Subaru Forester Car Insurance: How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

Subaru Forester owners can expect to pay about $123 per month for their car insurance, if you look at average rates across the U.S. Our comprehensive guide will help you know how much auto insurance carriers might charge you to insure your Subaru Forester.
man driving newly insured car
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Quick Facts

  • A Subaru Forester costs less than most other SUVs to insure.

  • Liability only insurance premiums for a Forester average around $66 monthly, while full coverage typically tends to be about $127.

  • AmericanAlliance is the cheapest car insurance carrier for a Forester.



Forester Overview

With a base price of just $24,795 for new 2021 models, the Subaru Forester is a great budget-friendly option for any driver. With five different trim levels currently offered, you'll drive off the dealership lot in style.

We ran through thousands of auto insurance quotes on Compare.com, and we've found that Subaru Forester insurance rates average out to around $123 a month. But how does that compare to other similar SUVs on the market?

Current Base Price$24,795
Body Style(s)SUV
Trim LevelsFORESTER, TOURING, LIMITED, PREMIUM, SPORT
Average Insurance Premium$123/mo.
Cheapest Insurance CompanyAmericanAlliance

How Much is Car Insurance for a Subaru Forester?

Vehicle Liability Only Full Coverage
Subaru Forester$66$127
All Subaru Models$71$157
All SUVs$81$152
Average Insurance Premium$81$169

In the table above, you'll find that Subaru Forester insurance premiums are cheaper than average. On average, Forester drivers can expect to pay about $127 monthly for full coverage, which has comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability, and about $66 per month for liability only insurance (our guide, "State Minimum vs. Full Coverage", can give you more information on these different types of insurance).

When compared to other models, the Forester is less expensive, with prices around 19% lower than Subaru's other vehicle offerings. Likewise, compared to other vehicles of a similar body style, Forester coverage is cheaper than average, with both full coverage and liability only insurance averaging less expensive rates than other SUVs.

They're also more affordable to insure than the average vehicle overall, regardless of model, make, or body style.


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Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance for a Subaru Forester?

Insurance Company Average Monthly Premium
Hugo$28
Aspire$32
Ohio Mutual$34
Commonwealth Casualty$35
Hallmark$42

Looking for an auto insurance policy for your Subaru Forester? You most likely want to know which company offers the cheapest prices. While prices can change dramatically from between drivers, the most affordable average rates for liability only insurance are as low as just $28 a month from Hugo. The next lowest carrier is Aspire, who offers car insurance sometimes as low as $32 per month.

The third, fourth, and fifth companies on the list are Ohio Mutual, Commonwealth Casualty, and Hallmark. That being said, just because these five carriers offer the lowest average rates doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the cheapest for you.

Car insurance companies take a multitude of factors into consideration when offering you premiums. The only way to guarantee you'll find the most affordable rates is to compare quotes from many auto insurance carriers.


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What Factors Affect Car Insurance Rates for a Subaru Forester?

There are quite a few attributes that insurance companies take a look at to calculate how much they charge you -- and every company uses a different formula, so there's not a singular carrier that's the cheapest for each driver.

The sections below show a bunch of things car insurance carriers use to decide rates:

Vehicle Age

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less than 1 Year$67
2-3 Years$58
4-5 Years$55
6-7 Years$64
8-10 Years$64
11-14 Years$73
15 Years or Older$68

The Subaru Forester has been around for a while, so vehicle age will likely make a difference in what you end up paying for insurance. Usually, newer cars are going to cost more to insure because they're worth more, however, as time goes on and Foresters begin to depreciate, insurance costs will gradually decrease.

As you can see in the information above, the Subaru Forester is not quite in line with this trend, as the most expensive models to insure are those that are 11 to 14 years old, while on average, the cheapest Foresters are 4 to 5 years old.

Your Age

Age Average Monthly Premium
Under 18$120
18-24$95
25-34$61
35-44$64
45-54$56
55-64$49
65 or Older$55

How old you are makes a significant difference in how much auto insurance companies will charge you for a policy. As you can see above, older Forester drivers pay less than young Forester drivers. Subaru Forester drivers under 18 actually pay $59 more than those 25 or older.

Auto insurance prices continue to go down as you get older, with the cheapest age group for Forester drivers being 55-64.

Your Gender

Gender Average Monthly Premium
Male$69
Female$63

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to charge women less than men. The Subaru Forester is no different, and women pay about $6 less than men monthly for car insurance.

