Average insurance premiums for 2009 minivans

Average insurance premiums for 2009 minivans

By Kat Zeman, Insure.com

Average premiums for popular 2009 minivans
Rank	Average annual premium	Vehicle
1	$1,021	Nissan Quest
2	$1,008	Volkswagen Routan
3	$965	Toyota Sienna
4	$960	Dodge Grand Caravan
5	$929	Mazda Mazda5
6	$915	Chrysler Town & Country
7	$871	Honda Odyssey
8	$857	Kia Sedona
9	$848	Hyundai Entourage
Source: Insure.com research.

The minivan has long been a favourite among parents hauling kids and groceries. Known for family-friendly features (power-sliding doors, easy-to-adjust seats, entertainment systems, storage compartments and ample space), this vehicle has been a popular means of transportation for so-called soccer moms.

Minivans come in a variety of sizes and you can spend anywhere from under $20,000 to more than $40,000 - depending on how luxurious you want the ride. (All figures in US dollars.) They also come with a variety of insurance premiums.

Insure.com compiled average car insurance rates for almost 300 vehicles - some of which were minivans - for model year 2009. Each rate was based on a 40-year-old male with a superb driving record who commutes 12 miles to work, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive.

In the minivan category, the Nissan Quest turned out to be the most expensive, with an average annual premium of $1,021. The cheapest to insure is the Hyundai Entourage at $848.

Pete Moraga, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Network of California, says that, overall, minivans can be cheaper to insure than other vehicles because they are family cars outfitted with safety features and driven by people who tend to be more careful drivers.

"Who drives minivans? Soccer moms and soccer dads," Moraga says. "Maybe they drive more conservatively. Plus, minivans are not built for speed. I don't see a lot of minivans in NASCAR."

When insurers calculate your car insurance premium, there are dozens of elements that factor into the equation. These include your driving record, how many years you've been driving, how often you drive and what type of vehicle you drive - to name a few.

But insurance companies also look at which vehicles have the most frequent and expensive insurance claims. So, even if you have an exemplary driving record but you drive a vehicle whose owners tend to file expensive and frequent claims (like sports cars), your premiums will be higher as a result. Even if you have a minor fender-bender accident, repairs can be expensive - depending on how much parts cost for your particular vehicle. Also, if your car model is often targeted by thieves, that increases your insurance premiums, too.

Posted July 5, 2021

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