10 cheapest cars to insure

Even after you've found a car that you can comfortably afford, there's yet another cost to consider before driving it home. The cost to insure your vehicle not only varies according to your driving record and your credit score, but also varies according to the model of car you drive.

"Certain cars cost more to insure than others," says Joe Spina, industry analyst for Edmunds.com, which tracks the total cost of car ownership over a five-year period. Reasons for the difference vary, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Insurers take into consideration factors such as the likelihood the model will be stolen, the average cost of repairs for the model, as well as safety equipment and its overall safety ratings. (To compare insurance policies and quotes, visit Insureme.com, a Bankrate company.)

Check with your insurer to find out the exact impact auto insurance will have on your wallet before buying a car, but here's a list of the 10 least expensive cars to insure to get you started.

10 cheapest cars to insure

1. 2008 Jeep Patriot 6. 2008 Jeep Compass 2. 2008 Pontiac Vibe 7. 2008 Chevrolet Uplander 3. 2008 Mazda 5 8. 2008 Pontiac Torrent 4. 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser 9. 2008 Jeep Wrangler 5. 2008 Scion xB 10. 2008 Mazda Tribute

2008 Mazda Tribute 5-year insurance estimate:$6,431