Minivan vs. SUV Auto Insurance Quotes: Which Offers More Affordable Quotes (2024)
It is cheaper to insure a minivan than an SUV. On average, minivan insurance rates are $300 less per year than SUV insurance rates. The top three reasons it is cheapest to insure a minivan over an SUV are 1) most SUV drivers are male, 2) SUVs cost more to repair, and 3) SUVs are larger and cause more damage when involved in an accident. To save money on your minivan insurance coverage or your SUV insurance costs, use our free comparison tool below to find affordable coverage in your area.
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Heidi Mertlich
Licensed Insurance Agent
Heidi works with top-rated insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the need ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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So you’re deciding between a minivan or an SUV. Which one is cheaper to insure? Is there a major difference in the price of insurance for a minivan compared to an SUV? Today, we’re answering all your questions about the difference between minivans and SUVs insurance.
SUVs vs. Minivan Debate: What things should you consider?
Both have plenty of space for either storage space of space for people, but what about an insurance policy? From your insurer’s point of view, SUVs and minivans have a lot of things in common – but also several major differences. Here are some of the things insurance companies look at when assessing rates for these types of vehicles:
- SUVs are generally favored by men, and men tend to pay higher insurance rates than women (especially men under the age of 25)
- Males seem to choose SUVs over minivans. 41% of SUV drivers are male compared to 36.4% of minivan drivers
- The average age of both SUV and minivan drivers is about equal: the average driver is in their early 50s
- SUVs tend to have higher claim rates due to their size and weight; in a collision, an SUV tends to cause more damage to property, vehicles, and passengers, which means more third-party claims
- In a collision, an SUV is more likely to roll over than a minivan
- SUVs typically cost more to repair than a minivan.
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Is a minivan cheaper to insure than an SUV?
Based on all of the information above, you can see why a minivan tend to be cheaper to insure than an SUV.
A minivan is seen as the traditional family vehicle. They’re most relied on for family usage with their extra rows of seats for passenger space and extra cargo space. Auto insurance companies know this, and they take it into account when building a policy. Parents driving kids in a minivan is associated with less risk than someone driving an SUV.
A minivan also tends to do less damage in a collision. They’re less likely to roll over, and their smaller size and lower weight make them less likely to damage other vehicles and property.
Statistics tell us that married couples and parents tend to have lower rates of collisions and other violations. A minivan, or family haulers, comes with a wide variety of insurance policies and costs, but in general, they’re cheaper to insure.
The difference isn’t small, either.
Which costs less to insure?
In general, a minivan costs about $930 to insure. An SUV, on the other hand, costs about $1,250 to insure. That’s a difference of about $330 a year.
In other words, you can expect to pay about $30 more per month on your minivan insurance compared to your SUV insurance.
Other reports tell us that a minivan costs about 12 to 14% less to insure than an SUV – which is significantly smaller than the $330 difference we mentioned above.
Which are the cheapest vehicles to insure?
If you’re looking to pay the cheapest possible rate on vehicle insurance, then a minivan is your best option. These vehicles are consistently ranked as some of the cheapest cars to insure.
According to a report from Forbes and Quadrant,
“American and Japanese non-luxury minivans, SUVs and sedans make up the 10 least expensive cars to insure, according to Quadrant’s data. The top four cheapest cars to insure are minivans.”
Specifically, a Toyota Sienna came with an average annual insurance policy of $1,100 per year, while a four-door Chrysler Town & Country LX was priced at $1,090 per year.
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Can you still get cheap insurance policies on family-friendly SUVs?
It’s true that SUVs cost more to insure. However, family-friendly SUVs still typically cost less than other vehicles – for all of the same reasons why minivans cost less.
You may not have minivan seating, but family-oriented SUVs are typically driven by safety-conscious parents and families. Statistically speaking, these groups get into fewer collisions than other demographics. So yes, you’ll pay more for your SUV insurance than your minivan insurance, but you’re still saving hundreds of dollars per year compared to sports car insurance.
What is our conclusion?
Ultimately, all things considered, a minivan is generally cheaper to insure than an SUV. Vehicle types certainly come in a variety of sizes, and these can both help with cargo space for larger items and family-friendly features for road travel. Driving a minivan will typically cost you anywhere from 12% to 20% less than driving an SUV – at least from an insurance standpoint. Obviously, specific rates and policies vary between vehicles, providers, states, and individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to insure a minivan or an SUV?
Generally, minivans are cheaper to insure than SUVs. The insurance rates for minivans are on average $300 less per year compared to SUVs. Minivans are often associated with lower risk factors such as family usage and fewer accidents.
Why are minivans cheaper to insure than SUVs?
There are several reasons why minivans are cheaper to insure. Firstly, minivans are typically driven by parents, who statistically have lower rates of collisions and violations. Secondly, minivans tend to cause less damage in accidents due to their smaller size and lower weight. Finally, the repair costs for SUVs are generally higher than for minivans.
How much can I save by insuring a minivan instead of an SUV?
On average, you can save around $330 per year by insuring a minivan instead of an SUV. The difference in insurance costs between the two vehicle types can vary, but minivans are consistently ranked as some of the cheapest cars to insure.
Can I still get affordable insurance for a family-friendly SUV?
While SUVs generally cost more to insure than minivans, family-friendly SUVs still tend to have lower insurance costs compared to other vehicle types. Safety-conscious parents and families often drive these SUVs, resulting in fewer accidents and lower insurance rates compared to sports cars or other high-risk vehicles.
Which vehicles are the cheapest to insure overall?
If you’re looking for the cheapest insurance rates, minivans are a great option. American and Japanese non-luxury minivans, SUVs, and sedans are consistently ranked among the least expensive cars to insure. Specific models like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town & Country LX have been noted for their affordable insurance premiums.
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Heidi Mertlich
Licensed Insurance Agent
Heidi works with top-rated insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the need ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.