FOSTER CITY, Calif. -

On Wednesday, Insure.com handed out its Low Cost Car Insurance Awards to recognize automakers rolling out 2011 models that are the least expensive to insure.

Among the four vehicle segments the site highlighted, Insure.com gave the No. 1 spots on this year’s lists to Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet.

“Congratulations to Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet — they’re making the least expensive vehicles to insure in the categories of cars, minivans, SUVs and trucks, respectively,” stated Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com.

“These vehicles will help you hold down your insurance costs,” Danise continued.

Danise went on to emphasize buyers should focus on more than simply a vehicle’s features and sticker price. A vehicle should also impress when it comes to shopping for car insurance quotes.

"Being affordable to insure makes a vehicle more attractive to consumers and can simplify the process of choosing a new vehicle for many automotive buyers,” she insisted.

The five least expensive vehicles to insure by average annual premium per category, according to the Insure.com’s 2011 Low Cost Insurance Awards, are:

Cars

1. Toyota Highlander 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,154 per year
2. Toyota Highlander 6 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,183 per year
3. Volkswagen CC Sport 4 Cylinder 4 Door Coupe: $1,186 per year
4. Nissan Cube SL 4 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,188 per year
5. Nissan Cube 4 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,206 per year

Minivans and Vans

1. Chrysler Town & Country LX 6 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,092 per year
2. Toyota Sienna 4 Cylinder 5 Door Wagon: $1,101 per year
3. Toyota Sienna LE 4 Cylinder 5 Door Wagon: $1,108 per year
4. Honda Odyssey LX 6 Cylinder 5 Door 2WD SOHC: $1,115 per year
5. Honda Odyssey EX 6 Cylinder 5 Door 2WD SOHC: $1,138 per year

SUVs

1. Nissan Murano SL 6 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Utility: $1,128 per year
2. Ford Escape XLS 4WD 4 Cylinder 4 Door SUV: $1,150 per year
3. Honda CR-V LX 4 Cylinder 5 Door 2.4L: $1,155 per year
4. (tie) Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,158 per year
4. (tie) Jeep Patriot Sport 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,158 per year

Trucks

1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Extended Cab 158WB: $1,174 per year
2. Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4 Cylinder 2 Door Reg Cab: $1,184 per year
3. (tie) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Extended Cab 144WB: $1,194 per year
3. (tie) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Crew Cab 144WB Ethanol: $1,194 per year
5. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 2 Door Regular Cab 133WB: $1,197 per year

Insure.com explained that it commissioned Quadrant Information Services to conduct a vehicle insurance comparison study of average rates for a representative male driver.

Information was collected from six of the largest insurance carriers: State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide. Rates were collected from 10 ZIP codes in each state.

Site officials added their study of cheapest vehicle insurance does not include some exotic and high-end luxury units.