It can be difficult to remember to consider every factor when deciding which is the right small van for your business. However, it’s not just the cargo space and the miles per gallon that you need to think about – insurance can really vary between different makes and models, and could really affect your running costs.

As well as insurance there are other running costs to consider like road tax. Drivers of a hybrid car will benefit from its low emissions, meaning that it falls into a lower road tax band, or maybe exempt from road tax altogether.

As for insurance, there are fifty insurance groups in the UK. At the very top – the most expensive grouping – are the vehicles that have a high replacement value and represent the most risk. A Ferrari or Porsche 911 sports car would fit into group 20.

Manufacturers aim to reduce drivers’ running costs across the board each time they update a vehicle. For example, a new Honda Civic at the entry level has an insurance group rating of 8E compared to the previous Civic which is placed in an insurance group four or five bands higher.

Van insurance groups vary – depending on their size, the engine, etc.  The Citroen Berlingo is a very popular small business van. This falls into insurance group rating 2E-4E and will cost less to insurance than the Ford Transit van which is insurance group 5E.

Of course, other things affect the cost of your insurance premiums like the postcode is registered to, and whether you have an immobiliser or other security features fitted.

And insurance is just one cost you should consider when buying a business van – as with everything in life, the more research you can do before making a purchase the better.