Car Make and Model: What Does it Mean?
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A car's make is the brand or company. The model is the name of a car product or a line of cars. For example, Toyota and Honda are car makes, while a Camry and Civic are models.
The make, model, model year, body style and trim level all affect the cost and its insurance rates.
Differences between cars of the same model
Cars of the same model can vary greatly in body style and trim level. Knowing the model might not be enough to identify a car when:
- Shopping for auto insurance
- Registering a car
- Buying or selling a car
Body styles
Auto manufacturers might make a car model with several body styles. For example, you can buy a 2018 Honda Civic as a sedan, coupe or hatchback. Here are some of the most common body styles:
- Coupe
- Sedan
- Hatchback
- Convertible
- Wagon
- SUV
The body style includes the general shape, number of doors and mechanical setup, such as the engine, transmission and drivetrain. It can be the most important distinction, because body style has a major impact on how a car is best used.
Trim levels
In addition to body styles, a car model may have several trim options. Trim levels relate to the equipment and styling of a vehicle.
For example, the 2018 Honda Civic sedan has six different trim levels:
- LX
- EX
- EX-T
- EX-L
- Si
- Touring
Common trim levels are:
- Standard: No upgrades
- Sport: Upgraded engine performance and handling
- Luxury: Upgraded interior and smoother suspension
Naming models with letters and numbers can make it hard to determine the difference between the model and trim level. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus all name their models this way.
You must decode the name to find the model and trim package.
For example, consider the 2018 BMW 540i. The first digit means the model is a 5 Series, while the 40i tells you the trim level.
Model year
The model year is one of the main ways you can tell the difference between cars of the same make and model. But the model year is not always the same as the year it was manufactured. It's important to note that the cost of insurance changes with the age of a car.
You can usually buy a model year a few months before the calendar year starts. For example, the 2018 Honda Civic was available in late summer 2017.
How to find your car's make and model
A car's make, model and trim package are often on badges, emblems or decals located on the rear exterior of the car.
This is the easiest way to determine the make and model. If you are having trouble figuring it out by inspecting the exterior of the car, you can find it printed on the registration certificate or in the owner's manual.
You can also use your vehicle identification number (VIN) to find info, such as equipment specifications, model year and even the factory where it was made. Find your VIN on the driver's side dashboard.
- VINs have been 17 numbers long since model year 1981.
- You can use a VIN tracking tool to look up info about your car.
Differences between car makes from the same manufacturer
Manufacturers can produce many makes, or brands. The Toyota Motor Corp., for instance, has had several car brands, including Toyota, Scion and Lexus.
When you are asked the make of your car, you should provide the brand name.
Even though your Scion might have been manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corp., it would be inaccurate to say that its make is Toyota.
Car companies sometimes have different brands because of buying or merging with other automakers. For example, General Motors Corp. acquired Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac. These were all stand-alone car manufacturers at one point.
Companies also might create separate brands to target different markets. For example, Toyota Motor Corp. created Lexus for the luxury car market.
When does make and model matter?
The model influences the value of your car, so you should know it if you plan to sell your car or buy a new one.
Cars of the same make with the same body style can have very different values. ust knowing you have or are looking for a Toyota sedan is not specific enough.
For example, below is the manufacturer's suggested retail price of two 2018 Toyota sedans.
Camry XSE V6 | Corolla L | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $34,950 | $18,550 | $16,400 |
The body style and trim level also affect the value. The MSRP of cars with the same make and model can vary by thousands of dollars, depending on body style and trim.
As you can see below, Honda Civics with similar trim levels varied by as much as $1,950 by body style. Civics with the same body style but different trim levels varied by up to $8,600.
Year, make, model and trim level | Body style | MSRP | Auto insurance premiums per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Honda Civic LX | Sedan | $18,840 | $1,688 |
| 2018 Honda Civic LX | Hatchback | $20,050 | $1,727 |
| 2018 Honda Civic EX | Sedan | $21,240 | $1,727 |
| 2018 Honda Civic EX | Hatchback | $23,150 | $1,762 |
| 2018 Honda Civic Touring | Sedan | $26,700 | $1,840 |
| 2018 Honda Civic Sport Touring | Hatchback | $28,650 | $1,850 |
How the make affects auto insurance costs
The make and model also affect insurance prices. This is partly because the comprehensive and collision rates are based on the value of your car.
Below are the average insurance costs for some car makes, ranked from cheapest to most expensive.
Quotes from the four largest insurance companies — State Farm, Progressive, Geico and Allstate — were gathered for a 30-year-old male with a clean driving record, living in each of the four largest metropolitan areas in the US: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York.
- When setting rates, companies also consider how often drivers with the same car model and body style file liability insurance claims.
- The more claims filed for a car, the more risky it is in the company's eyes.
- Your insurance company will also look at how safe your car is. Extra safety features usually lower insurance premiums.
Fast and flashy cars that are likely to have a higher rate of liability claims, such as the Chevrolet Corvette, often cost more to cover than modest vehicles with lower claim rates (like the Chevrolet Malibu).
Methodology
Quotes were gathered from State Farm for a 40-year-old man with a clean driving record living in New York City. The policy included discounts for antilock brakes, an anti-theft alarm and daytime running lights.
It had the following coverage limits:
- $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 in property damage liability
- Comprehensive (with glass) and collision with $1,000 deductibles
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
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