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Cheapest small van for insurance 2016

  • All nine major small vans compared for insurance costs
  • Quotes varied six percent between most and least expensive
  • Based on a 26-year-old plumber with a limited company

Written by Liam Campbell Published: 26 January 2016 Updated: 26 January 2016

While insurance costs may be small and relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of running a van, for younger drivers and those starting out in a new business, every little counts. This article compares the insurance costs for all nine of the major small vans on sale in the UK.

As with our comparisons for large and medium vans, we entered the details of a 26-year-old plumber who owns his own limited company into a price comparison website, and asked for quotes on each of the nine small vans.

To give a more fair and accurate comparison, the base models of each vehicle were specified and all were new vehicles. We stated the driver had nine years’ no claims bonus, travels around 15,000 miles-a-year for business and that he had use of another vehicle.

Here are the results but click here to get your own van insurance quotes.

9 – Volkswagen Caddy C20 1.6Tdi 75 – quoted £391

Volkswagen Caddy

Even though this particular model of Volkswagen Caddy is one of the least powerful vans in our comparison, the hefty price tag (£9,000) means that it will cost you more to insure. Despite costing more to insure, the Volkswagen Caddy makes up for it with the best residual values in its class.

Read the Volkswagen Caddy review.

7 = Nissan NV200 1.5dCi 89 Visia and Mercedes-Benz Citan 108CDi Long – quoted £388

Nissan NV200

Mercedes-Benz Citan

Tying on seventh place with a £388 quote is the Nissan NV200 and Mercedes-Benz Citan. The two vehicles employ the same 1.5-litre Renault-Nissan diesel engine, although the NV200 has a slightly upgraded 89bhp power rating.  

Read the Nissan NV200 review.

Read the Mercedes-Benz Citan review.

6 – Citroen Berlingo 1.6HDi 75 – quoted £384

Citroen Berlingo

Despite its bigger brother, the Citroen Dispatch, being one of the cheapest in its sector, the little Citroen Berlingo works out as one of the more expensive vans to insure. This is surprising because it has a very basic specification and a fairly gutless 74bhp output.

Read the Citroen Berlingo review.

5 – Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi 75 – quoted £380

Peugeot Partner

Based on the exact same chassis, engine and driveline as the Citroen Berlingo is the Peugeot Partner. The two vehicles are roughly the same price, but the best insurance quote, for some reason, was £4-a-year cheaper in the Peugeot’s case compared to the Berlingo.

Read the Peugeot Partner review.

3 – Vauxhall Combo 1.3CDti 90 and Fiat Doblo 1.3mJet 90 – quoted £378

Vauxhall Combo

Fiat Doblo Cargo

While the Vauxhall Combo and Fiat Doblo may have different faces, the two vans share the same chassis and driveline, and are built at the same factory in Turkey. The 89bhp output is more than most vans in our comparison, yet the £378 quote means they share a respectable third position.

Read the Vauxhall Combo review.

Read the Fiat Doblo review.

2 – Ford Transit Connect T200 1.6TDCi 75 – quoted £374

Ford Transit Connect

This Ford Transit Connect may not offer a great output, but the specification list includes such creature comforts as remote central double-locking, a DAB radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity plus trip computer, which in turn means it has a slightly higher list price. However, this doesn’t seem to have affected the insurance groupings too much as we were quoted £374 for the year.

Read the Ford Transit Connect review.

1 – Renault Kangoo SL17 1.5dCi 70 – quoted £369

Renault Kangoo 2015

Not surprisingly, the cheapest van to insure is also the least powerful and one of the most basic when it comes to specification. The 1.5-litre engine under the bonnet of the Renault Kangoo is fairly economical and, at £369 to insure to for the year, cheap too.

Read the Renault Kangoo review.

Click here to get search for your best van insurance quote.