Where You Live

State Average Monthly Premium
California$52
Florida$91
Georgia$106
Illinois$43
New York$127
North Carolina$44
Ohio$52
Pennsylvania$53
Texas$52
Virginia$49

You might think it's common sense that variables like what vehicle you drive and how old you are play a role in your insurance premiums, but did you know that where you live is equally important? Since auto insurance is regulated on the state level rather than nationally, rates can differ quite a bit from state to state.

For example, the average Subaru Forester owner from New York pays around $127 a month for liability coverage. Meanwhile, the same driver in California will pay less than 50% of that price, on average. The table referenced above shows average prices for the top 10 most populous states, just to give you a good idea of how much premiums can change from state to state.


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Subaru Forester Car Insurance Discounts

Whatever your home state, your car, or your age, it's always in your best interest to take advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible when shopping around for a policy.

Even though all auto insurance companies offer their own unique discounts, there are a few different ones that you'll find with most carriers. These include discounts like:

  • Vehicle safety discounts for having a vehicle with higher than average safety ratings or one with certain safety features (like air bags or anti-lock brakes)
  • Defensive driving discounts for taking a defensive driving class through an accredited school or institution
  • Multi-policy discounts for getting both your home and auto policies from the same company
  • Pay-in-full discounts for agreeing to pay your entire policy price up front, rather than in monthly installments

These are just a few of the discounts insurance companies offer, and sometimes, the best way to get the cheapest rates is by strengthening your overall insurance profile that carriers look at. This includes things like driving safely, avoiding lapses in coverage, and not having recent insurance claims.

Of course, you can't control every single aspect of your car insurance profile (like some of the variables we mentioned above), but there is quite a bit that you can control. Below are just a few of the factors you can use to your favor in order to save money on insurance:

Your Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$84
Multiple Accidents$102
1 Ticket$78
Multiple Tickets$92

You've no doubt seen ads from auto insurance carriers posting big savings for safe drivers. It shouldn't come as a surprise that your insurance rates will go higher if you get into an accident or get tickets. But you still might be left wondering exactly how much collisions and moving violations will cost you.

As you can tell, accidents will usually cost Forester drivers more than tickets, but both will result in a raise in rates. Subaru Forester drivers with one accident on their record pay an average of $84 a month (up $18 from the $66/mo. overall average), while drivers with a single ticket will pay about $78 monthly. The rates only increase the more tickets you get or accidents you have.

How Much You Drive

Annual Mileage Average Monthly Premium
0-2,500 Miles$56
2,501-5,000 Miles$57
5,001-7,500 Miles$61
7,501-10,000 Miles$72
10,000+ Miles$66

The amount of miles you drive annually affects your car insurance premiums. Those who drive less often are more likely to go accident-free, so they'll usually end up paying less for auto insurance. Based on the table above, you can see that Subaru Forester owners who drive fewer than 2,500 miles per year pay an average of $56 per month for car insurance, while those who put 10,000 miles or more on their cars pay $66.

But if you don't use your Subaru Forester to travel or commute regularly, you might consider a usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance policy. With these kinds of policies, you pay a small base rate each month, with your final monthly bill being calculated based on the number of miles you drove.


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How Do Subaru Foresters Compare to Other Vehicles?

If you're considering making a Subaru Forester your next purchase, you might be wondering how it compares to other vehicles. Car insurance is just one cost that's associated with a new car purchase, but it's guaranteed to be one that's worth taking into consideration.

Take a look at the table below to see how the Subaru Forester compares:

Subaru Forester National Average
Liability Insurance$66$81
Full Coverage Insurance$147$169
Base MSRP$24,795$46,179
Average Annual Mileage10,85411,660

With an MSRP that's a third less than the going rate for a new vehicle, the Subaru Forester is a great value for any budget. While the average vehicle price in the U.S. is $46,179, the Forester has a base price of just $24,795.

Similarly, auto insurance prices run below average when compared to other vehicles on the market. Full coverage insurance for a Subaru Forester is about $22 a month cheaper than average, while liability only coverage is $15 cheaper a month.

When it comes to usage, Subaru Forester owners drive about the same amount annually as the national average, with 11,660 miles every year for all vehicles compared to the Forester's 10,854 each year.

Subaru Forester Car Insurance Costs by Model Year

You've seen how different variables can affect a driver's insurance rates. If you're considering buying a new vehicle and the Forester is one you're thinking about, having a good idea of how much you'll likely pay can be extremely valuable as you weigh your options.

That's why we've decided to break down Subaru Forester car insurance premiums by model year. Simply choose a specific Forester model year in the dropdown below and see average rates for both liability only and full coverage, as well as some other helpful info, such as the base MSRP, which trim levels are offered, and who offers the lowest policies for each Forester model year.

