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How much does a Volkswagen van cost to insure?

Volkswagen (VW) is one of the world’s leading van producers, with its mid-sized Transporter and small Caddy vans remaining popular choices, decades after they were first launched.

Over the years, VW vans have gained a cult-like following, with a reputation for practicality but above all quality and reliability. And they tend to hold their value well. Given their enduring popularity, the Caddy and Transporter are the Volkswagen vans that people most get insurance quotes for.

Average best annual premiums for the Caddy SDI 69PS, Caddy TDi 104 and Caddy C20 Startline BMT are £913*, £1,048* and £899* respectively.

For Volkswagen’s mid-sized Transporter van, it costs an average of £734* to insure a Transporter 800 Special 1.9TD, or £577* for cover on a Transporter T28 TDI 102 SWB.

However, van insurance for the larger VW Crafter tends to be pricier, at an average of £1,574* (that’s for a Crafter CR35 LWB 136).

Covering an Amorak pickup truck will set you back £1,135* (for the Amarok Highline 4Motion BiTDI (180) Auto).

In general, the more a van is worth, the higher the insurance premium will be. That’s mainly due to the fact that the insurer would need to pay out more if the van was written off in an accident.

However, with van insurance, various other factors are at play, which also go to explain why vans are more expensive to cover versus cars. Vans are generally larger and weigh more than cars, so can potentially cause greater damage to third parties in an accident. They also tend to carry more valuable cargo versus cars, and can be more expensive to repair because they have larger engines.

While it can be cheaper to insure smaller vans, engine size tends to have a bigger impact on premiums, with the larger engine vans being pricier to cover.

Along with your choice of model, the cost of insuring a Volkswagen van or pickup truck also depends on your personal circumstances.

For instance, younger van drivers (18-24) tend to pay more for their van cover as insurers view this group as more likely to be in an accident. Insurance premiums could also be higher if you’re based in an area with elevated crime rates.

*These prices are an average based on the model, and all our customer quotes from 13/02/21 – 13/08/21. This includes different locations, driving background and other factors. Your own quote could be cheaper or more expensive depending on your personal circumstances.

All information on this page was last reviewed on 03/09/2021, see T&C.

Volkswagen Caddy Cargo

Volkswagen originally released the Caddy in 1979, with the very first version based on the same platform as the VW Golf.

Launched in 2021, the fifth-generation Caddy – named the Caddy Cargo – represents a solid choice if you’re looking for a small van, with VW having made significant changes versus the fourth generation Caddy, which was introduced in 2015.

The Caddy Cargo is based on VW’s new shared modular design platform, the same as that used by the current VW Golf.

Volkswagen has given the fifth generation Caddy a new look but has also tried to improve quality and comfort, adding more tech and introducing new engines. So you can choose a 1.5-litre TSI turbo petrol engine, or take your pick from three different power levels of a 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel engine.

Volkswagen Transporter

First introduced in 1950 and now in its sixth generation, the mid-sized Transporter is the world’s bestselling van of all time. The sixth generation Transporter (T6) was first released in 2015 but subsequently given a facelift in 2019 (the T6.1 version).

Volkswagen brought out the all-electric e-Transporter at the end of 2020 but also released the new Transporter Sportline in 2021. This is the latest, racier version of the standard Transporter, with a powerful turbodiesel engine.

Along with the standard panel van versions, the T6 and T6.1 are also available as a minibus (Transporter Shuttle) or as a mid-sized van with two rows of seats (Transporter Kombi).

The standard sixth generation Transporter is available with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine or a 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine. The e-Transporter, with its lithium-ion battery, has a driving range of 82 miles and a top speed of 56mph.

Volkswagen Crafter

The biggest van in the VW range, the Crafter tends to be rated highly for its practicality and overall quality, having won the Parkers Large Van of the Year award in 2020 and 2021. It also scooped the Large Van Best to Drive and Large Van Best Overall accolades in the What Car? Van awards 2021.

Originally launched in 2006, the second-generation Crafter arrived on the UK market in 2017. The Crafter comes in three different wheelbase lengths and roof heights, so you can choose a version that is more closely tailored to your requirements.

Prized for its significant load space, the Crafter can carry four to six Euro pallets, depending on the wheelbase. VW also offers the Crafter in a wide range of payloads to suit differing business needs, from 735kg to a whopping 2,573kg.

There’s a choice of four 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines, ranging from 102 to 177hp, and the Crafter is available as either a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive van.

Volkswagen Amorak

The Amorak pickup truck is another VW that has received strong reviews over the years, being voted the What Car? 2020 Pickup of the Year.

The van was first released back in 2011. However, Volkswagen decided to discontinue production in August 2020 as it is preparing to launch the next-generation model, which is expected to hit the roads in 2022.

Fans of the first-generation Amorak point to its powerful engine and versatility, with the double-cab version typically used as family transport as well as for work. The Amorak – including the double-cab version – has also been favoured for its relatively large load space. The first generation Amorak comes with a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine, either with 201bhp or 254bhp.

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Volkswagen van history and facts

Volkswagen, which means “people’s car” in German, was established in 1937 with the goal of producing affordable cars for the people.

The first order for Volkswagen cars – the type 1 Beetle – came in 1945 from the British. Five years later, the mid-sized Transporter van became the second vehicle to be launched by Volkswagen.

Sales and output expanded rapidly during the fifties and sixties, with Volkswagen encapsulating Germany’s post-war economic miracle through its strong export orientation.

The launch of the VW Golf in 1974 was another major milestone for Volkswagen. VW used the same platform for the Caddy van, which was released in 1979 to give VW a presence in the small van market.

The Volkswagen Transporter LT made its debut as VW’s largest van in 1975 and was eventually replaced with the VW Crafter in 2006. Four years later, Volkswagen entered the pickup truck market with the launch of the Amarok.

In 2017, Volkswagen outlined plans to transition from combustion engines to electric vehicles, with the aim of introducing an electric version of all models by 2030. Volkswagen and Ford Motors have subsequently agreed to collaborate on electric and commercial vehicles. Ford is adopting VW’s new electric vehicle platform while VW will take advantage of Ford’s strength in the pickup truck market.

Headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, with its primary listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange, Volkswagen is the second largest auto maker in the world, having expanded over the years through a combination of organic growth and acquisition. The group now comprises 12 brands from seven countries, including Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Porsche, MAN and Scania.

What’s next for Volkswagen vans?

Following the introduction of the mid-sized e-Transporter in 2020, Volkswagen will soon be launching an all-electric version of its large Crafter van as well.

Volkswagen says it designed the e-Crafter after analysing 210,000 driving profiles from over 1,500 customers, which showed most drivers cover 43-62 miles per day and with multiple stop/starts. The e-Crafter will offer a range of up to 107 miles and a top speed of 56mph. The maximum payload will be between 1.0 and 1.75 tonnes.

In other developments, Volkswagen is meant to be releasing the second-generation Amarok pickup truck in 2022 as a joint project with Ford. The new Amarok will share the same platform as the next generation Ford Ranger pickup truck.