If you’re one of the thousands of van drivers on UK roads, you know how important your vehicle is to your livelihood, whether you make local deliveries, carry tools between jobs or spend much of the week on the motorway. However, keeping running costs down can be a challenge, especially as not all vans are affordable to insure.
Because insurance premiums vary based on how you use your vehicle, the van itself, and your individual circumstances, it is always worth getting a quote for the exact model before you buy.
To help you narrow down your options, we have picked out eight small vans we think deserve a place on your shortlist and explained what insurers look for when calculating the cost of your premium. Here is everything you need to know about affordable insurance for small vans.
Quick overview of the eight models:
| Van | Availability | Power options | May suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroën Berlingo | New and used | Diesel or electric | Trades and general business use |
| Vauxhall Combo | New and used | Diesel or electric | Local trades and service businesses |
| Renault Kangoo | New and used | Petrol, diesel or electric | Mixed local and longer-distance work |
| Ford Transit Courier | New and used | Petrol, diesel or electric | Deliveries and lighter trade work |
| Peugeot Partner | New and used | Diesel or electric | Trades, mobile services and local deliveries |
| Fiat Scudo | New and used | Diesel or electric | Businesses needing flexible load space |
| Nissan Townstar | New and used | Petrol or electric | Local businesses and urban journeys |
| Volkswagen Caddy Cargo | New and used | Petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid | Mixed town and motorway use |
1. Citroen Berlingo
The Citroen Berlingo remains one of the best-known small vans on UK roads. It is available new or used and offers a practical, square load area without feeling too cumbersome around town.
You’ll find most Berlingos fall into insurance groups ranging between 11 and 16, making premiums relatively low compared to other models. It’s important to note, however, that the cost of your insurance will depend on other factors too, such as your driving history.
New models come with diesel or electric power. A diesel may be better suited to regular motorway journeys, while the e-Berlingo is worth considering if you mainly work locally and have reliable access to charging.
2. Vauxhall Combo
Available new and used, the Vauxhall Combo is another strong all-rounder for tradespeople and small businesses.
The current range includes diesel and electric versions, with different body lengths available depending on how much space you need. It shares some of its basic design with the Berlingo, so comparing insurance quotes may be more useful than choosing on badge alone.
3. Renault Kangoo
The Renault Kangoo combines compact dimensions with a useful amount of carrying space. You can buy one new or choose from a wide range of earlier models on the used market.
Petrol, diesel and electric versions are available, giving the Kangoo one of the broadest powertrain choices in this list. That flexibility makes it a good option for everything from local callouts to longer working days.
4. Ford Transit Courier
The Transit Courier is Ford’s smallest current Transit van, making it a useful option if you do not need the size of a Transit Custom.
It is available new or used with petrol, diesel or electric power and, with a max payload of 849kg, can carry more than its compact appearance might suggest. That makes it a practical choice for regular drops, alongside other vans suited to couriers and delivery drivers.
5. Peugeot Partner
The Peugeot Partner is similar in size to many of the others on this list, with a payload of up to 982kg, making it easy to handle on busy streets.
New Partner vans are available with diesel or electric power, and there is a wide choice of used examples. Its practical load area makes it a good fit for trades, mobile services and local delivery work.
6. Fiat Scudo
Created with the help of Citroen and Peugeot, the Fiat Scudo is a cost-effective compact van. As it’s slightly larger than most of the other vans on this list, it has a higher payload of up to 1,384kg.
There are no fancy features with this van; what you see is what you get, but it’s still one of the most reliable vans for small businesses.
7. Nissan Townstar
The Nissan Townstar has replaced the NV200 – which was one of our previous top picks – as Nissan’s main small van. It is available new or used with either petrol or electric power.
The petrol model provides flexibility for mixed journeys, while the electric Townstar may suit businesses that mainly cover predictable local routes. Its modern safety and driver-assistance equipment can also make long working days a little easier.
8. Volkswagen Caddy Cargo
The Volkswagen Caddy Cargo is a good option if your week includes town driving, country roads and longer motorway trips.
New models are offered with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, and used versions are widely available. It also has a more car-like driving position than some traditional vans, which may appeal if you spend most of the day behind the wheel.
How to get affordable insurance for your van
Van insurance costs are determined by a range of different factors, including personal data about yourself, such as your age, how long you have been driving, your no claims bonus and where you live, to name a few.
However, here are some pointers that could help you find a van that is more affordable to insure than you might expect.
The smaller the van, the better
A general rule of thumb is that the smaller the van, the less it will be to insure. If your job doesn’t require you to use a large van, then you’re best off buying a smaller one.
Entry-level vans with a single panel are even better as they are often cheaper to buy than their higher-spec counterparts, which means they’re less expensive to replace, driving your premium lower.
Tell your insurer if you modify your van
If you have modified your van, or have purchased a van that has been modified in some way, this could cause the insurance price to drop.
Some modifications can drive down the price of your insurance, so it’s always best to check with a modification specialist that also offers modified van insurance, such as Adrian Flux, to see how you can save money.
The size of your engine can make a big difference
A smaller engine, as with cars, often means that insurance premiums are less, as, in the eyes of insurance providers, the less powerful the engine, the less risk of a claim being made.
The last thing that a van driver needs is their vehicle to be underpowered for the tasks they do regularly, so only choose a van with the lowest engine category that can still do the job you need it for.
How secure is your van?
Insurers will also take into account how expensive your van is, as more expensive vans are sometimes more likely to be stolen. They will also cross-reference this with where your van is stored overnight, be that on a drive, in a street or in a garage. Having the latest security features can help reduce your premium, so be sure to declare these details when asked.
How are small vans assessed for insurance?
Vehicle ratings help insurers understand the risks associated with a particular van, but they do not set the premium on their own.
Thatcham Research’s published vehicle-risk data gives Group Rating scores from 21 to 50 for light commercial vehicles. The score applies to a specific version, which means different engines, trims and body styles carrying the same model name may be assessed differently.
Alongside Group Rating, Thatcham has introduced Vehicle Risk Rating, which looks at Damage, Repair, Safety, Security and Performance. This gives insurers a broader view of the costs and risks associated with modern vehicles.
An insurer will also consider your driving and claims history, postcode, annual mileage, overnight parking and how the vehicle is used. This is why two people insuring the same model can receive very different quotes.
Van insurance you can trust
At Adrian Flux we’re proud to note that we’ve won the WhatVan? Insurance Company of the Year award four times in the last six years, thanks to our specialist van team.
By talking to an insurance specialist on the phone, you can make sure you’re answering all the questions correctly, and have someone on your side, helping find ways to save you money and get the very best cover.
Don’t just use comparison sites or online quotes for your van insurance, because their quotes will be generated by a computer and can’t be altered. The best Adrian Flux van insurance deals are usually done over the phone. Call 0800 369 8590 or request a callback at a time that suits you.
