What are the cheapest vans to insure and what are the factors to consider?

Vans are some of the most popular vehicles on the road for both personal and professional use, and for good reason. They offer convenience, comfort, and versatility. But with all these great qualities comes a price. So, what are the cheapest vans to insure?

With so many different engine sizes, weights, and performance types, it can be very challenging for buyers to know which vans are the cheapest to insure. We know that choosing the right van for your lifestyle is essential if you want to keep expenses down. So, to help you save money on your next van purchase, we have reviewed some of the cheapest vans to insure.

An overview of van insurance groups

Are you aware that the group your van belongs to affects how much it costs to insure? Whether you're driving a van for work or taking family road trips, insurance groups can be crucial to your overall policy costs. We recommend researching vehicle insurance groups when looking for the cheapest vans to insure.

They are determined by Thatcham Research under the guidance of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The van group determines how much insurers charge for coverage. That's because the ABI uses these groups to place insurance premiums based on risk factors related to the type of vehicle.

Vans are classified into 50 insurance groups numbered from 1 to 50, but not necessarily in order of cheapest to most expensive.

Only 20 insurance groups existed before 2016. As of 2016, the industry switched to a 30-group system for newly registered vans. To avoid confusion with the old system, the new groups were numbered 21-50. To simplify:

• Insurance groups 1-20 apply to vans registered before 2016, with group 1 being the cheapest vans to insure and group 20 vans being the most costly.
• Those registered after 2016 are placed in insurance groups 21-50, with group 21 being the cheapest to insure and group 50 being the most expensive.

If you have the van's number plate, you can check the registration date on the DVLA website.

What are the cheapest vans to insure?

We’ve compiled a list of some of the cheapest vans to insure:

Ford Fiesta Van

The Ford Fiesta van is one of the most economical and cheapest vans to insure. It's a small but fun van that also happens to make sense for people who need a compact, easy-to-park vehicle with some storage space. The 2013 model comes in two variants: Econetic and Sport, which both come with 1.5-litre TDCi engines. Also, the 1.25-litre petrol version is in group 1E, which exceeds safety body Thatcham's security requirements, so it's been moved into a lower category.

Citroen Berlingo

The Citroen Berlingo engines range in size from 1360 to 1997CC. For some jobs, the less powerful variant may not be able to carry the maximum payload. However, it does fall into the lowest insurance group, making it one of the cheapest vans to insure.

Volkswagen Caddy

The Volkswagen Caddy can be classified as insurance group three with an engine size of 999CC and a weight of 1,600kg. It is possible to push some variants of the Caddy up to category 34, but opting for a smaller, weaker one could mean lower premiums.

Vauxhall Corsa Van

The Corsa van is a perfect solution for small businesses searching for a practical, fuel-efficient, and affordable vehicle. Based on Vauxhall’s popular family car, the Corsa, the Corsa van is easy to drive and manoeuvre in confined spaces, making it a great choice for smaller businesses operating within small communities and city centres. Corsa vans also fall into the lowest insurance group.

Renault Trafic

Renault Trafic vans are ideal for drivers who want a large, high-performance van without having to pay high insurance premiums. There are engines ranging from 1397 to 2499cc and the maximum payload is 2298kg, so you aren't sacrificing on performance. As a larger van, the Renault Trafic isn't necessarily one of the cheapest vans to insure, but it's certainly one of the more affordable options.

Van insurance cost factors

Many different factors determine the insurance cost of a van. Among them are:

• Performance is a very important factor as it is used to determine the risk level of your vehicle from an insurance perspective. In most cases, the higher the performance level of your vehicle, the higher your insurance premiums will be.
• The weight of your van is also very important—the heavier your van is, the more damage it can do in a crash. While lighter vans offer a higher level of performance, heavier vans may also be classified as high insurance groups due to their difficulty to drive and control.
• Engine size is another important factor. The bigger the engine, the more powerful your vehicle is. This means it has a higher performance level and is, therefore, more likely to be involved in an accident.
• The higher the cost of part replacements and repairs, the higher the premium. This is because, should an incident occur, repairs will be more costly.
• Many people work hard to buy a van, only to find out that their investment can easily be stolen. Expensive vans are more likely to be targeted, which can impact your overall insurance costs.

Insurance companies consider more than just a van's make and model when determining your premium. Several factors can affect the price of your van insurance, including your driving record and where you live.

Chances are, a lot of people don't even realise that some of these factors exist—but they do, and they're important to consider when you're looking for the cheapest vans to insure. Here are some of them in more detail:

• Age - You will pay more for insurance if you are a young driver or have little to no driving history since you are more likely to file a claim. 
• Location - The location of your home can also affect your van insurance quote. If you live in a built-up city, insuring your van will be more expensive than if you live in a small village. A high level of crime in your area may also increase your insurance premiums.
• Claim history - You may be considered a high-claims risk if you've made multiple claims on your vehicle insurance. As a result, your quotes will be more expensive.

How to reduce van insurance costs?

There are a few tips you can follow that might help you reduce your van insurance costs:

• The cheapest vans to insure are usually those with no modifications. Modifications to a van, or the purchase of a modified van, can increase the insurance rate. Insurance companies may have difficulty covering the cost of replacing a van if it has been altered from the manufacturer's specifications.
• Van insurance costs can be drastically reduced by paying higher excess in the event of a claim. A claim will end up costing you more, but it's an option to consider.
• Vans with the lowest engine category that still allow you to perform the tasks you regularly perform are the most practical choice. Insurance premiums are often cheaper with a smaller engine since insurers view a less powerful engine as being less likely to claim.
• Make sure you choose the smallest van you can for the purpose you intend to use it for. Insurance is generally cheaper for smaller vans. Single-panel vans are even better since they are often cheaper to buy than their higher-spec models, so they cost less to replace, resulting in a lower premium.
• Insurers will also consider the value of your van when determining your insurance rates, since expensive vans are more likely to be targeted for theft. You will also be asked where your van is stored overnight, whether it is in a garage, street, or driveway. If you have the latest security features, your premium may be reduced, so be sure to declare them when asked.

Research is essential before buying a van. There are many factors involved in finding the cheapest vans to insure, from the engine size to the weight. Providing you with insurance knowledge is what we are here to do. If you have been looking for a van that is cheap to insure, we hope this article has helped you.