The latest data on van insurance costs, from Defaqto;
Van insurance premiums fell by -4.5% in the three months to August 2026, ending the period of price stability reported in the previous quarter, according to Defaqto’s latest Quarterly Van Insurance Price Index.
The September 2026 Index shows that the average of the five most competitive quoted prices is now -11% lower than a year ago. Prices fell in each month of the latest quarter, dropping by -1.8% in June, -1.9% in July and -0.9% in August.
The renewed reductions follow an overall flat quarter between March and May. Average competitive quoted prices are down -4.5% over the past six months and around -16% since April 2025.
However, the headline van figures mask substantial differences between insurers. Among a sample of ten main van insurance providers, price movements over the latest three months ranged from an -11.1% reduction to a +4.7% increase. Nine reduced their prices, but only three cut them more sharply than the -4.5% fall in the competitive market average.
Samuel Pompilis, Market Insights Consultant at Defaqto, said:
“Van insurance prices have resumed their downward movement after a flat spring quarter. Reductions in June, July and August have taken competitive quoted prices to 11% below last year’s level, showing that the pause in price cutting was short-lived.
“The variation between providers is just as significant as the headline fall. In our sample, one insurer increased prices by almost 5%, while another reduced them by more than 11%. Insurers are taking different approaches, and the market average alone cannot capture those decisions.
Stephen Kennedy, Director at Defaqto, said:
“For brokers and insurers, this makes a detailed view of pricing essential. Tracking movements by provider and customer segment can help identify where competitive positions are changing. The divergence from private motor also underlines the need to assess van pricing on its own terms.”
Annual premium reductions remain evident across regions and driver age groups, although their scale varies.
Northern Ireland recorded the smallest regional reduction, at -5%, while the North West saw the largest, at -12%.
By driver age, annual reductions ranged from -8% to -13%. Drivers aged under 26 saw the largest falls, while those aged over 70 recorded the smallest.
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