How “Sports Cars” Are Defined by Insurance Agencies

The definition of a sports car has always been tricky - it seems to be constantly evolving, just like the vehicles the term describes. Ask five different people for their definition of a sports car and you’ll probably receive five different answers. Believe it or not, the same would likely hold true if you were to ask five different car insurance companies as well.
Every auto insurance provider is different and they each have their own standards when it comes to determining whether a vehicle should be classified as a sports car. Some may simply arbitrarily decide to label a vehicle as a sports car based on its looks alone, while others might have a very complex set of equations used to decide. Here’s a look at some of the common vehicle attributes that insurance providers look for when determining whether a car is a sports car:

Body Style
Horsepower
Engine
Manufacturer
Cylinders
Size and weight
Handling
2-door or 4-door

Real Definition of a Sports Car

Unfortunately, there is no standard or real definition of a sports car among insurance companies or otherwise. A general definition among consumers has always been a small, high-powered car with 2-doors. However, with so many different vehicles on the market today, such a simplistic definition is rarely sufficient. It’s not uncommon to see vehicles with highly powered and tightly tuned engines with 4-doors. The only way to really know if you’re insurance company considers your vehicle a sports car is to actually call and find out. Some may also provide vehicle classifications online.

Why is the Sports Car Label Important?

So why does it really matter whether an insurance company considers a vehicle a sports car or not? People are interested in a vehicle’s classification because sports cars are generally among the most expensive vehicles to insure. Sports cars are typically smaller than other vehicles, meaning they’re more likely to incur severe damage in an accident. They are also faster than normal cars, which means they’re more likely to be in accidents and their owners are more likely to receive speeding tickets. With auto insurance providers, any vehicle that has a higher risk for accidents will receive higher insurance premiums. Let’s also not forget that some sports cars may have very unique parts, so repairing them or even performing routine maintenance can be extraordinarily expensive. With regular car insurance already expensive these days, you can see why owners of “sporty” cars have a vested interest in whether their insurance provider will hit their vehicle with the sports car label.