Is there any topic more boring than car insurance? But when talk turns to that new car or truck you had your ogle on, your interest no doubt perked up. Am I right? So why, oh why, do so many modern car buyers not check with their insurance agent as to how much this unusual paddle will affect their monthly premiums before actually signing on the dotted line?

Let’s continue to be honest here—despite the hassle and trauma of having to go to a new car dealership, buying a recent car is a very exciting experience that only comes along in one’s life a limited number of times. So in the spirit of Boy Scout preparedness, what sort of variables could affect your insurance premiums for a new car, truck or SUV?

Contrary to what you might assume most SUVs have considerably higher insurance premiums than other vehicles because their accident claims are often times very costly. Not only are SUVs in more accidents but they also cause a lot more pain to other vehicles because of their size and the fact that their high bumpers can do a number on an slight subcompact.

To look at it from a different perspective, a Honda Accord might have a low accident rate but it is also the most stolen car in the United States. So if you live in a neighborhood with a high crime rate you might want to think twice before buying an Accord. Or a Camry. Why are such popular vehicles stolen so often? Because an in demand car has the added bonus of featuring in demand and more expensive parts.

While the reasons for a vehicle suffering from high insurance premiums is sometimes a mystery only understood by car insurance companies, in all likelihood you should have no trouble getting your agent to explain in clear English why the vehicle you want is going to cost so much on a long term basis. This is another reason why having a “live” car insurance agent is so helpful. You really can’t find information like this just by pressing the # sign on an automated telephone service.

If you are an intelligent car shopper you no doubt did your research and estimated how remarkable your new vehicle is going to cost in monthly payments. So why haven’t you conception about how much your insurance is going to cost month to month? Trust me, missing this one pivotal budgetary concept can cause serious financial hardship down the road.

Volve V50—No, a Volvo station wagon is not inexpensive to insure because it is boring to drive. This model, the V50 compact wagon, is stylish and even has a turbocharged 5 cylinder engine option. Even though this top of the line model has a highly powerful engine, insurance companies still look upon the V50 fondly due to its low incidence of accident and the fact that space wagons are the least stolen vehicles in America. So if you are in the market for a small to midsize SUV, check out V50. You will eye more European driving it and you will save possibly hundreds of dollars a year in insurance costs over a comparably spacious SUV.

Suzuki SX4—While this Japanese oddball from Suzuki might sound like a left-field choice, it is the very fact that few SX4s are sold in this country that helps keep its theft rate low. But that is not to say this is a bad car. It is actually great fun to drive, is the lowest priced car in America with AWD and navigation as standard. You really can’t beat that. And sometimes it’s good to be a rebel and not follow the Corolla herd.

Mercury Milan—While I know this may sound weird that the Milan, a near exact copy of a For Fusion, has less expensive monthly premium rates than its fraternal twin there are a couple of factors at play. One, Mercury drivers get in fewer accidents than Ford drivers and for some reason the Mercury badge just lacks that cache with car thieves. Gee, I wonder why!

Hyundai Santa Fe—Designed from the outset to feature bumpers that will impact properly with lower set cars, the Santa Fe is also pretty easy to repair. Add in a low rate of theft on this high value SUV proposition and you have the makings of a money saving star.

Toyota Prius—It may seem like everywhere you watch people are driving these hybrid cars. But that still doesn’t mean anyone wants to steal them. Is it because most car theft rings aren’t savvy enough to dismantle a Prius, yet? Give them five or ten years. I am pretty clear thieves will have it figured out by then.