2021 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$66
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$147
Base MSRP$24,795
Cheapest Insurance CompanyShelter Mutual - $25/mo.
Available TrimsFORESTER, LIMITED, PREMIUM, SPORT, TOURING

If you're looking for a brand new Subaru Forester, you've got options. With five different trim levels available on this year's Forester, you're sure to find one that suits your style.

When it comes to auto insurance, the average 2021 Subaru Forester normally costs around $147 monthly for full coverage and $66 per month for a liability only policy. And if you want the cheapest insurance possible, Shelter Mutual offers liability only policies for sometimes as cheap as $25 a month.

Even though it's great to know the average price drivers pay for insurance, a personalized quote is the only way to know exactly how much insurance will cost you. With Compare.com, you can get multiple quotes at once, all for free. Simply enter your ZIP code below, answer a few questions, and you'll be unlocking your best rates in minutes.


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2020 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$69
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$140
Base MSRP$24,495
Cheapest Insurance CompanyClearcover - $19/mo.
Available TrimsFORESTER, LIMITED, PREMIUM, SPORT, TOURING

If you're looking to buy a 2020 Forester or already own one, you can expect an average car insurance premium of about $140 for full coverage or $69 for a liability only policy.

And if you're just looking for the most affordable auto insurance for your Forester, Clearcover offers liability only policies for as cheap as just $19 per month.

If you want to know exactly how much you can expect to pay for your Forester, get free quotes in minutes by just entering your ZIP code below.


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2019 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$72
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$139
Base MSRP$24,295
Cheapest Insurance CompanyDirectGeneral - $17/mo.
Available TrimsFORESTER, LIMITED, PREMIUM, SPORT, TOURING

It costs around $72 monthly for liability or $139 for a full coverage policy for the 2019 Forester.

With rates as little as $17 a month, DirectGeneral offered the lowest policy we found.

Want to find the most affordable rates? Just enter your ZIP code below to get lots of customized quotes for free.


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2018 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$64
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$131
Base MSRP$22,795
Cheapest Insurance CompanyDirectGeneral - $23/mo.
Available Trims2.0XT PREMIUM, 2.0XT TOURING, 2.5I, 2.5I LIMITED, 2.5I PREMIUM, 2.5I TOURING

You can expect full coverage for a 2018 Subaru Forester to run about $131 per month, while liability only coverage will average around $64 a month.

If you're looking for the cheapest possible 2018 Subaru Forester insurance policy, DirectGeneral offered the cheapest policy we found, with rates as low as $23 monthly.

If you want to know just how much your rate will be, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.


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2017 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$75
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$126
Base MSRP$22,595
Cheapest Insurance CompanyDirectGeneral - $19/mo.
Available Trims2.0XT PREMIUM, 2.0XT TOURING, 2.5I, 2.5I LIMITED, 2.5I PREMIUM, 2.5I TOURING

The average cost to insure a 2017 Forester with liability only coverage is $75 per month, while full coverage runs about $126 a month.

We found DirectGeneral offered the lowest policy, with rates as cheap as $19 monthly.

What could your car insurance price look like? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several free personalized quotes.


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2016 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$57
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$128
Base MSRP$22,395
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMapfre - $17/mo.
Available Trims2.0XT PREMIUM, 2.0XT TOURING, 2.5I, 2.5I LIMITED, 2.5I PREMIUM, 2.5I TOURING

2016 Subaru Forester drivers can expect to pay an average of $57 per month for liability or $128 for full coverage.

Mapfre offered the most affordable policy we found, with rates sometimes as little as $17 a month.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, just enter your ZIP code below and get several free quotes in minutes.


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2015 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$61
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$122
Base MSRP$22,195
Cheapest Insurance CompanyShelter Mutual - $17/mo.
Available Trims2.0XT PREMIUM, 2.0XT TOURING, 2.5I, 2.5I LIMITED, 2.5I PREMIUM, 2.5I TOURING

On average, drivers who own a 2015 Forester can expect to pay $61 to $122 monthly for liability only and full coverage insurance, respectively.

Shelter Mutual has prices as little as just $17 per month for the 2015 Subaru Forester.

If you want to know just how much your premium will be, just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes in minutes.


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2014 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$58
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$117
Base MSRP$21,995
Cheapest Insurance CompanyLiberty Mutual - $17/mo.
Available Trims2.0XT PREMIUM, 2.0XT TOURING, 2.5I, 2.5I LIMITED, 2.5I PREMIUM, 2.5I TOURING

You can expect full coverage for a 2014 Subaru Forester to run around $117 monthly, while liability only coverage will average about $58 a month.

