If saving money on car insurance is important to you, think about driving a more conservative car.

This advice might deflate your dreams of that little red sports car, but the 2002 Buick LeSabre tops the list of least expensive 2002 cars to insure according to the top three auto insurers in the country (State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers). The LeSabre is No. 1 based on its lowest claim record for injury, theft, and collision.

These 2002 cars can save you money on your auto insurance policy:

1. Buick LeSabre
2. Oldsmobile Silhouette
3. Honda Odyssey
4. Buick Park Avenue
5. Pontiac Montana
6. Mercury Grand Marquis
7. Buick Century
8. Chevrolet Venture
9. GMC Safari
10. Oldsmobile Bravada

While none of these cars may make your heart race, they do a better job of protecting you in an accident, and they aren't likely to get stolen from the parking lot. In fact, they have the lowest reported claims rates of injury, theft, and collision among 2002 cars on the market, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

Allstate Insurance Co. spokesperson Mike Trevino says the list of cars that are least expensive to insure reflects what the insurance industry has known for several years. "Information collected by the HLDI doesn't take into account things like small dents that aren't caused by accidents that people still make claims on," he says. "But for the accident claims, we've seen that bigger cars that provide better protection to passengers cost more for liability [because they do more damage to other vehicles], and less for medical because they protect passengers better. The reverse is true for smaller cars."

The cars on the least-expensive-to-insure list are ones that are, for the most part, large enough to protect but not so large as to do extensive damage to other vehicles.

Bear in mind that if you have a history of motor vehicle violations or auto insurance claims, buying one of these cars may not do much to reduce your insurance costs. But if you are a good driver with a clean history with insurers and your state Department of Motor Vehicles and you need to watch your pennies, these cars are a good starting point for shopping.

Not moneybags

"Cars like these don't invite big lawsuits, either," says Donald Griffin of the National Association of Independent Insurers. "Insurance policies on these types of cars don't typically see a lot of big claims for injuries by third parties, whereas if you're driving a Mercedes, [other] people tend to see dollar signs."

In states where insurance rates are moderate, says Griffin, driving a car on this list might save you $50 in annual premiums. But in states like New Jersey, New York, or California, savings could be more substantial. In New Jersey, for example, some companies' rates differ by as much as $500 annually for one of these cars compared to a similar size vehicle not on the list, such as a Honda Accord or a Plymouth Voyager, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Trevino says drivers can find additional savings. "There are the obvious things, like multiple policies, either for two or more cars with the same company or home and auto insurance with the same company," he said. "There are also discounts for good students and discounts for older drivers who've taken defensive-driving courses. And of course, there is the most important one, which is to avoid traffic citations."