Which Cars Do Moms Actually Drive?

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Written by Nick Versaw

Updated May 10th, 2022

In TV ads, moms drive huge, expensive vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Suburban or the Toyota Highlander. After a while, you start to suspect that everyone except you is enjoying automatic liftgates, rear entertainment systems, and super-advanced safety features.

We’ll tell you a secret: Most stay-at-home moms don’t drive new cars. We looked at almost 150,000 car insurance quotes on Compare.com and found that the best mom cars for stay-at-home-mothers (SAHMs) and homemakers are older sedans and SUVs.

Makes sense, right? Not only are they inexpensive to buy, but they’re also cheap to insure. Nine of the top 10 cars for full-time moms cost less than $1,000 per year to insure, on average. Here are the most common cars driven by moms who search for insurance quotes on Compare.com.

The Top 10 Mom Cars

We analyzed thousands of car insurance quotes on Compare.com to find the cars most often driven by full-time moms and homemakers, along with the average model year and average insurance quotes. As you’ll see, the best mom cars have a focus on practicality, with plenty of cargo space and room for car seats in the rear seat.

Since older cars are generally cheaper to insure than new cars, many of these models have been around for a while. But you can also find newer versions of these mom cars available, including electric vehicles and hybrids.

1. 1999 Honda Accord

Accords never die — and people’s love for them never dies, either. Many drivers swear that their ’99 Accord still runs as well as the day they bought it. Accords are known to be safe, reliable, fuel-efficient, and cheap to insure.

A stay-at-home mom who drives a Honda Accord (including all model years) gets an average Compare.com insurance quote of $953 per year.

2. 2005 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima has roomy second-row seats — perfect for soccer moms with kids — and the higher-end trims have a few extra luxuries for moms, such as heated front seats and leather upholstery. The average annual insurance quote for an Altima-driving mom: $991.

3. 2000 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer, a classic midsize SUV, is perfect for hauling around kids, dogs, and gear. While lacking the longevity of a Honda or Toyota, the Explorer has plenty of power. The XLT model has a V8 engine and a 3,500-pound trailer towing capacity. You’ll even find newer models with a hybrid powertrain if you want to save money when filling up the gas tank on road trips.

Some 2000 Explorers even have an option that was advanced for the time: a sonar warning system that beeps to indicate a rear obstacle when backing up. The average Compare.com quote for a mom in an Explorer: $971 a year.

4. 2000 Toyota Camry

The 2000 Camry performed well in front crash tests, and newer models have a ton of safety enhancements, making them a family favorite. On average, a Camry-driving stay-at-home mom gets an insurance quote of $961 per year.

5. 2000 Ford F-150

The F-150 isn’t a very fuel-efficient vehicle (unless you spring for the F-150 Lightning, which has an all-electric powertrain). But it’s no surprise that America’s favorite pickup truck is popular with parents. It’s reliable, powerful, and can haul almost anything.

It’s pretty safe, too, although its crash test ratings improved substantially for the 2009 and later model years. What about car insurance? For moms, the F-150 is one of the cheapest vehicles to insure on our list, with an average quote of $913 a year.

6. 2001 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is cheap to buy, cheap to drive, cheap to fix, and cheap to insure, with an average Compare.com insurance quote of $901 for a stay-at-home mom. But is the Civic a good family car? Sure! Kelley Blue Book named the 2016 model to its list of the 16 best cars for families, citing its safety, fuel economy, and overall quality.

Older Hondas are great, too, although if you own one you should search the VIN on SaferCar.gov to find out if you need to replace a defective airbag.

7. 2001 Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is a beast. The older models seat up to 9, making the Expedition one of the best SUVs for large families. People who own the 2001 model say it’s super comfy, it handles well in the snow, and with conscientious maintenance, it just keeps going. For moms and homemakers who got a Compare.com insurance quote for their Expedition, the average premium was $952 per year.

8. 2003 Honda Odyssey

“The Best Family Car in the World.” That’s what Kelley Blue Book calls the 2018 Honda Odyssey, because of its superior handling, cushy interior (including Magic Slide seats) and great safety features. You could say the same of any model year Odyssey, which has long been one of the top cars for moms. With an average yearly insurance quote of $902 for moms, it’s also one of the cheapest vehicles to insure on our list.

9. 2002 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla has been one of Toyota’s most popular models for years. Newer models update the Corolla’s styling, while keeping everything that makes it a great car. The average mom’s Corolla insurance quote on Compare.com: $948 a year.

10. 2005 Chevrolet Impala

With a V6 engine and a surprisingly spacious interior, the Impala is a great family car. A front bench seat on some models allows the Impala to seat six passengers. The 2005 model even has a spoiler on the back for a little extra oomph.

The only downside? The Impala is the most expensive vehicle to insure on our list of the top mom cars: the average Compare.com quote is $1,031.

How to Choose the Best Mom Cars

What makes a car great for moms? In addition to the practicality and cargo space we mentioned earlier, there are a few other things that are important to consider.

First, there’s safety. The best mom cars have a stellar safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Some model years are even a Top Safety Pick, but keep in mind that ratings can vary from one year to the next.

Another thing to consider is technology. You don’t need to blow your budget on the best Tesla model to get a handy touchscreen or infotainment system. Plenty of mom cars feature Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity so you can easily find your way or keep the kids entertained in the back seat.

Of course, the best mom car for you depends on your lifestyle. Some moms prefer a minivan with sliding doors for better accessibility, while others are happy with a smaller hatchback, crossover, or compact SUV. You’ll also want to think about what kind of road conditions you’ll be driving in, and whether or not you need a car with all-wheel drive.

In addition to the makes and models on this list, other popular automakers of mom cars include Subaru, Kia, and Volkswagen. The best mom cars get great MPG, making them suitable for road trips, carpools, and everyday driving.

Check Insurance Rates Before You Buy

As you’re shopping for insurance quotes, remember that you may not be the “average” driver we used to compile the figures on our list! Your car insurance quotes will look different because insurance rates are affected by the state you live in, your driving history, your ZIP code, your age, and a ton of other factors.

So if you’re trying to find cheap car insurance for moms, the solution is comparing real-world personalized quotes on Compare.com. It’s free, it’s fast, and it works!

Just enter your ZIP code here to get started:

Nick Versaw Managing Editor

Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in creating educational content about insurance and other related topics. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.