Minivan vs SUV Car Insurance Rates – Which is Cheaper?

In the battle of minivan vs SUV car insurance rates, which one will cost less to insure? We compare minivan insurance rates to compact, midsize, and large SUVs to find out.

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There is an epic battle between minivans and SUVs, with some drivers swearing they would never be caught in a minivan. My wife said the same thing until she test drove and ended up buying a Honda Odyssey.

After trading the Odyssey, the car sequence went Chevy Traverse, Chevy Suburban, Honda CR-V. So we have plenty of experience owning, driving, and insuring minivans as well as compact, midsize, and full-size SUVs.

The convenience of having more space and especially the ability to open side doors by pushing a button was enough to sway my wife, and I’m sure plenty of other drivers, who previously swore off minivans.

In this article, we are going analyze car insurance cost for minivans and all sizes of SUVs to find an answer to the question: Is car insurance cheaper for a minivan or SUV?

Minivan vs SUV car insurance rates

Minivans have basically one size, which is considered midsize for most comparisons. SUVs, however, come in a lot of different sizes, from compact models like the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue up to the full-size beasts like the Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban.

For our minivan versus SUV car insurance comparison, we’ll cover the minivan car insurance rates first, then we will compare those rates to each SUV segment and see which comes out on top.

Minivan car insurance rates

For 2024 minivan models, the cheapest minivan insurance rate goes to the Honda Odyssey, costing an average of $2,138 per year. The most expensive minivan to insure is the Kia Carnival, costing $2,422 per year.

It will cost around $284 more to insure a Kia Carnival each year compared to the cheapest minivan to insure, the Honda Odyssey. Going forward with our minivan vs SUV car insurance rate comparison, the average cost to insure a 2024 model-year minivan is $2,318 per year.

The table below details each minivan model and the average annual and monthly budgeting amounts for each.

2024 Minivan Insurance Cost Comparison
Rank Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
1Honda Odyssey$2,138$178
2Chrysler Pacifica$2,314$193
3Toyota Sienna$2,398$200
4Kia Carnival$2,422$202

Data Methodology: Rates are based on the 2024 model year and the driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle. Updated June 27, 2025

Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year midsize minivans
Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year midsize minivans

Minivan vs compact SUV car insurance rates

Now that we know the average car insurance cost for a 2024 model year minivan is $2,318, we can dive into the compact SUV segment to see what the average annual insurance cost for those models tallies up to.

Average car insurance rates for the 2024 compact SUV segment ranges from the Subaru Crosstrek at $1,730 per year to the Ford Mustang Mach-E at $2,742 per year. The average cost of insurance for the compact SUV segment is $2,154 per year.

Based on the $2,154 figure, a compact SUV on average will cost around $125 less to insure each year than a minivan.

This conclusion uses average rates, however, so for your own comparison, look at the actual average annual rate for each model you are considering. For example, if you are looking at buying either a Honda Odyssey minivan or a Hyundai Nexo compact SUV, the Nexo actually costs about $325 more per year to insure than the Odyssey.

2024 Small SUV Insurance Cost Comparison
Rank Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
1Subaru Crosstrek$1,730$144
2Chevrolet Trailblazer$1,760$147
3Kia Soul$1,826$152
4Nissan Kicks$1,844$154
5Buick Envision$1,878$157
6Toyota Corolla Cross$1,888$157
7Hyundai Venue$1,902$159
8Mazda CX-5$1,910$159
9Ford Bronco Sport$1,918$160
10Volkswagen Tiguan$1,938$162
11Buick Encore$1,988$166
12Honda CR-V$1,996$166
13Volkswagen Taos$2,008$167
14Kia Niro$2,014$168
15Honda HR-V$2,040$170
16Subaru Forester$2,084$174
17Kia Seltos$2,094$175
18GMC Terrain$2,096$175
19Nissan Rogue$2,106$176
20Hyundai Kona$2,110$176
21Mazda CX-30$2,114$176
22Volkswagen ID4$2,124$177
23Ford Escape$2,138$178
24Chevrolet Equinox$2,158$180
25Toyota RAV4$2,162$180
26Mazda MX-30$2,172$181
27Hyundai Tucson$2,176$181
28Chevrolet Trax$2,210$184
29Mini Cooper Clubman$2,220$185
30Mini Cooper$2,226$186
31Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross$2,246$187
32Jeep Renegade$2,252$188
33Mitsubishi Outlander$2,280$190
34Kia Sportage$2,294$191
35Hyundai Ioniq 5$2,302$192
36Nissan Ariya$2,304$192
37Fiat 500X$2,310$193
38Mini Cooper Countryman$2,318$193
39Subaru Solterra$2,320$193
40Mazda CX-50$2,326$194
41Toyota bz4X$2,330$194
42Mitsubishi Mirage$2,342$195
43Kia EV6$2,416$201
44Dodge Hornet$2,492$208
45Jeep Compass$2,536$211
46Hyundai Nexo$2,584$215
47Ford Mustang Mach-E$2,742$229

Data Methodology: Rates and models are for the 2024 model year. Driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle. Updated June 27, 2025

Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year small suvs
Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year small suvs

Minivan vs midsize SUV car insurance rates

Now that we know that compact SUVs on average are cheaper to insure than minivans, lets move up to the midsize SUV segment to see how car insurance rates compare.

