Premiums not likely to rise for the aluminium-bodied F-150, say experts

Premiums for the aluminium Ford 2015 F-150 to remain similar to the steel versions, although they are likely to change once insurance companies gain enough experience in accident repair for the redesigned pickup truck.

Since the insurance companies rely on the latest data available to them to calculate the rates, they are at present basing their premiums on the 2014 model claims. It could take a year for the insurance companies to get usable repair data and other useful information to evaluate the ideal rates for insurance of the aluminium-bodied model.

"The cost to insure the F-150 may go up, or it may go down," said Progressive Corp. spokesman Jeff Sibel. "We won't have [enough] data until we have claims experiences."

Ford is confident that the premiums will remain similar to the steel bodies as new technology enables repairing the body without having to replace entire panels. However some parts in the new model cost more and repairmen need to have special training and equipment to carry out aluminium body repair which may affect the overall cost of repairs and thus the premiums.

While some insurance companies feel that the lack of experience with aluminium bodies does not enable them to provide accurate rates, others believe that a new feature like aluminium body should not affect the rates too much.

Past experience of vehicle who had switched to aluminium from steel seem to suggest there is no need to worry. Aluminium intensive 2004 Jaguar XJ, 2013 Range Rover and 2012 Audi A6 for example saw “no significant change” in premiums from their steel-bodied predecessors.