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BMW Z4 car insurance rates

Your BMW Z4's insurance costs $216 on average. But this roadster's rates vary wildly by company.

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We pulled car insurance quotes from top insurance companies to find that the average monthly cost to insure a BMW Z4 is $215.72 — or, $2,588.64. However, some older models may cost less to insure than others depending on which safety features your vehicle has and which insurer you choose. And your actual costs will depend on your driving history, age, ZIP and other specific factors.

Model YearProgressiveGeicoState FarmFarmersAverage
2011 BMW Z4$134.08$118.01$154.79$184.47$147.84
2016 BMW Z4$178.92$143.49$202.45$189.33$178.55
2021 BMW Z4$214.93$169.13$240.19$238.63$215.72

How we got these rates

Our rates are based on a single 30-year-old driver with a clean driving history living in California. California is one of seven states that doesn’t use gender to determine car insurance costs. We chose full coverage car insurance with liability limits that exceed the California state minimum requirements, which include:

  • Bodily injury liability per person: $50,000
  • Bodily injury liability per accident: $100,000
  • Property damage liability: $50,000
  • Comprehensive deductible: $500
  • Collision deductible: $500
  • Medical payments: $5,000
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000/$100,000
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How to compare insurance for the BMW Z4

When you’re comparing insurance for the BMW Z4, take these factors into account:

  • Price. To ensure you’re getting the most value out of your insurance, decide how much coverage you want, and then use that sample to compare prices for different providers.
  • Deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium — and vice versa. Choose a number that suits your budget and situation. Compare the cost of parts most likely to need replaced based on your model year and driving habits, and how much you’d have to pay out of pocket to fix them.
  • Minimum coverage. Car insurance is legally required in all states except New Hampshire and Virginia. You’ll most likely need liability protection before you can hit the road, but be sure to research the ins and outs of your state’s requirements.
  • Additional coverage. Beyond basic protection, you can opt into a slew of extended coverages. Since repairs can be expensive with the BMW Z4, you might want to add collision coverage to your policy to cover those expenses. And if you live in an area with high crime or prone to flooding or rock slides, comprehensive coverage may be something to consider. Pick a provider that offers the additional coverage you need.
  • Extras. Not all providers allow you to dress up your policy with features like accident forgiveness, vanishing deductibles and roadside assistance. If these extras are important to you, ask questions. Insurance carriers should readily tell you what extras are available.
  • Restrictions. Read the fine print. Since the BMW Z4 is a sports car, some providers may not cover teen drivers. Others may have restrictions on ridesharing or traveling out of the country. Find out about these now, to avoid any gaps in coverage or denied claims later.
  • Manufacturer offers or loyalty discounts. Are you in the military? BMW offers military members discounts when they lease or purchase a new BMW. USAA members and their families living in the US may be eligible.
  • Warranty. A transferable four-year and 50,000-mile basic warranty comes standard with any new BMW Z4. Powertrain coverage is included in this, instead of being separated like it is with similar manufacturers. Find out what’s covered by your warranty to avoid paying extra for coverage you don’t really need.

    What factors affect car insurance for a BMW Z4?

    Your premium is a product of your provider, driving history, where you live and the car you drive. Carriers put their own emphasis on elements like mileage, body styling and the car’s engine. For a BMW Z4, the insurance rate is affected by the following factors:

    • Body type. This car is a two-door roadster. This means it’ll probably be more expensive to insure than a sedan, but less than a high-end luxury car.
    • Engine power. The BMW Z4 comes with 255 to 382 horsepower, which likely raises this sporty car’s insurance rate above cars with less power under the hood.
    • Fuel option. The Z4 is powered by gas. Since 2011, the model has been equipped with a turbocharged engine. As for fuel, the Z4 has a 14.5-gallon tank. The average fuel cost is $2,000 per year, which is based on the current fuel prices, as well as 45% highway and 55% city driving over 15,000 annual miles. This means it’ll cost you around $51 each time you fill the tank. While the Z4 isn’t the most fuel-efficient car, its turbo engine does well against other sports cars.
    • Type of car. The BMW Z4 is classed as a roadster or sports car, which are generally pricier to insure because of the cost of repairs. That being said, the new model is launching in 2019, so the cost of insuring older models may drop.
    • Likelihood of theft. By all reports, the Z4 is not a frequently stolen vehicle. In comparison, BMW’s midsize sedan, the M5, has a high theft rate.
    • Cost of repairs. The Z4 is a luxury sports car, so replacing the interior or repairing body damage can be costly. BMW has a pretty generous warranty system for defects, though.
    • Safety features. The car has safety features, like airbags and brake assist, that can mitigate the damage to occupants and the vehicle itself in case of an accident. This may help to cut the cost of insurance.