For midsize SUVs, the Honda Passport has the cheapest car insurance rates at $1,866 per year for full coverage. The Rivian R1S is the most expensive model to insure at $2,882 per year. The overall average cost of midsize SUV car insurance is $2,314 per year.

Remember, the average minivan car insurance rate is around $1,725 per year, so the average midsize SUV costs almost the same to insure than a minivan for the 2024 model year.

Again, average car insurance rates are just a gauge for each segment as a whole. Be sure to compare the specific rates for each vehicle you are considering in order to make a more accurate cost comparison.

If you want to get even more precise, click over to each of the specific model pages (linked from Make/Model name in each table) in order to get car insurance rates for the different trim levels of each model. Car insurance rates can vary considerably based on trim level.

2024 Midsize SUV Insurance Cost Comparison
Rank Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
1Honda Passport$1,866$156
2Nissan Murano$1,968$164
3Subaru Outback$1,994$166
4Buick Envista$2,004$167
5Subaru Ascent$2,038$170
6Volkswagen Atlas$2,078$173
7Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport$2,086$174
8Ford Explorer$2,124$177
9Toyota Highlander$2,132$178
10Toyota Venza$2,136$178
11Chevrolet Traverse$2,186$182
12Mitsubishi Outlander Sport$2,198$183
13Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV$2,210$184
14Ford Edge$2,214$185
15Kia Sorento$2,222$185
16GMC Acadia$2,262$189
17Buick Enclave$2,266$189
18Honda Pilot$2,280$190
19Mazda CX-9$2,286$191
20Jeep Grand Cherokee$2,342$195
21Hyundai Santa Fe$2,382$199
22Nissan Pathfinder$2,384$199
23Hyundai Palisade$2,394$200
24Chevrolet Blazer$2,416$201
25Kia Telluride$2,444$204
26Toyota 4Runner$2,510$209
27Mazda CX-90$2,522$210
28Toyota Grand Highlander$2,552$213
29Kia EV9$2,568$214
30Tesla Model Y$2,592$216
31Ford Bronco$2,600$217
32Jeep Wrangler$2,676$223
33Dodge Durango$2,872$239
34Rivian R1S$2,882$240

Data Methodology: Rates and models are for the 2024 model year. Driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle. Updated June 27, 2025

Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year midsize SUVs
Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year midsize SUVs

Minivan vs large SUV car insurance rates

Last but not least, we look at average car insurance rates for the full-size SUV segment. This isn’t a very large segment numbers-wise, similar to the minivan segment. But these are the gas-guzzling brutes that offer the most hauling capacity and also the highest price tags.

Average car insurance rates for full-size SUVs range from the Chevrolet Tahoe at $2,198 per year to Toyota Sequoia at $2,930 per year. The overall average car insurance rate for all 2024 large SUV models is $2,587 per year.

When compared to average minivan insurance cost, it will cost on average $200 more per year to insure a large SUV than a minivan.

As mentioned before, it’s more useful to compare average rates for each specific vehicle than to use the average segment car insurance rates. For example, comparing insurance rates for the Toyota Sienna minivan to the Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV only results in about at $15 car insurance cost difference on average.

And to get more specific, if you compare the insurance cost for a Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD trim level to the Toyota Sequoia SR5 2WD model, the Sienna actually costs $228 more per year at $2,524 versus $2,752 for the Sequoia.

2024 Large SUV Insurance Cost Comparison
Rank Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
1Chevrolet Tahoe$2,198$183
2Chevrolet Suburban$2,324$194
3Nissan Armada$2,428$202
4GMC Yukon$2,522$210
5Ford Expedition$2,524$210
6Jeep Grand Wagoneer$2,720$227
7GMC Hummer EV$2,728$227
8Jeep Wagoneer$2,912$243
9Toyota Sequoia$2,930$244

Data Methodology: Rates and models are for the 2024 model year. Driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle. Updated June 27, 2025

Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year large SUVs
Comparison of the annual and monthly insurance cost for all 2024 model year large SUVs

Minivan vs SUV insurance battle conclusion

We covered a lot of rates in this article, and there are two things we can conclude:

  1. Minivan car insurance, on average, is cheaper than both midsize and large SUVs
  2. Minivan insurance, on average, is slightly more expensive on average than compact SUVs

But as noted throughout the article, it’s better to compare car insurance rates for specific models than to use segment averages. However, it is useful to know that overall, a compact SUV will probably cost less to insure than a minivan. Or that buying a midsize or large SUV will probably cost more to insure than a minivan.

In the end, the best way to know if car insurance is cheaper for a minivan or SUV is to just get some free car insurance quotes. This will give you a much more accurate idea of how much auto insurance will cost based on your specific age, driving characteristics, and vehicle, than using overall average rates.

If you were really paying attention to the models we used on our SUV comparisons, you may have noticed there are no luxury brands like Acura, Lexus, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, etc.

We reserve those models for their own luxury car insurance and luxury SUV insurance comparisons due to the higher average cost of car insurance. Since there are no “luxury” minivans per se, it just makes sense to compare the cost of minivan insurance to mainstream “affordable” SUVs. We say “affordable” tongue-in-cheek because the MRSP of a Chevy Suburban High Country trim level STARTS at $77,445 before additional options are added. Ouch.