JDM cars are known for their high quality, and some of them have become famous for racing throughout the years. These cars come in many different varieties, from affordable compact vehicles to exotic sports cars that can cost more than $100,000 USD. Whether you’re looking to purchase your first JDM car or your tenth, you’ll want to know how much it will cost to insure it before taking the plunge.
Toyota Mark II
There are lots of cars with cheap insurance. Some examples include older Toyotas and Hondas; some versions of Corollas, Camrys, and Accords (if you’re a safe driver); etc. Older Toyotas, in particular, are very popular among enthusiasts because they’re fun to drive and reliable. The Toyota Mark II is perhaps one of their most overlooked cars—it was designed in the late 1970s for Japan only and featured classic Japanese styling that stands out from many other Japanese cars.
Nissan Sileighty
Many Nissan Sileighty owners benefit from cheap insurance due to a Japanese Domestic Model. As an import, it isn’t as highly valued as other performance vehicles and therefore has more affordable insurance costs. Being smaller than most of its peers also helps bring down monthly payments significantly. JDM cars, in general, tend to be less expensive to insure because they have relatively fewer accidents and thefts due to their inexpensiveness.
Daihatsu Copen
The Daihatsu Copen is a fun and unique little car to drive. If you need cheap insurance, though, be careful! Since it’s not a popular vehicle (it’s relatively uncommon), some insurance companies won’t even consider insuring them. It may be worth looking into an online broker or comparing quotes from several insurers—make sure to find ones that will provide coverage before you purchase your Copen!
Daihatsu Charade
The Daihatsu Charade is a small car in production since 1976. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to repair, making it a common choice for young drivers looking for cheap insurance. Its small engine makes it more affordable to insure as well. Most important is its overall crash safety record: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates it as Good in every crash-test category—even side impacts.
Honda Beat
The Honda Beat is an exciting car, but what makes it most appealing is that it’s cheap and has low insurance rates. Because of its lightweight and small engine, insurance companies assume they won’t have to pay out much if something happens. If you have a clean driving record, you should be able to get your insurance for $400-$600/year. The cars tend to get 25-35 mpg, which means you could save a lot on gas.
Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86
If you’re looking for an inexpensive but still speedy car, a used Toyota Corolla GT-S or a Nissan Skyline GTR might do the trick. Both cars had their heyday in Japan but are relatively affordable now that they’ve been discontinued in their home country.
The GT-S has sporty handling and good gas mileage, while the Skyline was one of Japan’s first V6 sports cars and is as popular today as it was when it debuted over 20 years ago. And since these rides are already on sale in Japan, there will be a whole host of cheap accessories available to customize your ride with minimal effort.
Toyota Corona GT-S (AE86 Corolla Supra)
If you’re a fan of Japanese drift cars, the chances are good that you’ve heard of or seen a Toyota AE86. These little sports coupes are used as daily drivers, and they’re incredibly cheap to insure. You can generally find a suitable model in most decent condition for less than $2,000.
And if you consider yourself handy with tools, there are plenty of tutorials online showing how to modify your car for racing—and then get it insured for what amounts to be minimal cost. For example, if you race your Toyota Corona GT-S in an SCCA Solo II event, it would cost about $1200 per year to insure your vehicle based on today’s rates and driving habits. Here you will learn more about how to pull a Toyota car?.
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII
In our quest to find cheap insurance quotes for a JDM car, it’s worth noting that your insurance company may offer different quotes depending on whether you have a brand new EVO VII or an older one. It’s possible (though we’d love to hear if you’ve seen or heard of it) that they might even give you cheaper insurance if you buy a used EVO.