    Compare the Z4’s insurance factors to similar cars

    The BMW Z4 proves that insurance isn’t always sky-high on a luxury convertible. You get the pleasure of top-down driving and zippy engine power at a lower ownership cost than competitors’ high-performance coupes and convertibles.

    Models similar to BMW z4Monthly insurance costCar valueTheft rate
    BMW Z4$215.72$50,6950.43
    BMW 8-series$270.47$88,995Not available
    Chevrolet Corvette$262.78$60,9950.72
    Jaguar F-Type$62,750Not available
    Lexus LC$94,075Not available
    We used Car and Driver’s car model reviews to find 2021 car values. We also found theft rates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Theft rates are not available for all models or model years.

    Driver factors

    When calculating your premium, your provider looks at your driving history and any violations, accidents and claims. If your driving record is free from major violations in the past three to five years, you’ll most likely be rewarded with a better rate.

    The carrier will also assess your nominated drivers. If your teen or someone with a few blips on their record will be driving your car, that may impact your rate.

    Other factors that affect your rate include:

    • Your gender and age
    • Where you live
    • Whether you own your home
    • Your credit score

    Does the BMW Z4 qualify for discounts?

    Depending on your provider, this model might be eligible for auto insurance discounts. Typically, these kinds of discounts can slash the cost of your insurance by 5% to 30%.

    These are some discounts that may apply to the Z4:

    • New car discount
    • Anti-theft discount
    • Anti-lock brake discount
    • Passive restraint discount like airbags and motorized seatbelts

      The lowdown on the BMW warranty

      BMW is generous with its maintenance and warranty plans. With the Z4, the manufacturer goes above the industry standard, offering the following:

      • Basic warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
      • Maintenance warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
      • Powertrain warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
      • Roadside assistance coverage: 4 years/unlimited distance
      • Corrosion performance warranty: 12 years/unlimited distance

      What doesn’t BMW’s warranty cover?

      BMW won’t pay for repairing tires, damage caused by windshield washer additives, and wear and tear that results from things like:

      • Negligence
      • Poor driving habits
      • Poor driving conditions
      • Flood, fire or accident damage
      • Improper repairs
      • Road salt corrosion
      • Installation of non-brand accessories
      • Use of improper, poor-quality or contaminated fuel

      Reliability and safety ratings for the BMW Z4

      Like most luxury sports cars, the 2016 Z4 didn’t undergo crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Institute for Highway Safety. However, US News awarded the Z4 a score of 7.8 out of 10 in its 2016 Luxury Sports Cars category. This score reflects reliability data and a range of features, including safety.

      The Z4 is equipped with standard safety features, including:

      • Antilock brakes
      • Traction control
      • Electronic stability control
      • Four-wheel disc brakes
      • Driver, passenger and front-side airbags
      • Adaptive headlights
      • Motorized seatbelts
      • Front and rear parking sensors

      If you want to invest in extra safety features, you can. Since these reduce the chance of injury or damage in case of an accident, they may lower your premium. To explore this option, ask your insurer about the safety and security features you can add in return for a discount.

      The BMW Z4 has been around since 2002, and two generations of the model have hit the market in that time. The brand worked through issues with the vehicle as they arose, such as steering, fuel and cooling system problems. The most recent recall was in 2014, when 8,988 vehicles were affected by a failure of the brake vacuum pump. The 2016 BMW Z4 has had no recalls.

      Bottom line

      The BMW Z4 is a luxury sports car, and those two descriptors don’t make it the most wallet-friendly car on the market. It tends to be on the pricier side to insure, but you may be able to cut down costs with discounts for safety features and defensive driving. Plus, as a bonus, BMW’s warranty and maintenance program is better than the industry standard.

      To get the most bang for your buck, you can find the best rate by comparing providers.

      Katia Iervasi's headshot
      Written by

      Writer

      Katia Iervasi is a lead writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet and a former editor at Finder, specializing in insurance. Her writing and analysis on life, disability and health insurance has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. She holds a BA in communication from Australia's Griffith University. See full bio

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