While prices for large van insurance don’t vary quite as much as fuel costs or the price of parts, the £237 (over 25 percent) difference between the most and least expensive certainly isn’t to be grumbled at. We’ve collected data from all 10 of the major large panel vans, and you may find some of the results surprising.
Obviously, we can’t create an exact comparison as the power ratings vary a lot, so we’ve taken a ‘middle-range’ power rating (124-138bhp) for each van, and all were between eight and 12 months old, had a 3.5t GVW and the closest derivative to 10 cubic metres (most popular derivative on large panel vans).
These comprehensive quotes are for a self-employed tradesman, who is 29 years old and has held a clean licence for 10 years.
9 = Iveco Daily 2.3HPi 138bhp – £1,048.29
Tying with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as the joint most expensive is the Iveco Daily. The Daily, however, has the most powerful engine, with the 2.3-litre Fiat Powertrains engine developing up to 138bhp.
Read the full Iveco Daily review.
9 = Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2.1Cdi 129bhp (313Cdi) – £1,048.29
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the most desirable van in its class for owner-operators, who are attracted by its solid build quality and residual values. However, the Merc van is also the most expensive van in its class for insurance, despite this not being the most powerful output.
Read the full Mercedes-Benz Sprinter review.
8 – Fiat Ducato 2.3mJet 129bhp – £991.22
The Fiat Ducato is the most fuel-efficient van in its class, but the Italian van falls short when it comes to insurance. The 2.3-litre engine is the same unit that powers the Iveco Daily, although the 129bhp power rating is slightly less which may have contributed to the lower price.
Read the full Fiat Ducato review.
7 – Nissan NV400 2.3dCi 124bhp – £965.32
Despite its unique styling cues, the Nissan NV400 is built at the same factory and shares the same underpinnings as the Vauxhall Movano and Renault Master. For some reason though, insurance companies regard the NV400 as ‘higher risk’ and charge £85 more than the Renault Master and £130 more than the Vauxhall Movano.
Read the full Nissan NV400 review.
6 – Ford Transit 2.2TDCi 124bhp – £883.46
In sixth position is the Ford Transit, where the cost of insurance is more affordable at £883.46 for the year. The Ford Transit has long been associated with the owner-operator, or ‘white van man’, due to its wide availability and affordability.
Read the full Ford Transit review.
4 = Renault Master 2.3dCi 124bhp – £880.29
Renault’s respectable four-year warranty is one of the main reasons why the French manufacturer has started to increase its market share over recent years. Another reason is the cost of ownership; it’s fairly fuel-efficient, the parts are cheap and the insurance isn’t too expensive either.
Read the full Renault Master review.
4 = Citroen Relay 2.2HDi 129bhp – £880.29
Matching prices with the Renault Master is the Citroen Relay. Despite having a slightly smaller engine, the 2.2-litre engine, developed in conjunction with Ford, produces more power and torque, and is more economical, too.
Read the full Citroen Relay review.
3 – Vauxhall Movano 2.3CDTi 134bhp – £832.77
Achieving a respectable third place is the Vauxhall Movano, with an annual insurance bill of £832.77. At 138bhp, it’s also more powerful than most others in the survey and, for a limited time, Movanos are available with a four-year warranty and four years’ free servicing.
Read the full Vauxhall Movano review.
2 – Volkswagen Crafter 2.0TDi 134bhp – £823.65
The Volkswagen Crafter shares the same chassis and underpinnings as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but features a smaller, 2-litre engine that produces more power. Despite being cheap to insure, the Volkswagen Crafter will cost you more on fuel and even the most fuel-efficient variant can only manage around 39.8mpg on the combined cycle.
Read the full Volkswagen Crafter review.
1 – Peugeot Boxer 2.2HDi 129bhp – £811.37
Topping the pile, though, is the Peugeot Boxer. This is the exact same derivative as the Citroen Relay, which costs £70 more to insure, but for some reason the insurance companies have deemed the Peugeot Boxer low risk to give it the most affordable insurance price in the class.
Read the full Peugeot Boxer review.
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