How much is auto insurance for a Dodge Viper?

If you drive a luxury sports car like the Dodge Viper then its only natural to expect high auto insurance premiums. Not only are fast cars like the Viper a greater insurance risk there are also more expensive for auto insurance companies to repair and replace when they are damaged or totaled.

But how do auto insurance rates for the Dodge Viper compare to those for other luxury sports cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera, the Jaguar XK and the Mercedes-Benz CL?

Read on for a cost of ownership comparison for these vehicles, or enter your zip code above to compare auto insurance rates for the Dodge Viper.

Dodge Viper Car Insurance Rates

Sticker prices in the super-luxury sports car class vary dramatically, and so do car insurance rates. Edmunds predicts that the Dodge Viper, with its starting MSRP of $90,255, will cost drivers approximately $5,330 per year to insure.

Auto insurance rates for the Porsche 911 Carrera are expected to be just $2,840 annually but the base price for the 2011 Carrera is also lower, at $77,800.

Edmunds estimates that owners of the 2011 Jaguar XK will also pay less than Viper owners to insure their vehicles. Average auto insurance rates for the XK are expected to be approximately $2,807 per year whereas the cost of auto insurance for a Mercedes-Benz CL Class base model will be closer to the rates Viper owners pay.

Estimates show annual auto insurance premiums of nearly $5,000 for the CL Class even with a much higher base of $110,400.

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When it comes to auto insurance rates, the CL Class appears to be a better value than the Viper, based on Edmunds’ estimates.

For every dollar they spend annually on car insurance, Mercedes CL Class owners insure $20 out of their sports car’s total value. Dodge Viper owners only insure $16 for every dollar they spend on car insurance.

Dodge Viper Repairs and Maintenance

Scheduled maintenance costs for super-luxury sports cars are roughly proportional to the vehicles’ sticker prices.

Edmunds’ estimate of the 2010 Dodge Viper’s scheduled maintenance costs over the first five years it is on the road is $7,330, which makes it slightly less expensive to maintain than the Mercedes CL Class.

The 2011 CL should cost around $7,768 to maintain over five years, according to Edmunds.

With their lower sticker prices, the Porsche 911 Carrera and the Jaguar XK have correspondingly lower maintenance cost estimates.

For the Porsche 911, expected 5-year maintenance costs are $5,790, and Edmunds estimates that 2011 XK owners will pay about $4,594 during the first five years their vehicles are on the road.

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Although repair cost estimates are inherently less reliable than scheduled maintenance cost estimates, Edmunds also provides this data based on the vehicle’s reliability scores and initial consumer surveys.

While the Dodge Viper is on the expensive side to insure and maintain, its expected repair costs are affordable compared to the competition. Edmunds’ data indicates that 2010 Viper owners will pay approximately $2,357 for repairs over five years, with no out-of-pocket expenses expected until the third year of ownership.

In contrast, 5-year repair bills for the 2011 Jaguar XK are estimated at $4,591, and repair bills for the CL Class are estimated at $3,375. For the 911 Carrera, Edmunds expects that average 5-year repair costs will be about $3,340.

Fuel Costs for the 2010 Viper

Although the Viper’s repair costs are expected to be more affordable than those for its competitors, it lags behind when it comes to auto insurance rates, maintenance, and also fuel costs.

With city fuel economy of just 13 mpg, the Dodge Viper is the least fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. Its highway fuel economy is also poor, at just 22 mpg. The most fuel-efficient super-luxury sports car on the road is the Porsche 911 Carrera, with fuel economy ratings of 18 city mpg and 26 highway mpg.

However, it achieves these numbers by sacrificing the size and interior comfort that its competitors offer.

Dodge Viper Safety Features

Like most limited-production luxury vehicles, the Dodge Viper has not been crash-tested by either the federal government or the insurance industry.

Although Detroit News’ reviewer is satisfied with the Viper’s safety features, Edmunds’ reviewer expresses concern. The Dodge Viper’s lack of stability and traction control, which are standard in the Porsche Carrera and the Mercedes CL Class, increases the danger of losing control at high speeds.

The Viper is equipped with basic safety features like anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitoring, but it doesn’t boast the high-tech safety systems you’ll find in competing sports cars like the Jaguar XK.

Reviews for the Dodge Viper

U.S. News and World Report ranks the Dodge Viper at #6 on its list of super-luxury sports cars. The 2010 Viper outranks competitors like the Lexus SC and the BMW 6 Series, but there are plenty of vehicles that critics prefer to the Viper.

Reviewers like Automobile Magazine say that its lack of safety features and creature comforts make it a poor choice for drivers looking for anything other than a “raw” sports performer.

According to U.S. News, the Viper’s performance is unparalleled in its class. Its 8.4 liter V10 engine can blast off from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, and the Viper will leave most other super-luxury sports cars in the dust.

However, its performance tuning means that it’s poorly suited for daily driving.

If you’re looking for a performance-oriented vehicle that still offers some compromise between the track and Main Street, U.S. News suggests the Nissan GT-R.

Compare Auto Insurance Quotes for the Dodge Viper today and find affordable auto insurance online!

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