What’s happening in van insurance? Defaqto have been tracking the premium rates on new vs older vehicles;
Older vans have experienced the largest insurance price reductions during 2026, according to Defaqto analysis published as the new ‘76’ registration plate prompts businesses and drivers to consider replacing their vehicles.
Defaqto Market Pricing found that the median of the five most competitive prices for eight-year-old vans fell 8.0% between December 2025 and August 2026. Prices for five-year-old vans decreased 6.3%, while three-year-old vehicles recorded the smallest reduction at 5.2%.
The fall for eight-year-old vans was therefore 2.8 percentage points greater than for three-year-old vehicles, indicating that the benefit of falling prices has increased with vehicle age during 2026.
The findings come as new ‘76’ plate vans enter the market in September, a natural point for fleets, small businesses and self-employed drivers to review vehicle replacement decisions and compare the cost of new, nearly-new and older alternatives.
Across all van profiles monitored, prices fell 6.8% during the first eight months of 2026. The longer year-on-year comparison showed that the typical premium decreased 16.6%, from £723 in August 2025 to £603 in August 2026.
Stephen Kennedy, Director at Defaqto Market Pricing, said:
“Van insurance prices have continued to fall during 2026, but older vehicles have experienced the largest reductions. Prices for eight-year-old vans fell 8.0%, compared with 5.2% for three-year-old vehicles.
“There is no simple rule that a newer van will cost more or less to insure. Newer vehicles may benefit from improved safety and security, but their higher value and more sophisticated components can increase theft, repair and replacement costs. Age is also only one part of the risk alongside the precise model, driver, occupation, mileage and use, and therefore assumptions based on age alone could prove misleading.”
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