Van insurance groups: a quick guide
Choosing the right van for your needs can make a big difference to the cost of your van insurance. Our guide explains how insurance companies decide your premium.
The type of van you drive can make a huge difference to the amount you'll have to pay each year in van insurance premiums. Insurance companies classify vans into 20 ratings groups - with 1 the lowest risk and 20 the highest - depending on:
- their assessment of the level of risk associated with each type of van
- the likely cost of repairing it after an accident
In general, the larger and heavier the van you choose, the more expensive the premium will be - because heavier vans are considered to be harder to drive and more expensive to fix.
The heaviest vans that can be insured as a Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes when fully loaded. Anything above this weight is a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and needs different insurance.
Most insurers use 5 standard categories of van as a starting point for deciding the insurance group. These categories are, in ascending order of size:
- Car-derived van- these vans look like normal cars from the front, but the back windows are filled in and the back seats removed to create a cargo area
- Micro-vans- these have the shape of much larger vans but are the size of a medium-sized car
- Small or light vans - these are usually a little larger than a car, with double doors at the back and sometimes a raised roof
- Medium or panel van - perhaps the most typical "white van", these roomy vehicles include Ford's famous Transit
- Large van - these carry very large loads, and often have a double axle at the back
Size isn't the only thing that will dictate a van's insurance group, though. Other factors include:
- the engine capacity and type (petrol or diesel)
- the purchase price,
- the cost of replacement parts (which is often strongly related to the purchase price)
- the security measures installed on the van, such as deadlocks to protect your cargo, alarm systems or even tracker devices
Find out which group your van is in
Thatcham, the insurance industry's research organisation, has an online tool that will show your van insurance group.
Check your van's insurance group now
Key points
- Think small- think about what you plan to use your van for, and choose a van in the smallest category you can get away with.
- Compare models- different manufacturers make very similar vans, yet some may fall into a cheaper insurance group than others.
- Look for security - it pays to buy a van with good locks and other security features. Insurance companies know which vans are less likely to get broken into or stolen, and charge less accordingly.
Find out more