So, you've ordered your G8. You're excited. You can't wait to get behind the wheel and take it for a test drive. Regardless whether you've purchased the V6 or V8 GT, you now own a performance vehicle with plenty of horsepower under the hood. But, if you haven't already done so, you need to insure the car. Just because it handles like a dream and responds quickly to your commands doesn't mean it's impervious to damage from knucklehead drivers.

Shopping for insurance for your G8 is just like doing it for any other car. A lot will depend on your age, driving record and where you live. That said, you can expect to pay a little more simply because it's a performance vehicle. Some insurance companies may actually consider your G8 a sports car. And they'll apply insurance premiums to match. Based on our limited experience and that of other owners to whom we've spoken, here's what you can expect to pay for insuring your new ride.

Insurance And Your G8

First, let's talk about leasing a G8 since some of you are probably heading in that direction. If you're going to lease your G8, you'll have to carry the minimum amount of coverage the leasing company requires. That's probably going to be a higher minimum than that required by your state (which means higher premiums). We're not convinced that leasing is a great option, but if you're considering it, you should expect to pay higher premiums than if you actually owned the G8.

Now, to the heart of it. As I mentioned, some insurance companies are going to look at your G8 (whether it's the sedan, GT, or eventually the GXP) as a sports car. That may seem unfair, but you should anticipate it. For example, we've seen the annual premiums for a 2008 G8 GT land only a few dollars shy of the annual premiums for a 2008 Corvette.

Now, insurance rates tend to be all over the board for the G8. Some owners have told us that their insurance companies are quoting nearly identical rates (for comparable coverage and deductibles) for both the sedan (V6) and the GT. That seems odd since the GT obviously has a much bigger engine.

Allstate quotes $145 per month (as I'm writing this) for a G8 carrying 100/300 coverage, zero comprehensive and 500 collision. That's for a 21-year old female. Similar coverage for a G8 driven by a 33-year old male married homeowner has been quoted at under $70 per month. Like I said, the rates vary wildly.

Shop Around

You'll need to check with several insurance companies to get the best rates for your G8. Unfortunately, if you're young, you'll pay a higher premium. Insurance companies usually look at younger folks with "sports cars" as a much higher risk than an older person who's married and own a home. But, you'll be surprised by how much the rates can differ from carrier to carrier. One quick tip: you can usually lower the monthly premiums on your G8 by installing a good car alarm and steering locks. It tells your insurance company that it's going to be harder to steal your car. Less risk for them means lower rates for you.