Going the Way of Minivans: Minivans That Will Cost You Less to Insure [Updated]

Mom-Mobile or Man-Van, whatever you call it, the minivan is a staple in the driveways of many Canadian families. The first minivan rolled off a Chrysler Windsor Assembly line on November 2, 1983 and continues to fit the family lifestyle; moving moms, dads, kids and all the "stuff" this entails, easily and affordably.

If your family is ready for a minivan, there’s a lot to consider when making the decision on which one to purchase: seating capacity, fuel-efficiency, reliability, safety features, and family-friendly extras like stow-away storage and back seat entertainment systems. There is one cost however, that is often not factored into the car buying decision—until that is, it’s time to drive off the dealership lot, and that’s auto insurance.

Often the purchase decision has already been made when buyers look to find out just how much auto insurance will be and this could be a costly oversight. Compare auto insurance quotes first, before buying; you never know, it may minimize how much of your hard earned dollars are going towards auto insurance premiums.

One minivan driver, six Ontario cities, and Canada’s best-selling minivans

To get a feel for which minivans cost less to insure, we compared online car insurance quotes for some of Canada’s best-selling minivans (according to 2015 auto sales data) in six different Ontario cities. Which minivan consistently came out on top as the cheapest to insure? The Kia Sedona.

The least expensive minivans to insure

  1. Kia Sedona
  2. Dodge Grand Caravan
  3. Kia Rondo
  4. Honda Odyssey
  5. Chrysler Town & Country
  6. Toyota Sienna
  7. Mazda Mazda5

From cheapest to most expensive, the difference in quoted premiums was almost $250. Could saving a couple of hundred dollars a year influence which new minivan you buy? It pays (and saves) to do your research.

Why the difference in minivan insurance rates?

There’s a lot that goes into calculating an insurance rate, including factors like where you live, the type of car you drive, how you use the vehicle, your driving and insurance history, and your driving record to name just a few. Another important factor is theft. Thankfully, if you’re in the market for a minivan, it’s been years since a minivan cracked the IBC Top 10 Most Stolen list. However, there once was a time when Canada’s best-selling minivan was a favourite among thieves (in 2008, 2007, and 2005).

Find out which minivan offers you the lowest auto insurance rate

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of minivans, compare the car insurance market to see which minivan will save you the most in auto insurance. It takes only a few minutes, and could save you hundreds of dollars.

Not quite ready for a minivan?

If you’re still looking to explore your non-minivan options, then you’ll want to read these InsuranceHotline articles too: