A growing family needs more spacious transport, but family car insurance can be pricey.
We’ve worked with our pricing team to find out which cars are insured by customers with children, and from this we’ve taken the most popular family cars with the cheapest car insurance costs.
Our list features a good mix of small, surprisingly spacious city cars and compact SUVs with more space in the back – a high priority for parents with children.
The findings show the cheapest family cars to insure for Admiral customers aged 26+ with a child aged 16 or under between July 2023 and July 2024. Certain factors, such as annual mileage and past convictions, can affect these premiums (the cost of an insurance policy).
1. Mini Cooper - average annual premium: £593.32
The Mini Cooper is a popular choice of car across all age groups, from learners to experienced drivers. But it’s also a great family car that’s affordable to insure with Admiral.
The well-known car comes in a range of models, including the S (the sports model) and the D (the diesel model).
The more modern Coopers are generally more spacious than older versions, which is great for a family. The engine size depends on which version you have. For instance, the Cooper C has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, while the Cooper S has a two-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.
Newer Coopers also have sleek and high-tech interiors with all the modern features you need, including a touchscreen dash display, Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors and support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Note that the Mini Cooper is available as a three-door or a five-door car, though the latter may be better suited if you have a family.
2. Honda CR-V – average annual premium: £617.92
If you want a family SUV that’s more sustainable, you may like the Honda CR-V. The CR-V has two versions: a plug-in hybrid and a full hybrid. Check out our hybrid car guide if you’re not sure what the differences are between the two.
Both versions of the Honda CR-V have a two-litre four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. Like most hybrids, the CR-V offers modern features, including a nine-inch touchscreen, parking sensors and smartphone connectivity.
3. Kia Sportage – average annual premium: £620.46
The Kia Sportage is another SUV that’s perfect for a family and is affordable to insure with us. Like the Honda CR-V, the Sportage comes in two hybrid forms: a full hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
With a spacious boot and cabin, stylish interior and a panoramic roof, the Sportage is smooth to drive and well-suited to family journeys, whether it’s a 20-minute school run or a long road trip. Note that the Sportage is available as a manual or automatic car, with the latter offering four-wheel drive.
4. Ford Kuga – average annual premium: £639.45
The third SUV on our list, the Ford Kuga, comes in three forms: full petrol, plug-in hybrid and full hybrid. All three are spacious, include modern features and are comfortable to drive.
The all-petrol Kuga comes with a manual gearbox, while the two hybrid versions are fully automatic. Each type has a 12.3-inch dashboard display and has 360-degree cameras, as well as both front and rear sensors for easy parking.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also compatible with the Ford Kuga.
5. Volkswagen Tiguan – average annual premium: £641.24
The Volkswagen Tiguan range boasts a total of 11 different versions, including an all-petrol and a plug-in hybrid.
Unlike many of the SUVs on this list, the Volkswagen Tiguan line includes a full diesel version if you prefer this to a petrol or hybrid car.
Regardless of what specific Tiguan you choose, all of them have a large boot for big shops and family trips, as well as smooth handling performance on the road and a spacious cabin.
The interior sports a 10.3-inch display, wireless phone charging and support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You’ll also benefit from the Tiguan’s 360-degree cameras, and front and rear parking sensors.
6. Vauxhall Mokka – average annual premium: £651.14
For an SUV, the Vauxhall Mokka is on the smaller side, but it still makes a great family car. With a stylish exterior, the Mokka has the sleekness of an EV car without all the features.
The Mokka is only available as a petrol car, so you may want to consider one of the other cars on this list if you’re looking for a hybrid car.
The seven-inch infotainment screen is relatively small compared to a lot of other modern SUVs.
As you may expect, a smaller car often comes with a smaller boot, so don’t expect to fit a family’s worth of luggage in the back of a Mokka. The boot can fit around two suitcases, or three smaller suitcases, which is worth keeping in mind if you take a lot of family trips.
7. Vauxhall Zafira – average annual premium: £665.49
Although the Vauxhall Zafira isn’t the coolest looking car on the market, it is the most practical for a family. The all-petrol Zafira’s seven-seat cabin is great for bigger families, and the boot size can also be adjusted based on how many seats are pushed down. Note that the bigger the boot, the less seats you can have up, which will change how many passengers the car can carry.
The Zafira’s dashboard has a seven-inch infotainment display and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also pair your smartphone to your Zafira via Bluetooth.
Note that the Zafira is no longer available to buy new, as production of the model stopped in 2018, but you may be able find one second-hand.
8. Nissan Qashqai – average annual premium: £694.85
The Nissan Qashqai is a popular SUV among families, and it’s easy to see why. The Qashqai is an all-petrol SUV and is designed for family living. With both manual and automatic options available, you don’t have to settle for a gearbox you’re not used to.
The Qashqai is also a great option for family trips as it has a spacious boot that can fit three suitcases. Of course, the boot size can be increased if the back seats are put down, but this then leaves you with only the driver and front passenger seat available.
The Qashqai’s sleek interior sports a 12.3-inch touchscreen dash display and has a variety of built-in Google features, including Google Maps for easy and reliable navigation. The Google Play store integration also lets you install and access a range of apps in the car.
9. Hyundai i10 – average annual premium: £696.72
If you’re looking for a smaller family car that isn’t an SUV, the Hyundai i10 could be a great pick for what you need. This five-seater hatchback is great for zipping around town, and its size makes it easier to park in tight spaces than a lot of other popular family cars.
The i10 comes with either a one-litre three-cylinder or 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The sportier version of the i10 is still one-litre, but comes with a turbocharger too.
What’s particularly impressive about the i10 is its spacious boot that can fit two suitcases. Of course, this isn’t ideal for a larger family holiday, but definitely offers enough space for short trips, or if you’re an extremely efficient packer!
The i10’s interior sports an eight-inch infotainments screen with Bluetooth connectivity that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
10. Audi Q3 – average annual premium: £712.61
The last family car on our list is the Audi Q3 - a petrol or diesel SUV that’s got a lot to offer. It also has a plug-in hybrid option if you’re looking for something a little more sustainable.
The Q3 is a stylish car both inside and out and is a premium SUV (which is also reflected in its price). It offers both manual and automatic gearboxes to suit what you prefer.
The Q3’s boot space of 530 litres is very generous and is perfect for all kinds of family trips. Its 10.1-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, parking assistance, sat-nav and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are great for tech-savvy families!
