline | $2,398 |
| Ford Ranger | $2,413 |
| Jeep Gladiator | $2,545 |
| Chevrolet Colorado | $2,631 |
| Nissan Frontier | $2,666 |
| GMC Canyon | $2,684 |
| Toyota Tacoma | $2,731 |
The $333 spread between the Ridgeline and Tacoma shows why shoppers should not assume every truck in a category costs roughly the same to insure. Over five years, that difference would total $1,665 if premiums remained unchanged.
For more on how two of these pickups compare beyond insurance, see our Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger comparison.
Full-Size Truck Premiums Are Tightly Grouped
Popular gas-powered full-size pickups are closely grouped. The Ford F-Series has the lowest average annual premium at $2,766, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado at $2,805 and GMC Sierra at $2,815.
The Ram 1500 averages $2,843, and the Toyota Tundra is the most expensive of the conventional full-size models at $2,890. Just $124 separates all five trucks.
| Full-size truck | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Ford F-Series pickup | $2,766 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $2,805 |
| GMC Sierra | $2,815 |
| Ram 1500 | $2,843 |
| Toyota Tundra | $2,890 |
With such a narrow range, the insurance difference may be minor compared with purchase price, equipment and available incentives. Still, shoppers should get a quote for the exact truck they are considering.
Electric pickups are not included in this category comparison. The supplied data lists only one, the Tesla Cybertruck, which is not enough to draw conclusions about electric trucks as a group.
Ram 3500 Delivers the Heavy-Duty Surprise
The heavy-duty results are the least predictable. The Ram 3500’s $2,332 annual average makes it cheaper to insure than every midsize and full-size truck in the study. It is also $701 less than the Ram 2500, which has the highest heavy-duty premium at $3,033.
| Heavy-duty truck | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Ram 3500 | $2,332 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | $2,789 |
| Ram 2500 | $3,033 |
The result does not mean a larger truck is inherently cheaper to insure. It reflects the drivers, locations, trims and policies represented in Insurify’s dataset.
“Differences in driver demographics, trims, geography, usage, and insurer appetite can lead to lower average insurance premiums for the Ram 3500 in our dataset,” Taliesin said.
Trim level also matters. Larger wheels, towing equipment and other options can change a truck’s value and potential repair costs, so two versions of the same model may receive different insurance quotes.
The bottom line: The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are the cheapest compact trucks to insure. The Honda Ridgeline and Ford Ranger lead the midsize category, while the Ford F-Series is lowest among conventional full-size pickups. The Ram 3500 is the study’s unexpected heavy-duty bargain.
Insurance should not determine the entire buying decision, but it belongs on the spreadsheet with the payment, fuel, maintenance, and registration costs. Getting quotes before signing the purchase paperwork can prevent an inexpensive truck deal from becoming an expensive ownership surprise.
