AUTO INSURANCE ARTICLE

How Does Your Auto Insurance Provider Define a Sports Car?

By: AutoInsuranceGuy

Ask different people and each will have a definition of what a sports car is, but generally it is a class of automobile that is two-door, two-seater, low-ground, light weight and is run by a powerful engine. Most vehicles that are perceived by the public as sports cars are rear-wheel drives, and are designed for more precise handling, acceleration, and aesthetics. Considerations on passenger space, comfort, and fuel economy are not as high for sports cars. Whether luxurious or simple, sports cars are often referred to as performance cars due to its expected high-powered mechanical performance. Brand name and the cars’ racing reputation and history are also indications of the sports class of cars. Names such as Ferrari, Porsche, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Thunderbird and Lotus are highly regarded, for example by automotive enthusiasts.

But a few caveat though. A car may be a sporting automobile without being a sports car. A sporting automobile is a vehicle which has undergone performance modifications. Examples of these are sport compacts, sports sedans, muscle cars, hot hatches just to name a few, are not considered sports cars, but may have the same exterior, interior or certain mechanisms attributed to sports cars. Then there are also the so-called performance cars such as the Grand tourer cars.

But for insuring your sports car, you might want to know how insurance companies define sports cars. Since the insurance providing service is a computation-based industry, it is aided with the use of formulas in classifying automobiles. But thee computations take into account the following components and qualities of all imported and domestic cars:

Engine Type

Manufacturer

Body Style

Engine Size

Full Model Name

Model/Series

Body

Engine

Cylinders

Restraint

Restraint Indicator

Anti-lock

Transmission

Other Options

Daytime Running Lights

Wheel Base

Class Code

Anti-Theft

Curb Weight

Gross Vehicle Weight

Height

Horsepower

Each insurer has its own vehicle classification system that is typically based upon ISO (Insurance Services Office) VIN system or similar company proprietary ranking system. Generally, the auto insurance industry accepts this definition: a sports car is an automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds. Be in know as well that many sports cars are restricted for sale or use in the US. It would be wise to discuss with an insurance agent specializing in sports car insurance if you are interested in purchasing a sports car to find out how the vehicle is defined on the basis of the company’s specific guidelines.