With premiums sometimes as little as $17 per month, Liberty Mutual offered the cheapest policy we found for the 2014 Subaru Forester.

Interested in what your auto insurance rate could look like? Enter your ZIP code below to get a variety of free personalized quotes.


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2013 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$48
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$109
Base MSRP$21,295
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMapfre - $23/mo.
Available Trims2.5X, 2.5X PREMIUM, LIMITED, TOURING

2013 Forester drivers can expect to pay an average of $48 monthly for liability or $109 for full coverage.

Looking for the lowest policy? Mapfre offered liability only coverage for as low as just $23 a month.

And if you want more accurate rates tailored specifically to you, just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes in minutes.


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2012 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$59
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$116
Base MSRP$20,595
Cheapest Insurance CompanyLiberty Mutual - $17/mo.
Available Trims2.5X, 2.5X PREMIUM, LIMITED, TOURING

On average, drivers who own a 2012 Subaru Forester can expect to pay $59 to $116 per month for liability only and full coverage car insurance, respectively.

Liberty Mutual has rates as low as $17 a month for the 2012 Subaru Forester.

While these are good estimates of what the average driver might pay to insure a 2012 Subaru Forester, these prices might differ based on your driver profile. Just enter your ZIP code below, to get free personalized quotes in minutes.


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2011 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$66
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$121
Base MSRP$20,495
Cheapest Insurance CompanyMercury - $18/mo.
Available Trims2.5X, 2.5X PREMIUM, LIMITED, TOURING

The average cost to insure a 2011 Forester with liability only coverage is $66 monthly, while full coverage runs around $121 per month.

We found Mercury offered the cheapest policy, with rates sometimes as cheap as $18 monthly.

Interested in what your auto insurance premium will be? Just enter your ZIP code below to get several free customized quotes.


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2010 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$65
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$121
Base MSRP$20,295
Cheapest Insurance CompanyClearcover - $20/mo.
Available Trims2.5X, 2.5X LIMITED, 2.5X PREMIUM, 2.5XT, 2.5XT LIMITED, XS

It costs about $65 a month for liability or $121 for a full coverage policy for the 2010 Subaru Forester.

With premiums as cheap as just $20 monthly, Clearcover offered the most affordable policy we found.

If you want to find the best rates for insurance for a 2010 Subaru Forester, enter your ZIP code below and compare a whole bunch of personalized quotes in just a few minutes.


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2009 Subaru Forester Car Insurance

   
Liability Only Avg. Premium$69
Full Coverage Avg. Premium$128
Base MSRP$19,995
Cheapest Insurance CompanyElephant - $20/mo.
Available Trims2.5X, 2.5X LIMITED, 2.5X PREMIUM, 2.5XT, 2.5XT LIMITED, XS

The average cost to insure a 2009 Forester with liability only coverage is $69 per month, while full coverage runs around $128 a month.

Looking for the lowest policy? Elephant offered liability only coverage for as little as $20 per month.

If you want more accurate quotes of how much you can expect to pay, just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes in minutes.


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Subaru Forester Insurance FAQs

Is a Subaru Forester expensive to insure?

Liability insurance runs an average of $66 monthly, while full coverage will cost you around $127. The Subaru Forester is relatively cheap to insure compared to the average vehicle.

How can I get the best price on car insurance for my Subaru Forester?

There's only one way to ensure you're getting the cheapest rates -- regularly shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple companies. Over time, your driver profile changes, which could change your rates, so it's recommended that you get quotes every 6 months or so. Luckily, sites like Compare.com let you compare prices from a multitude of carriers at once, meaning you can find the lowest rates (or guarantee you already have the best deal) in just a few minutes.

Does the color of my Subaru Forester affect my insurance premiums?

You might have heard that it costs more to insure red cars than silver or white ones, but that's just a myth. There are an array of things car insurance companies think about when they decide how much to charge, but the color of your vehicle is not on that list.

Do I need to have insurance before I buy a Subaru Forester?

You'll need to have valid auto insurance for your Subaru Forester before you can legally drive your it off the dealership lot. Some dealerships will offer you a car insurance policy as part of the buying process, but your best bet is letting your insurance carrier know beforehand.

What car insurance discounts can I get for my Subaru Forester?

There are tons of discounts out there when it comes to car insurance. Many of them (like "multi-vehicle discounts" and "safe driver discounts") are based less on your Forester and more on you, but if your Forester has safety features like anti-theft systems, anti-lock brakes, airbags, and other features, it may be eligible for certain discounts. The only way to find out which discounts you might get is to get in touch with your insurance company and ask about their list of discounts.

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