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Van insurance groups

Find out what van insurance group your vehicle is in

Louise Thomas, Motor Insurance Expert at Confused.com

Reviewed by: Louise Thomas Motor Insurance Expert 6 min read | Published 26/03/2026

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How do van insurance groups work?

Insurance groups help insurers measure how risky a van is to insure. In general, the higher the group number, the more expensive the insurance. This is because vans in higher groups usually cost more to repair and may have weaker security.

The group scale depends on when the van was made:

Vans built before January 2016 are rated from 1 to 20
Vans built after January 2016 are rated from 21 to 50
Newer vans may be rated on an updated scale from 1 to 99

Are van insurance groups the same as car insurance groups?

No - Car insurance groups are scored from 1-50. However the idea is the same; the higher the group the more expensive the vehicle is to insure.

How are van insurance groups decided?

Van insurance groups are based on a variety of factors including:

Van security: Vans that are more likely to be stolen are placed in higher insurance groups. Adding security features can help lower your group - and your premium.

Van safety: Built-in safety features can reduce the risk of accidents, which may help keep insurance costs down.

Repair times and costs: More complex repairs take longer and cost more in labour, which can increase insurance prices.

The van’s performance: Larger, more powerful vans can cause more damage in an accident, making them more expensive to insure.

The van’s value: More expensive vans cost more to repair or replace and are often more attractive to thieves, which can push up insurance costs.

What else influences the cost of van insurance?

The van insurance group isn’t the only factor affecting the cost of van insurance. Other factors include:

Your age: Older drivers are generally seen as more experienced and less likely to be involved in an accident.

Your location: Living in an area with higher crime rates can increase your premium, as your van may be at greater risk of theft or damage.

Your driving history: Building up a no claims bonus can help reduce the cost of your insurance.

Your van’s class of use: Whether you use your van for business or social purposes can affect how much you pay.

Your annual mileage: The more you drive, the higher your risk of being involved in an accident.

Any modifications: Modified vans are often more expensive to repair, which can increase insurance costs.

What insurance group is my van in?

To check your van’s insurance group, use the Thatcham vehicle search tool. To use the tool, you'll need to enter the:

Manufacturer
Model
Year of manufacture
Body style
Fuel type
Model variant

You should see the group rating as well as a link to the model's Euro NCAP safety rating.

Van insurance groups set by the ABI panel are advisory only. Insurers can interpret them differently when pricing and might factor in their own claims experience when calculating your van insurance costs.

This is why it's important to compare van insurance quotes from several providers. One insurer might increase your price for driving a Ford Transit, while another might lower it.

What do the letters after the van insurance group number mean?

As well as a numerical rating, your van might also be assigned a letter. This letter refers to the safety and security of your van and helps further categorise it for insurance purposes. Here's a breakdown of the letters you may see next to your van's group number:

A	The van's security measures are acceptable
D	The van doesn't meet security requirements and has been put into a higher group
E	The van has exceeded security requirements and has been placed in a lower group
G	The van has been imported
P	The data for this van's insurance group is provisional or incomplete
U	The van's security measures are unacceptable

How can I get cheap van insurance?

Along with driving a van in a lower insurance group, there are many other ways to save on your van insurance, whether your van is for private or business use. You can see more ways in our guide but here are some ideas we can help you with to get your price down.

Don’t auto renew: Shop around and don’t accept your renewal. Even if it’s cheaper than last year you could save even more by comparing quotes. This is one of the easiest things you can do with often the biggest saving.
Consider your optional extras: Optional extras can often increase the price, so think about what you need or actually want before buying. For example, could you get cheaper breakdown cover as a standalone policy, or do you have a joint policy with a partner or family member?
Pay annually: paying annually is always cheaper than choosing to pay monthly.
Buy your policy at the right time: being organised when you buy your policy could get you a better price.

What our van insurance expert says

"Understanding insurance groups can help explain the price of insurance and how companies measure the risk of each make and model of van. If you’re looking to buy a van or change your current one then knowing what group your van falls into could help you find cheaper van insurance costs."

Louise Thomas Motor Insurance Expert